Columbus magazine

summer 2014

Fresh Approach Sandy Thomas offers tips for a great-tasting salad

Trends: Spruce up your Yard

STYLE: Beach Basics for your Home Decor

people: Ronda and Brent Byers

Health: CrossFit Combines Fitness and Fun

WE’LL GET YOU BACK TO THE LIFE YOU WANT TO LIVE

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Our advanced orthopedic surgical treatments, as well as the emphasis we place on wellness and rehabilitation, have earned national recognition from U.S. News and World Report and

by Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

4Do you have joint pain? Watch our online education seminar to learn how we can help at crh.org/joint 4 For more information about our Joint & Spine Center call 812-376-5806

S ervic e

To the professionals at KIG, “service� is not measured by how many branch offices a company opens across the country. It means knowing what your clients expect and then exceeding that expectation. It also means knowing your clients by name instead of by their account number.

With more than twenty years of experience helping clients, Stephanie and Laurie exemplify this standard of service.

As a lifelong resident, I am proud to call Columbus, Indiana home. I have had the fortune to travel around the world and can think of no better place to work, play and raise my family than Columbus. These are exciting times for Columbus and I am delighted that Kessler Investment Group, LLC is a part of the community. > Craig Kessler, President

From left to right: Stephanie Walker, John Eisenbarth, Craig Kessler, Ryan Veldhuizen, Laurie Schroer, Jeremy Donaldson.

50 Washington Street, Suite 1-A, Columbus, Indiana Kessler Investment Group, LLC is a registered investment adviser with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Registration with the SEC is not an indication of competence in the management of assets nor does it represent approval or verification by the SEC.

contents

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>> summer 2014

Regional Getaways

At Home with Daniel and Lucky Gobin

68

Ronda & Brent Byers

FEATURES 4

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DEpartments at the front

Editor’s Note 8 this & that 10 in style 16

84

Local Displays of Art

20 30 36 41 44 50 56

TASTE Summer Salads

worth the trip Valparaiso’s Valley Restaurant

authentic indiana Homespun Modern Handmade

Community Volunteers in Medicine

health CrossFit

culture Alex Machavariani

home trends Curb Appeal

out and about

student views 88 weddings 90 our side of town 92 event calendar 100

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A LOOK BACK Historical photo

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Summer 2014 | June 21, 2014 Volume 3, Issue 2

Publisher Home News Enterprises Chuck Wells Editorial Editor Kelsey DeClue Copy Editor Katharine Smith Contributing Writers: Sherri Lynn Dugger, David Hoppe, Garrett Kelly, Paige Langenderfer, Amy Norman, Jon Shoulders, Sandy Thomas, Barney Quick, Jennifer Willhite Art Senior Graphic Artist Amanda Waltz Advertising Design Emma Ault, Dondra Brown, Tonya Cassidy, Ben Hill, Phil Manning, Josh Meyer Photography: Martin Beuchley, Greg Jones, April Knox, Andrew Laker, Joey Leo, Joel Philippsen, Chet Strange Image Technicians Dillon Howard, Matt Quebe

Reader Services Mailing Address 333 Second St., Columbus, IN 47201 Advertising Inquiries (812) 379-5655 Story Ideas sdugger@hne-media.com Voices Please send letters to the address above or to ColumbusMag@therepublic.com. Be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Letters sent to Columbus magazine become the magazine’s property, and it owns the rights to their use. Columbus magazine reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length.

Subscriptions To subscribe to Columbus magazine, please send $14.95 for 1 year (4 issues) to the mailing address above. Call (800) 435-5601 to subscribe by phone or email ColumbusMag@therepublic.com Address Change Please send any address changes to the address or email address listed above.

Stock images provided by ©Thinkstock

Advertising Advertising Director Mike Rossetti Account Executives: Scott Begley, Kathy Burnett, Rhonda Day, Jan Hoffman-Perry, Cathy Klaes, Jennifer Voris

Back Issues To order back issues of Columbus magazine, please send $5 per issue (includes S&H) to the mailing address above or call (800) 435-5601.

Please include the address to which your copies should be sent. PDF files are available for a fee of $20 per page and are permitted for personal use only.

©2014 by Home News Enterprises All rights reserved. Reproduction of stories, photographs and advertisements without permission is prohibited.

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Editor’s Note

t seems like just yesterday that I was sitting in the publisher’s office hashing out ideas and concepts for the first issue of this magazine. We were excited to create a publication that reflected the wonderful community of Columbus in a new and exciting format. Since the first issue debuted in the spring of 2012, I have been proud and thankful to direct its content.

That’s why, as we have just celebrated our second anniversary, it’s bittersweet for me to pen this, my final note as editor of the publication.

I started at The Republic just out of college as a greenhorn reporter covering the outlying counties of the newspaper’s circulation. The opportunities and experiences my various roles within the Home News Enterprises family have afforded me are priceless gifts I take with me and have given me memories that will last a lifetime. I am excited to embark on a new adventure and do so with great gratitude to the most important stakeholders in my short tenure as editor of Columbus magazine—you, the readers and supporters of the publication.

Thank you. It is a continuously humbling and inspiring position to be in as editor of a community-focused magazine like this—a publication that wouldn’t be what it is without the talented team behind it. You have welcomed Columbus magazine into your homes, and you have trusted us to impart useful and entertaining information. As editor, I cannot express my gratitude enough. I am so thankful for the relationships I’ve formed due to the features and photo shoots we have produced, and I’m sure it comes to no surprise to anyone who lives in this community that my role as editor has only strengthened the love and devotion I feel for my hometown.

Remember that talented team I mentioned above? I leave this magazine in their well-equipped hands, and I am eager to change hats and become an avid reader. As for the fun ahead in this issue, check out our story on regional getaways. Whether it’s a girls group, guys weekend or romantic tryst you’re seeking, writer Jon Shoulders has some great suggestions. Chances are if you’ve attended the annual Dancing with the Stars fundraiser, you’ve seen the dynamic husband-wife team of Brent and Ronda Byers; however this power couple’s effect and legacy on Columbus are just beginning. Get to know them a little better in the profile to follow. Looking for refreshing, healthy options for the dinner table this summer? We explore the world of salads, with expert contributions from chef and wellness coach Sandy Thomas.

Well, another great issue lies ahead. Grab a cool drink and get reading!

With a fond farewell, summer 2014

Fresh Approach Sandy Thomas offers tips for a great-tasting salad

On the Cover: trends: Spruce up your Yard

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stYle: Beach Basics for your Home Decor

people: Ronda and Brent Byers

HealtH: CrossFit Combines Fitness and Fun

Sandy Thomas Photo by Andrew Laker

Columbus Magazine

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this & that

Compiled by Paige Langenderfer

News | Views | Tidbits

Fresh is Best Finally! Farm market season is here.

Make your Saturday mornings special throughout the summer with trips to Columbus’ two farmers markets, where visitors can purchase locally grown produce, fresh-cut flowers, herbs, home-baked goods and local art and jewelry.

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Columbus Magazine

Columbus City Farmers Market

Downtown Columbus Farmers Market

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., through Sept. 20 in the Fair Oaks Mall parking lot on 25th Street.

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., through Sept. 20 in the Cummins parking lot between Brown and Lindsey streets.

“education is not the filling of a pail,

but the lighting of a fire.”

How will your education inspire your future?

FC Alumni–join us at the Indianapolis Symphony!

this & that

Looking for more relaxed summer activity options?

Celebrate summer

Here are some ideas.

The community offers a diverse array of social and family-oriented activities to celebrate the warm weather. Here are our favorite picks:

Go to a drive-in movie.

Have a water balloon battle.

Ride a roller coaster.

Neighborfest Provided at no cost to the community, JCB Neighborfest brings regional musical acts to the heart of the Columbus Arts District.

Held outside on Fourth Street (between Jackson and Washington streets), Neighborfest takes place on the first Thursday of the month in June, July, August and September.

Bring your lawn chairs and stake out a piece of the fun with your family and friends.

Beverages, including beer and wine, are available for purchase at all the concerts.

Biggest Block Party Ever The Johnson-Witkemper Insurance Biggest Block Party Ever returns with bands playing on three stages, including headliner Dane Clark Band. The party is from 5:30 to midnight July 26 on Fourth and Washington streets.

There will be special food from downtown restaurants, beer/wine and a kids fun zone. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Area Arts Council.

Admission is $8. Children 12 and younger are free.

Artfest Now in its fifth year, Artfest is an annual juried art show that features the work of local, regional and national artists. Booths will line Washington and Fourth streets in the heart of the Columbus Arts District.

This year’s free event, set for Aug. 23, will offer mixed media, ceramics, fiber, leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, printmaking, sculpture and woodwork.

For more information, visit columbus artfest.com.

Bark in the Park The popular dogsnight-out event returns to Donner Center from 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 17. Events include the Doggie Swim, entertainment by the Indy Dog and Disc Club, and vendors with pet supplies and services.

The annual program is held in cooperation with Columbus Animal Control and Columbus Animal Rescue Effort. No registration is required. The fee is $5 per dog.

For more information visit columbus.in.gov.

Catch fireflies.

Buy fresh produce from a farmers market.

Nap in a hammock.

Have a picnic in the park.

Stargaze while lying in the grass.

Go camping.

Go for a hike.

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this & that summer cocktail recipe:

Need a refreshing adult beverage for a backyard barbecue?

Try the following recipe from www.ivillage.com for a drink called Passion Fruit Breeze.

Here’s what you will need:

8 ounces of light rum 8 ounces of passion fruit nectar 8 ounces of pineapple juice

In a cocktail shaker mix rum, pineapple juice and nectar.

Shake well and pour into ice-filled glasses.

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this & that

BookNook Recommendations from Viewpoint Books

1

1. “Man on the Run: Paul McCartney in the 1970s”

2

by Tom Doyle

As the 1970s began, the Beatles ended, leaving Paul McCartney to face the new decade with only his wife, Linda, by his side. Holed up at his farmhouse in Scotland, he sank into a deep depression. To outsiders, McCartney seemed like a man adrift, intimidated by his own fame, paralyzed by the choices that lay before him, cut loose from his musical moorings. But what appeared to be the sad finale of a glorious career was just the start of a remarkable second act.

2. “Summer House with Swimming Pool”

by Herman Koch

The product of a long series of one-on-one interviews between McCartney and Scottish rock journalist Tom Doyle,

When a medical procedure goes horribly wrong and famous

“Man on the Run” chronicles McCartney’s decade-long

actor Ralph Meier winds up dead, Dr. Marc Schlosser needs

effort to escape the shadow of his past, outrace his critics

to come up with some answers. After all, reputation is ev-

and defy the expectations of his fans. From the bitter and

erything in this business. Personally, he’s not exactly upset

painful breakup of the Beatles to the sobering wake-up call

that Ralph is gone, but as a high profile doctor to the stars,

of John Lennon’s murder, this is a deeply revealing look at a

Marc can’t hide from the truth forever.

sometimes frightening, often exhilarating period in the life of the world’s most famous rock star.

Sensing that he had nowhere to go but up, McCartney

their two beautiful teenage daughters agreed to spend a week at the Meiers’ extravagant summer home on the

started over from scratch. With emotional and musical

Mediterranean. Joined by Ralph and his striking wife, Judith,

backing from Linda, he released eccentric solo albums and

her mother, and film director Stanley Forbes and his much

embarked on a nomadic hippie lifestyle. He formed a new

younger girlfriend, the large group settles in for days of

band, Wings, which first took flight on a ramshackle tour of

sunshine, wine tasting and trips to the beach. But when a

British university towns and eventually returned him to the

violent incident disrupts the idyll, darker motivations are re-

summit of arena rock superstardom.

vealed, and suddenly no one can be trusted. As the ultimate

For McCartney, the 1970s were a wild ride with some dark

14

It all started the previous summer. Marc, his wife and

holiday soon turns into a nightmare, the circumstances sur-

turns. Set against the backdrop of a turbulent decade, “Man

rounding Ralph’s later death begin to reveal the disturbing

on the Run” casts the “sunny Beatle” in an entirely new light.

reality behind that summer’s tragedy.

Columbus Magazine

>> A new twist on a summer classic Roasting marshmallows over a fire is one of the best parts of camping.

And s’mores are a treat you never outgrow.

While the classic cracker, marshmallow and chocolate delight is nearly perfect on its own, the following s’mores alternatives from thestir.cafemom.com will have your taste buds melting.

Turtle: Add caramel and chopped pecans to the original s’more.

Oreo: Chocolate graham crackers, marshmallow, white chocolate and Oreo crumbles. –C– Banana split: Add strawberries, bananas and nuts.

MOBILE DEPOSIT IS HERE!

Deposit checks from your mobile device.

ANYWHERE

ANYTIME

Columbus Magazine

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In Style Fashion | Trends | Decor

Threshold Toss Pillows, $24.99 each, and Decorative Crab, $9.99, from Target, 1865 N. National Road, Columbus, (812) 376-0450, target.com

On the Ocean Front

Photos by Andrew Laker

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Columbus Magazine

The summer trends are in, and this year everything’s looking seaward. The sand, the surf, the beautiful blue skies … what’s not to love about spending your days on the beach? If you can’t find the time to sneak off for a vacation, however, these home accessories can add some ocean-side ambience to your home décor.

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In Style

5

1

3

2

6

4

1. Threshold wine stoppers, $5.99 each from Target

2. Threshold Storage Tote, $19.99, from Target 3. Nautical backpack, $52.50, from Baker’s Fine Gifts, 433 Washington St., Columbus, (812) 372-9635

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Columbus Magazine

4. Nautical Coat Rack, $17.99, Hobby Lobby, 1149 N. National Road, Columbus, (812) 379-4972, hobbylobby.com

5. Glass Candle Holder with Rope Accent, $19.99, from Target

6. Rope Doorstop, $9.99 each, from Target

In Style 7

10

8 11

9

7. Tranquil Sands Dispenser, $21.99, and Sonoma Oceanside Dispenser, $24.99, both from Kohl’s

8. Sonoma Oceanside Bath Mat, $24.99, and Hand Towel, $14.99, from Kohl’s

12

9. Threshold Coral Decorative Figurine, $24.99, from Target

11. Croft & Barrow Palm Isle and Oceanside Shower Curtain Hooks, $24.99 per set, from Kohl’s

12. Seahorse Dish, $24.99, from Hobby Lobby –C–

10. Beach Sign, $24.99, from Hobby Lobby

Columbus Magazine

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Taste Local Food | Recipes | Cuisine

Raising the Bar The key to a great tasting salad is going beyond the iceberg — lettuce, that is.

By Sandy Thomas Photos by Andrew Laker

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Taste

Sandy Thomas 22

Columbus Magazine

When properly constructed, a salad can pack more nutrient punch than any other meal in your daily diet. From antioxidant-rich fruits and veggies to hunger-crushing proteins and healthy fats, virtually any ingredient can play a part in a salad — making the dish a complete meal and not just a boring side. In the column to follow, Sandy Thomas, wellness coach and chef, provides tips and tasty recipes to take your salads to the next level.

I love potato chips. I didn’t always love them. In fact, while I was growing up, chips were regularly in my family’s snack cupboard, but I could take them or leave them. That all changed one summer in my early 20s while I was living in Kennebunk, Maine. My then fiancé introduced me to Cape Cod brand salt-and-vinegar-flavored potato chips — “Salt ‘n’ Vinnies.” Now I crave potato chips and have trouble stopping once I begin to eat them.

In the years since I first tasted “the best ever” chips in Maine, my job as a health coach has involved studying cravings. I advise clients to break down their cravings in an attempt to discern, “What is my body telling me?” In the case of a strong craving for potato chips/crackers/tortilla chips, my body may be telling me, “I need some fat, salt and crunch.”

At the same time, I am trying to stay the course of healthy eating and do not want to sabotage my exercise efforts. It would be beneficial for me to pause long enough (before stuffing potato chips into my mouth) to ask, “What is another food that could satisfy my craving, on a deeper level, to fulfill my body’s need for healthy fat, healthy salt and crunch?”

Believe it or not, one answer is salad. Stick with me here. I’m not saying that salad is the same thing as my favorite Salt ‘n’ Vinnies. What I am proposing is that by adding interesting and delicious

salads to your weekly menus, your cravings for less healthful snack foods will diminish.

Perhaps even more so than in other dishes, using the freshest and highest quality ingredients will really make your salad sing. If you think that you do not like salad, maybe it’s because you’re in a lettuce-tomato-cucumber-ranch rut. Or maybe it’s because you’re getting your ingredients from a salad bar that uses preservative-laden, pre-chopped and bagged produce?

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Taste It’s not so hard to make a delicious and satisfying salad if you keep a few basics such as salt, pepper, olive oil, red wine or balsamic vinegar and a lemon on hand. Bonus points for fresh herbs. Then all you have to do is add some fresh vegetables to your cart during your weekly grocery trip, and you’ll be well-equipped.

Two other simple must-haves for any salad or salad dressing are sea salt and whole black peppercorns that can be ground. Sea salt is a natural source of minerals and has a saltier flavor.

Therefore you will nourish your body while using less salt. A good quality olive oil is essentially olive juice and is full of health-promoting antioxidants. Olive oil is a great source of necessary fat in our diet. Including fresh citrus and using fresh herbs can take your salads from just OK to “chef quality.” In the three salads that I have highlighted here, you’ll find them to have great flavor, great crunch and be incredibly satisfying. Dare I say you’ll crave them?

BOK CHOY SUMMER SALAD

2 large leaves of bok choy — white stems sliced, green leaves chopped 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved ½ zucchini cut in half length-wise and thinly sliced ¼ cup finely chopped celery ¼ cup finely chopped carrot 1 can organic chick peas, drained and rinsed 4-5 large basil leaves ¼ cup balsamic vinaigrette mixed with 2 teaspoons grainy mustard Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all. Chill for a couple of hours for flavors to combine.

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Columbus Magazine

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Columbus Magazine

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Taste

BABY KALE with ARUGULA SALAD with Pink Grapefruit and Avocado

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Columbus Magazine

2 handfuls organic baby kale 2 handfuls organic arugula 1 pink grapefruit, peeled and cut into sections, reserve juice for dressing 1 avocado peeled, pitted and sliced Âź cup walnuts, toasted and chopped Dressing: Âź cup fresh grapefruit juice 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons olive oil Dash of onion powder Pinch of sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Combine greens and toss in dressing; top dressed greens with grapefruit, avocado and walnuts. Drizzle remaining dressing over salad and serve.

Yield: 1 quart A pleasant way to turn leftover plain rice into a new dish. Curry and turmeric spices are considered to have healthful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

1-3 teaspoons of curry powder, to taste 1 teaspoon turmeric powder ¼-½ cup mayonnaise ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt 2 cups cooked short grain brown rice ½ cup raisins ½ cup grapes, halved

1 rib celery, finely diced 1 carrot, finely diced or grated ½ cup chopped red pepper 1 scallion, finely chopped ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted Pinch of sea salt to taste Fresh cilantro to garnish

Combine mayonnaise, yogurt, curry and turmeric. Mix cooked rice, grapes, raisins and vegetables with curry sauce and chill for a few hours before serving to allow the flavors to mix.

Garnish with almonds and cilantro.

CURRIED BROWN RICE SALAD

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Taste

Let the experts do the work In the mood for a hearty salad but would prefer to leave all the chopping to someone else?

Area restaurants are brimming with delectable options that will satisfy any appetite.

Favorites for patrons of Columbus’ downtown dining scene include Italian restaurant Tre Bicchieri’s ever-popular Caprese salad, which features homegrown tomatoes sourced from local farm markets, fresh mozzarella and basil grown by restaurant owner Kelly Glick. Tre Bicchieri also incorporates fresh local fruit into a salad for its summer menu each season. A favorite for many patrons of Smith’s Row, downtown on Fourth Street, is the restaurant’s Cobb salad—a traditional mix of greens, hard-boiled egg, diced chicken, bacon, tomato and blue cheese.

Bistro 310’s Nicoise salad is so popular it remains on the menu even when other entrees and salads are removed quarterly.

This heart-healthy dish incorporates seared yellowfin tuna, olives, capers, haricot vert, tomatoes, Yukon gold potatoes and hard-boiled egg on a bed of mixed greens and served with the restaurant’s house-made roasted shallot vinaigrette.

“This is by far our signature salad,” said Bistro chef Eric Brown. He said the tuna is what makes the salad special. “All the ingredients go so well together, but that tuna, just lightly seared on both sides, that’s what customers really like.” –C–

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Columbus Magazine

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Bistro 310’s Nicoise Salad Photo by Chet Strange Columbus Magazine

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Worth the Trip

Beet Salad 30

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Do the

right thing Valparaiso’s Valley restaurant makes simple dishes shine

By David Hoppe Photography by Martin Buechley

“My marketing strategy is surprise and delight,” says Cory Muro, a founder and executive chef of Valley, a farm-to-fork restaurant on the leading edge of a culinary renaissance beginning to take hold in the Michiana region of northwest Indiana.

That sense of delight begins at Valley’s kitchen bar, where diners are encouraged to chat with the cooks preparing such distinctive dishes as crispy fairy tale pumpkin ravioli, featuring house-made semolina ravioli with a red onion-balsamic puree, brie, apple and pumpkin seed granola; or winter white chicken, prepared with caramelized carrots and broccoli, crispy red potatoes, a white wine-shallot sauce, capers and croissant crumbs.

Open for just over two years in downtown Valparaiso, Valley, named after Valparaiso’s nickname, “Vale of Paradise,” serves food that is local, fresh and affordable. Thanks to Muro and his team, including co-executive chef Jason Rudy, Valley’s offerings also taste superb.

Muro’s story begins along the Gulf Coast

on Florida’s Panhandle. He was raised by three women there, including his great-grandmother, Gertrude. She hailed from New Orleans, and by the time Muro was 10, she had taught him to make sausage, pasta and a variety of sauces.

Muro landed his first restaurant gig at 14, making sandwiches in a sub shop. Then he found a job in a bakery and, after that, a pizza place.

Instead of enrolling in culinary school, Muro set about creating his own apprenticeship program by getting himself hired at the best restaurant he could find, which happened to be Sweet Basil, in Vail, Colo. “I worked a lot, and I worked for free when I could,” he says. “I let them know I really wanted to learn.”

Muro would work a seven-hour shift, then come back on his own time to help some more. “I learned whatever they had to teach me. They saw how committed I was.”

In Vail, Muro also met his future wife, Blair. A Hoosier, whose father farmed outside Valparaiso,

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Worth the Trip Blair was a graduate of Purdue University’s hospitality program. She introduced Muro to Indiana’s food ways.

Meanwhile, he was becoming an executive chef at Honga’s Lotus Petal, a high-end Pan Asian restaurant in Telluride, Colo., that had just undergone a significant expansion and was having money troubles. Muro cut waste, got a grip on expenses and brought Honga’s back to profitability.

This experience convinced him that he could run his own place. But start-up costs and competition in Colorado were prohibitive. Northwest Indiana beckoned.

“I’d been coming here and farming with [Blair’s] dad and really liked the community a

Valley chef and owner Cory Muro.

lot,” Muro recalls. He could also see that Valparaiso was investing in its downtown, placing a special emphasis on encouraging restaurant development. “For me, this is the most sense of community I’ve ever had. It’s a place where I felt I could start a business and establish a family. It was attractive for me, and the city made it attractive as well.”

Muro has established Valley as a farmto-fork destination. He and the Valley team are offering a creative take on what may still be one of America’s great culinary mysteries: Midwestern cuisine.

“I feel Midwest cuisine is simple and fresh, nutritious and minimally processed, if at all,” Muro says. “We have to make simple things shine.”

This begins with sourcing foods from farmers who operate as close to Valparaiso as possible. A list of farmers from Indiana, Illinois and Michigan who provide food for the restaurant is proudly posted on a chalkboard displayed inside Valley’s down-home, yet elegant, entryway. Pork comes from Birky’s Family Farms in Kouts; Scherf Farms in Michigan City provides dairy; Burek Farms in La Porte offers sweet corn; and poultry is delivered

by Miller’s Amish Country. In all cases, products are free of additives, pesticides and other

Valley Kitchen and Bar

55 Franklin St., Valparaiso, (219) 531-8888, www.eatvalley.com

“I feel Midwest cuisine is simple and fresh, nutritious and minimally processed, if at all.

We have to make simple things shine.”

— Cory muro

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Columbus Magazine

A display of the restaurant’s food sources.

Spring chicken entree

compromising ingredients. Muro considers these farmers his partners and makes a point of visiting every farm he features.

“I always say I’m not a very good cook, I just have really good ingredients,” he says.

“When we can get asparagus that’s handpicked that morning — we wash it three times, coat it slightly in olive oil, salt and pepper, and grill it for about 10 seconds — then it goes to your table. That’s something you’ll never experience from a grocery store or a food distributor. If you keep it simple, you don’t have to do a lot to it.”

This approach is reflected in Valley’s tothe-point menu. Everything fits on a single page. “It’s really short and matter-of-fact,” says Muro. “That gives us the ability to focus on what we’re doing. Then if we want to do specials, we have that ability. We’re not tied to so many items we’re spreading ourselves thin.”

Muro’s sense of focus is heightened by his decision to make Valley a dinner-only establishment. “We get here between 10 and noon every day of the week. We prep all the way up until 4, and then we cook for four hours.”

(Cont. on page 35)

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Home Plate

Farm fresh meals around the state As Indiana embraces its farm culture anew, upscale restaurants, an Irish pub and even an Indianapolis hotel are wooing old and new customers with dishes created from fresh, locally sourced foods. Pull up a chair at these Indiana eateries and fill your plate with fresh veggies, meats and cheeses grown and raised on Hoosier soil.

Fisher Farms pork chops glazed with sweet-hot mustard, fresh buttered broccoli and sweet potato tots at Colts Grille

Compiled by Twinkle VanWinkle

Fair Oaks Farm and Restaurant

1913 Restaurant & Severin Bar

J K O’Donnell’s Irish Ale House

856 N. 600E, Fair Oaks (877) 536-1194, fofarms.com

at The Omni Severin, Indianapolis

121 W. Wayne St., Fort Wayne, (260) 420-5563, jkodonnells.com

The Plate

» Classic grilled cheese made with Fair Oaks Farm award-winning Swiss cheese, tomato and basil.

Cup of house-made chili with signature Fair Oaks Farm cheddar cheese.

Originally a collective

of nine dairy farming families, Fair Oaks Farm quickly grew into a major dairy producer, yielding 2.9 million pounds of milk per day and more than 550,000 visitors per year. But the farm is more than just a massive milk operation.

Truly a farm-to-table business, Fair Oaks offers visitors a chance to experience its products firsthand at the Fair Oaks Farm Café, where fresh sandwiches, soups, salads and sweets are crafted and served using the farm’s award-winning milk and artisan cheeses.

Also new this year: The Farmhouse Restaurant, an on-site eatery that will feature more upscale offerings of the farm’s dairy products and fresh produce. “Using our own products gives us full control and oversight of what we are using in our restaurants,” says Susan Webb, executive assistant at Fair Oaks. “Great taste and quality are very important features to us.”

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Columbus Magazine

40 W. Jackson Place, Indianapolis, (317) 6346664, omnihotels.com The Plate

» Indiana Board: Smoking Goose cured meats, Trader’s Point Creamery and Capriole Farms cheeses, chef’s pickled vegetables, house-made beer jam If farm tours aren’t

what you had in mind on your local food adventure, step into the historic Omni Severin Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. This upscale destination is a quick walk from the capital’s metro area, and it showcases Indiana’s rural offerings on its menus.

Have a hand-crafted cocktail from the boutique-style Severin Bar with an Indiana Board appetizer, a savory spread of locally sourced meats and cheeses, or head into the hotel’s 1913 Restaurant for the root beer-cured pork chops, sourced from LaGrange’s Gunthorp Farms.

“It’s not only our responsibility, but our privilege, to support our local farmers and businesses by showcasing them to our guests,” says Paul Feakes, Omni Severin’s director of food and beverage.

“It’s important to know where your food comes from.”

The Plate

» Signature roasted lamb shank with garlic mashed potatoes J K O’Donnell’s Irish Ale

House, like any good Irish pub, serves corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips and other hearty Irish fare. What sets this pub apart, however, is the owner’s commitment to using fresh, local ingredients in the dishes whenever possible.

Local farm-raised lamb and beef, fresh vegetables and dairy — from Seven Sons Meats in Fort Wayne and Hawkins Family Farm in North Manchester — can be found on the menu — a commitment that pleases the palates of diners and benefits the community. “Buying local helps improve our community and helps our local businesses grow and prosper,” says Will Passino, head chef. “To me nothing is better than knowing that I received a product that was from someone just outside of town and to have seen the facility firsthand.”

Spire

Colts Grille

299 W. Johnson Road, LaPorte, (219) 575-7272, spirefarmtofork.com

110 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, (317) 631-2007, coltsgrille.g3restaurants.com

The Plate

The Plate

» Miller Amish Farm half-chicken with potato purée, dark chicken reduction and rosemary butter

» Fisher Farms pork chops glazed with sweet-hot mustard, fresh buttered broccoli and sweet potato tots

Restaurant owner and

What might at first

chef Brad Hindsley grew up on an Indiana farm, and his childhood experiences are what led him to create Spire, a farm-to-fork dining experience, at the northern tip of Indiana. “People don’t realize that there are sources for fresh, organic foods all within 250 miles of them in Indiana,” he says. “I don’t cut corners. If it isn’t available fresh, it isn’t on the menu.”

Spire’s extensive supplier list includes farms from all across Indiana — Miller Amish Farm in Orland, Barefoot Acres in Rolling Prairie and Middlebrook Farms in Three Oaks. Hindsley’s dedication to choosing local sources for Spire’s dishes, he says, is his way to “connect the diner’s senses to life’s simplest pleasures, the community to its local farmers and the (restaurant) industry to the earth.”

seem like your run-of-the-mill downtown Indy sports bar, the Colts Grille is a true delight for those searching for a farmto-fork dining experience. Indiana meats and fresh Hoosier farm veggies make their ways into many of the restaurant’s dishes. You’ll find meats and fresh vegetables from Fischer Farm and Lambright Farm, both in Jasper, and lamb from Viking Farms in Morristown.

“We source locally whenever possible,” says Padraig Cullen, head chef. “This leads to more local jobs, healthier food options and a better understanding of where our food comes from.”

Worth the Trip

ENJOY YOUR SUMMER VACATION IN STYLE (Cont. from page 33)

2014

Right on the Corner!

When Valley first opened, Muro designed his menu around the seasons. But that grew stale — for the Valley’s kitchen team, as well as for the restaurant’s growing number of regular customers — so he now changes things on what amounts to a monthly basis, with plenty of allowance for specials, like his take on such classic dishes as veal scaloppine, substituting pork for veal.

Surviving the winter months, he says, is getting easier, thanks to an increasing number of greenhouse growers in the region. And even mega-food distributor Sysco now offers a list of Michigan growers. “I can say, ‘What’s on the Michigan-grown list this week?’ And it’s parsnips, it’s turnips, it’s rutabaga,” he explains.

Whatever the time of year, Muro makes sure his menu includes certain favorites, like his cowboy cut pork chop, prepared with honey-apple cider pan sauce, butternut squash, pickled mustard seed and twice-baked potatoes; or a fish dish utilizing yellow perch from Bell Aquaculture in Red Key. Lately, fresh shrimp has been finding its way onto the Valley menu, by way of the Valparaiso Shrimp Co., a local grower specializing in salt water shrimp raised in a clear water system without chemicals, hormones or antibiotics.

Muro is proud to offer a menu that emphasizes quality, while still managing to be affordable. Appetizers like the truffle fries (natural cut fries in white truffle oil with parmesan and parsley), crispy chicken tacos (pulled chicken in a fried gyoza wrapper with sweet chili sauce, radishes, pickled jalapeno and basil), or pig pen (pork belly and stoneground white grits with house ricotta, organic spinach, preserved lemon and onion haystack) are meant to be shared and are priced up to about $12; while entrees, on average, will run around $20.

Service is another way Valley strikes a Midwestern chord. Since the restaurant has never advertised, relying for growth on wordof-mouth, Muro emphasizes the importance of Hoosier hospitality. “As long as we can deliver the product with a smile, be polite, use our manners — really fundamentally basic things — that’s my recipe for success. It’s super simple,” he explains.

“It boils down to stuff my great-grandmother drilled into me: Be nice to people; do the right thing.” –C–

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Columbus Magazine

The stories of Hoosier artists, producers, merchants and entrepreneurs

Homespun Modern Handmade settles in to a larger Indianapolis store

By Sherri Lynn Dugger

W

hen Amanda Mauer Taflinger had an idea to open a brick-and-mortar store that featured creations and handmade goods from local and regional artisans, it didn’t take long to get her husband, Neal Taflinger, on board. After all, the swift growth of the INDIEana Handicraft Exchange contemporary craft fairs that the couple had been hosting since 2007 was testament to the emerging demand for local goods and services.

It also helped that Amanda needed a job. In early 2010, she had been laid off from her position as an elementary school art teacher, and though she’d looked around for another gig in the art field, none was to be found. Opening a shop then — located close to home in their Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis — seemed like an ideal situation. “Both of us were pretty excited about it,” Amanda recalls. “It was a big step. It was a scary step, but we were ready to do it. Besides I didn’t have anything else that was right there ready for me. It just made sense.”

Neal Taflinger, with his son, Zeke, looks at building plans with contractor Jim Arnoldt prior to the opening of Homespun Modern Handmade’s new store on Mass Ave. Images by Amanda Mauer Taflinger.

Columbus Magazine

37

869 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis (317) 351-0280, homespunindy.com

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Columbus Magazine

Enter the sense-maker: Homespun Modern Handmade. With about 75 artists on board to turn over products to populate the store at 5624 E. Washington St., the Taflingers were off and running by July 2010. They built their business from the little cash they could scrape together — approximately $6,000 — and a really good idea.

The 850-square-foot shop quickly became the go-to boutique to find homemade crafts and kitsch, oftentimes with local flair and a cheeky sense of humor. Greeting cards, necklaces, T-shirts, candy, homemade soaps and artworks filled the store, and almost immediately, people were buying, new artists were trying to get a space on store shelves, and Homespun was making a name for itself in the city. The attention to the shop, as well as the draw of the handicraft exchanges, was also helping to make a name for crafting in Indianapolis, which had been the Taflingers’ goal all along.

They’d originally started the craft fairs to “introduce Indianapolis to other crafty items from across the country while also spotlighting Indianapolis on the craft scene,” Amanda explains. “It goes both ways. We wanted to expose more people to what Indianapolis has to offer and expose Indianapolis to people and their works from across the country.”

Which they have done. And done. And done. Now, their thrice-yearly craft fairs feature anywhere from 30 (at their “mini” fairs) to 100 vendors, with thousands of shoppers streaming through the doors. And the tiny shop on Washington Street nearly burst at its proverbial (and clearly hand-sewn) seams.

By early 2013, the store was selling the works of approximately 250 vendors. Amanda and Neal knew they either had to phase out some of the shop’s oldest showcased artists (which they didn’t want to do) in order to make room for new ones or they needed to move. “We knew about six months before we even looked anywhere outside of Irvington that a move into a larger space was inevitable,” she says. “We scoured the neighborhood first. I was still adamantly against leaving the eastside and our neighborhood.”

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Homespun-Sponsored

SUMMER EVENTS

July 18

Workshop Series: Floral Design: Succulent Terrarium This workshop is open to a child and caregiver pair (or you can attend solo).

Students will learn basic succulent cutting and rooting techniques. All supplies and tools are included in the cost of the workshop ($35). Time: 11 a.m. to noon.

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For more information on Homespun Modern Handmade and its events, visit homespunindy.com.

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Columbus Magazine

But staying close to home wasn’t really an option. “We looked at silly places (in Irvington) that didn’t make business sense; we looked at anything that anybody would suggest,” she says. “Ultimately it came down to the fact that we needed the foot traffic. We needed a bigger space just where we were at. And there was nothing available.”

She says she was driving along Massachusetts Avenue in downtown Indy one day and saw the Trail Side building had spaces for rent. The multistory property had just what they needed: a street-level store front, customizable space and enough square foot-

age to house their expanding business. After several discussions about the possibilities for the space there and undoubtedly some soul-searching on Amanda’s part, the couple made the decision to dive in … and move.

A grand opening for the Homespun shop in its new 2,000-square-foot space at 869 Mass Ave. took place earlier this year, and the new venue allows for a more user-friendly atmosphere, Amanda says. There’s space for an employee break room, as well as an area for workshops, tastings and classes in the store. “It provides good opportunities for us and for the artists to market their crafts.” –C–

Community

Story by Paige Langenderfer

Dr. Charles Hatcher Photo by Andrew Laker.

This is the first in a three-part series that celebrates the many Columbus professionals who dedicate their time, their talents and their energy to helping others in the community.

Help Center Physicians, dentists and others donate their time to keep Volunteers in Medicine healthy

W

hen Karen Hazlegrove’s prescription for blood pressure medicine expired, her Social Security disability checks were only enough to cover her medical expenses or her food, rent and utilities. Facing the toughest decision of her life, she chose basic necessities over paying for her prescriptions.

“I didn’t know what to do,” she recalls.

“I was no longer eligible for Medicaid, and I knew I wasn’t going to be able to afford insurance or to go to a doctor.”

For the next two years, Hazlegrove lived with constant headaches, severe dizziness and the fear that without medication her body

would face serious, life-altering consequences.

“It was horrible,” she says. “I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

In 1997, she read an article in The Republic that changed everything. “It said they were opening a free clinic here,” she says. “I called the number in the paper, and they got me in right away.”

Hazlegrove has been a patient at Volunteers in Medicine ever since. “I would have never survived without them,” she says. “They always make time for me and explain what’s going on with my health.”

Today, she is one of more than 1,200 patients treated at Volunteers in Medicine.

The clinic, at 940 N. Marr Road, provides a lifeline to patients who can’t afford private health insurance, don’t qualify for government health insurance and have no other way to get medical care.

VIM provides an extensive list of services to qualifying patients, including primary and preventive care, as well as chronic disease management.

Patients receive medical services at little or no cost from the clinic’s volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and mental health professionals, as well as a referral network of volunteer specialists. Columbus Regional Health Foundation provides a significant portion of VIM’s annual budget. Grants

Columbus Magazine

41

Community

Volunteers in Medicine and donated services make up the rest.

“Volunteers in Medicine is such an important component of the health care system, as it provides chronic care for people who have fallen through the cracks,” says Mary Ferdon, VIM’s executive director. “I am continually amazed by the generosity of donors throughout Bartholomew County who support VIM on an annual basis and make sure the resources we need are available.”

Medical professionals, like Dr. Charles Hatcher of Doctors Park Family Medicine, donate their time each month to keep the clinic running smoothly. “VIM meets a real need in this community,” he says. “I really enjoy giving back. There have been people who have helped me all of my life, so I feel like this is my opportunity to help someone else.”

One of the greatest benefits of VIM, Hatch-

er says, is that patients can see the same doctor every visit. “That’s best for the patient, because it’s the same follow-up they would get in a doctor’s office,” he explains. “It’s important that we get to know their medical history so that we can provide the best care possible.”

Rosemary Hobson, a retired nurse, has worked with Hatcher at VIM for 17 years.

“We know how each other thinks,” Hobson says. “The patient always comes first for both of us.”

She said the patients keep her committed to her service at VIM. “What I enjoy most is the interaction with the patients, seeing if they need anything, spending a little time with them,” she says. “Caring for the sick is part of my service as a nurse.”

Dr. Larry Brooks volunteers at VIM every Wednesday. A retired general surgeon, he is still amazed by the clinic, even after years of service.

Mission: To remove barriers so that every Bartholomew County resident is known and cared for by a primary health care provider, working together to increase the use of appropriate self-care.

Vision Statement: “We welcome those who need — to come without fear, and we invite those who serve — to come without pride, so that their meeting may bring healing and hope to both.”

Location: 940 N. Marr Road, Suite B Number of patients served in 2013: More than 1,200 Information: crh.org/VIM or 376-9750

By the Numbers More than

$27 million

Monetary value of medication dispersed to VIM patients since opening in 1997.

50

Number of clinical volunteers. (this includes physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and mental health counselors)

60

Number of non-clinical volunteers. (clerical, administrative and maintenance services)

8,700

Number of volunteer hours in 2013.

More than

90

Kayla Buzzard gives a tour to Dr. Sherman Franz and his wife, Jacquie. ABOVE: Lucina Kessler, Melinda Farmer and Sheri Crouch look over patient charts at Volunteers in Medicine. Photos by Chet Strange.

42

Columbus Magazine

Number of physicians who accept referrals from VIM.

“This is just such a real winner for this community,” he says. “I don’t think people really understand what a great asset they really have with VIM.” He said the network of physicians throughout the community who accept referrals from VIM is remarkable. “It works so well because I can see a patient at VIM and then, if I need to, I can refer them to a specialist in the community who will donate their time to see the patient as well,” Brooks says. “If a patient needs lab work or radiology, I can send them to the hospital at no cost to the patient. It really is incredible. I am always impressed by the community’s support.”

Dr. Kent Fischvogt, who retired in 2010 from Columbus Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, has donated care at VIM since its inception.

“We (he and other dentists from the practice who have donated their time at the clinic) saw the real need in the community,” he says.

“Patients were just not getting the care they needed. We did a lot of surgical care, biopsies and extractions with VIM patients in our office.”

Fischvogt works at the VIM dental clinic, which is held on Monday mornings once a month. “We still need more dentists to volunteer at VIM and in their offices,” he says. “We need everyone in the community to participate.”

Dr. Manasi Gafoor, another volunteer, believes dental health is important, but her time spent there is about more than cleaning teeth or performing extractions. “These patients have many problems, not just dental, that they talk to us about,” she says. “It feels good to know that I am helping in some small way.”

With only a handful of paid employees, the clinic runs mostly thanks to the dozens of community volunteers who help with nearly every aspect. Leticia Vazquez volunteers once a month as an interpreter at VIM’s Spanish language clinic.

“Patients sometimes have a hard time explaining in English how they feel,” she says.

“You can see that with Spanish (speakers) around them, they feel safe here.”

Vazquez said her volunteer hours at VIM are a priority in her life.

“I get such a good feeling because I know I am helping people,” she says. “You can feel the good energy, and the patients are so appreciative. When I see a patient smile because someone has helped them, that feeling is amazing.

That is what keeps me coming back.” –C–

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Health

Steve Hambling does a handstand pushup at 812 CrossFit. Photo by April Knox

44

Columbus Magazine

Story by Garrett Kelly

Locals find fitness and friends at these Co lumbus gy ms

lthough formally established in 2000, the increasingly popular exercise program known as CrossFit got its start in Santa Cruz, California, in 1995 when the Santa Cruz Police Department hired Greg Glassman to bolster the fitness levels of its officers. The goal: Get the officers in good enough shape that they could outrun criminals.

The success of his methods with the department pushed Glassman to open the first CrossFit gym (referred to as a box) and legitimized the program. His first affiliate gym was located in Seattle,

and by 2005 there were 13 affiliates. Today, there are more than 9,000 CrossFit Inc. affiliates worldwide, and two of those gyms are located in Columbus.

Nicole Holcomb, who co-owns 812 CrossFit with her husband, Craig Holcomb, says CrossFit is a “constantly varied, functional movement performed at intensity.” Holcomb says she sometimes prefers to give a less fancy explanation.

“In a nutshell, it’s cross training,” she explains.

“You’re not training one aspect of fitness like strength or endurance. You’re trying to be fit in all domains.”

Before opening their own gym, the Holcombs worked as trainers in a traditional gym. Once

Columbus Magazine

45

Health

TOP: Audra McNear flips a huge tire during a workout at CrossFit Retaliation. BOTTOM RIGHT: Aron Fitzpatrick begins to climb a rope attached to the ceiling at CrossFit Retaliation. BOTTOM LEFT: Hanging from rings, Lindsay Baughman will, in one quick movement, kick her feet up above her head and put her toes through the rings.

Photos by Greg Jones and Joey Leo

46

Columbus Magazine

Nicole was introduced to CrossFit in 2011, she switched all her clients to the program and began competing in the CrossFit Games in 2012.

The CrossFit Games pit the best athletes of CrossFit against each other in events ranging from sled pulling to Olympic weight lifting.

For the event, Nicole needed a place to train. In 2011, the couple opened 812 CrossFit in a shopping center, converting a space that used to be a grocery store to fit their needs.

Craig says that starting the new business had its share of obstacles. “It was rough starting from nothing,” he says. “It was hard finding the equipment. We had to drive long distances to pick it up or make it ourselves.”

In July 2013, the Holcombs moved their gym to its current location, a space perfect for the more than 100 members who call the gym home. It’s also the perfect place for Nicole to continue her training. She is currently ranked seventh in the nation and will be heading to Carson, California, in July to compete in the finals of the CrossFit Games.

Nicole loves competing and training, but she says helping others accomplish their fitness goals keeps her motivated. She also says the sense of community at the gym helps her and others stick with the grueling workouts. “It’s a community of like-minded individuals,” she says. “If you miss a day, they (another gym member) may call you to see why you weren’t there.”

Jase Robinson, head coach and owner of CrossFit Retaliation in Columbus, also acknowledges that the community aspect is a major reason his gym’s nearly 100 members continue to come back. Robinson likens the bonding experience at his gym to the camaraderie shared by police officers or those in the military. “You’re forced to interact,” he says. “You can’t put your ear buds in and go workout alone.”

Robinson made his way to Columbus from England. He was working as a mechanical engineer for Cummins in the United Kingdom, but asked for a transfer to the United States. Robinson has always enjoyed trying new things, and he knew when he received his CrossFit training certification that he had found something to keep his attention. “It is

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Health

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CrossFit Retaliation 364 S. Mapleton St. (812) 343-9237, crossfitretaliation.com

48

Columbus Magazine

Hambling does a back lever on the rings.

Photo by April Knox.

the totality of human performance,” he says.

“By not specializing, you can take care of every aspect of your performance.”

In April 2013, he opened CrossFit Retaliation. “I wanted to take everything I learned and create a place that was perfect,” he says.

According to Robinson, his biggest goal as a coach is to get people to become habitual about their exercise. “Put your underwear on, brush your teeth and exercise,” he says. “I want them to not even think about leaving the house without planning on it (exercising).”

Brad Knight, Seymour resident, has certainly made CrossFit a part of his lifestyle.

Knight, who is a firefighter, works out with the Holcombs at 812 CrossFit four to five times a week for an hour each session. “My schedule is based around CrossFit,” he says.

In addition to fighting fires, Knight works as a high school football coach, and traditional workouts weren’t cutting it for him. “I’d hit all the machines at the gym,” he says. “But it didn’t fit the need of all the scenarios I’d see in the firefighting world.”

Since joining 812 CrossFit more than two years ago, Knight says the workouts have prepared him for each day he goes to work.

Whether the workout includes stretching or flipping tires, he says CrossFit helps his mobility and range of motion.

Knight, a father of two, says the biggest benefit of the new exercise style is that his overall health is much better now. He says he’s able to enjoy participating in activities because he is more mobile and flexible. “I can do some things that some of my buddies are struggling with,” he says. “It’s a good feeling knowing that the work is paying off.”

Both Robinson and the Holcombs say that the CrossFit community is tightknit and all inclusive. Nicole says her youngest member is 12 years old and her oldest participant is in her 70s. “The workout is scaled to fit your needs, whether you have movement issues or want to compete,” she says.

Robinson says he can’t imagine a better profession than being a CrossFit coach. He says as an engineer, people would come to him with an engine problem and all he could do was get them running as per usual. Now, he says he’s able to do much more. “People come to me now with a problem, and they don’t get back to normal,” he says. “They get better than they have ever been before.” –C–

We wanted to know what a typical CrossFit training session might include, so we asked owner Nicole Holcomb at 812 CrossFit to explain some popular workouts. Here are five workouts you might be asked to complete when you visit a CrossFit gym.

1

Fran

2

Helen

3 4 5

Nicole Holcomb

performs a ring A timed workout consisting muscle-up in a regional of three sets of pull-ups and CrossFit competition. thrusters, which are squat and She placed second. presses with a barbell. The recommended barbell weight for men is 95 pounds and 65 pounds for women. The first set is 21 reps, followed by a set of 15 reps and then a set of nine reps.

Complete three timed rounds of 12 pull-ups, a 400-meter run and 21 kettlebell swings. The recommended kettlebell weight for men is around 50 pounds and 35 pounds for women. A kettlebell swing requires starting in a squat position with the kettlebell between the legs. Then, you extend into a standing position while hoisting the kettlebell above your head.

Murph This exercise begins with a one-mile run. Then, complete 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups and 300 squats. All pull-ups, push-ups and squats don’t have to be completed in a row. You can break those activities up any way you like. Then, finish with another one-mile run.

Linda A timed workout consisting of 10 sets of bench press, deadlift and clean lifts, which are all popular Olympic weightlifting moves.

The bench press weight should be equal to your body weight, the clean lift weight should be three-fourths of your body weight and the deadlift should be one and a half times your body weight. The first set is 10 reps, then nine reps, then eight reps and so on until the last set of one rep.

Burpees

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Complete as many reps as possible in seven minutes. To complete a burpee, start in the standing position. Next, drop to a push-up position touching your hips and chest to the ground. Then, snap back to the standing position and repeat as often as you can.

Columbus Magazine

49

Culture

Diversity Brings

Story by Barney Quick | Photos by Joel Philippsen

Alex Machavariani

With roots in Georgia and Russia, Columbus resident values harmony he finds here

50

Columbus Magazine

Alex Machavariani believes in really mixing people together. His firsthand experiences with putting various ethnic groups and nationalities into the same companies, communities and even families have convinced him that it’s a great hedge against the kinds of dark points of which history is so full.

He’s seen what works and what doesn’t in his native Georgia and recognizes the parallels with, and perils for, its Black Sea neighbor, Ukraine. Georgia had its Rose Revolution in November 2003, and Ukraine had its Orange Revolution a year later. Both countries have experienced Russian encroachment onto their territory. Machavariani maintains that in each case, the respect, affinity and even family bonds between ordinary citizens have been the saving grace in difficult times.

The director of North American distribution strategy for Cummins Inc. and father of four is a well-assimilated Columbus resident, involving himself in civic activities, such as serving as a swimming official at Donner Center and tutoring at McDowell Education Center. He has also volunteered for Columbus Signature Academy’s Minds on Math program and serves as the Russian and Eastern European affinity group leader at Cummins.

It’s all given him the opportunity to see once again, this time in America, how a rich mix of types of people is good for stability and prosperity.

“On St. Patrick’s Day, my son was wearing all green when he came home from school,” he says. “I asked him if he was Irish. He said, ‘No, I’m American.’ That’s the view I’d like him to have.”

Machavariani and his wife, Arina, have 7-year-old-Michael and nearly 2-year-old Tony. Arina’s

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Alex and Arina Machavariani in the backyard with their children, from left, Michael, Olga and Tony.

“On St. Patrick’s Day, my son was wearing all green when he came home from school. I asked him if he was Irish. He said, ‘No, I’m American.’

That’s the view I’d like him to have.”

—alex machavariani

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daughter, 22-year-old Olga, moved to Columbus to live with her mom and stepfather two years ago. Arina’s other daughter, 26-year-old Sveta, lives in Russia.

Machavariani spent his first 16 years in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. His mother was Russian by ethnicity, her ancestors having moved to Georgia because they were a persecuted religious minority. He was 13 years old in 1991, when the Soviet Union disbanded and Georgia regained its independence.

He says the early period of independence was marked by instability. “Nobody knew what was going to happen tomorrow. It was a civil war. In one part of downtown Tbilisi, people would be sitting in a cafe discussing politics, and a few

Culture

blocks away people were shooting each other.”

He was allowed to move to Russia at age 17 “because I was a former citizen of the USSR. To pay for education, you could apply for assistance. I had a very good Soviet-era GPA, which Russia was still recognizing. I only needed to pass one exam, in math, instead of four.”

He earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from St. Petersburg State University of Economics and Finance in 1999. Then he worked for the Fazer Group in that city as a purchasing manager and a regional sourcing manager while obtaining his doctorate from the university and lecturing part time there as well.

He earned his doctorate in 2004; however, while at Fazer Group, Machavariani’s manager advised him to get an MBA so that he was better equipped for an international business career, so he applied to European and American schools.

“As I was applying, I got accepted to U.S. schools. People said, ‘Obviously, you should go.’”

So he earned a master’s from the University of Michigan in 2008 and was recruited by Cummins the same year. Since then, he’s been a manufacturing excellence manager, a Six Sigma black belt and a strategy manager on the corporate level for the engine giant, as well as for its distribution business unit.

Many tumultuous events were happening back in Georgia during those years while Machavariani pursued his career on American soil.

The Rose Revolution, which started as protests over recent parliamentary elections, led to the ouster of President Eduard Shevardnaze. In 2008, Russia supported separatists in the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Machavariani sees the Rose Revolution as a fight against corruption.

“For example, it was so customary that people took it for granted that police would stop drivers on roads

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Culture and demand a bribe. Georgians realized the importance of building democratic institutions.”

Regarding the 2008 tumult, Machavariani points to the way Georgia is geographically situated. “It’s always been set upon by various empires: the Assyrians, the Mongolians, the Ottomans and the Russians.”

Ukraine was having a similar experience during these years. The Orange Revolution was a reaction to a presidential election tainted with charges of corruption and fraud. It led to constitutional amendments that shifted the balance of power from the presidency to the legislature.

Continuing dispute about that shift led to the 2010 election of Viktor Yanukovych as president. He

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was then ousted in February. The underlying cause of the tensions throughout the years was a divide between Ukrainians who wanted closer ties to Europe and those who felt more affinity toward Russia.

After Yanukovych’s ouster, Russia supported a separatist movement in Crimea, much as it had done in the breakaway Georgian regions six years earlier.

Machavariani sees three main parallels between the Georgian and Ukrainian situations. Ethnic minorities in each country are relatively poor. “They can be manipulated in a variety of ways,” he says. Oil and gas pipelines originating in Russia run through each land. Corruption among the elites is endemic. His ob-

servation on why Ukraine appears to be headed for more turmoil while Georgia settled into relative stability after the 2008 crisis is that “the Orange Revolution didn’t work.”

Georgia held elections two years ago. The figurehead of the party that emerged victorious is Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire businessman who has participated in politics, but is mainly known as Georgia’s richest person. “He’s an oligarch who made his fortune in Russia,” Machavariani explains. “I think the term ‘loyal to Russia’ is not quite accurate, but he has fewer problems with Russia than some in Georgian public life.”

He feels that those in such countries as Georgia and Ukraine who have fared the best are the ones

who have had enough ties to various demographic groups that their foremost allegiance has been to family.

“My stepgrandfather was Jewish and from Hungary,” he says. “He married my grandmother after World War II. Until he died, I didn’t know he wasn’t my genetic grandfather.”

Machavariani sees the United States as having a distinct identity, but that it stems from the nation’s diversity. “Being an American isn’t dependent on one’s ethnic identity.

This is a nation of immigrants. I think this is the best place for us because our ethnic background doesn’t affect how anyone sees us. At some point I’ll show my kids a map of where their grandparents came from, but I don’t want them to use it as a way to differentiate themselves.”

He feels equipped to eliminate certain causes from the realm of possibility when he gets news from his homeland. “There’s such a mix of cultures in that part of the world that when I hear about a conflict, I know it’s not about ethnicity, but rather money and resources. It’s not about people.”

Although history and family tie the Machavarianis to their native homeland, they’re happy to feel a part of the Columbus community.

Stay-at-home mom Arina loves crafting and creating bead artwork. The family’s favorite activity when everyone is together and weather permits is hiking through area state parks, such as Brown County and Turkey Run. TurnColumbusUpsideDown.com “It’s really an ideal place to raise a family,” Machavariani said. “Friendly people, great schools. It feels like everyone, literally everyone, is involved in doing something for the community. Whatever I do as a volunteer, I see so many people who I know who volunteer, too, and are eager to contribute to the community.

“It's like one big family. It's exactly what we were looking for when deciding where to settle down.” –C–

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Home Trends

Welcome Signs

rd can do A quick update to your ya peal wonders to your home’s ap

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Story by Jennifer M. Willhite

S

prucing up your property to add curb appeal can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. According to area designers, making even the smallest changes can help beautify any property.

Finding a little inspiration before you dive in is a good thing, said Juli Suverkrup, owner of Juli Suverkrup Design in Columbus.

“It’s great to drive around, look at houses and see what is appealing to you,” she said.

“There’s nothing like a real 3-D picture in front of you. Everyone has their own style, taste and what looks good to them.”

Oftentimes, a home’s entryway is a great place to start. Clean off dirty spots from around the door, polish door handles or replace them, and do the same with light fixtures, Suverkrup said.

Give your front door a makeover with a fresh coat of paint. Try using an attractive hue that contrasts with your home’s exterior to add beauty and interest, such as a shade of red, green or blue, she said.

“You want a color that pops,” she said. “If your front door is interesting and inviting, people are going to notice.”

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Home Trends

Placing a wreath or other decoration on the door offers extra appeal, she said. Also, consider setting potted flowers on either side of the entryway for additional color.

Giving the front of your home a makeover also requires removing unsightly weeds and tired mulch. From the lawn to flower beds and along the driveway, pulling weeds is a necessity, Suverkrup said.

If you have a winding walkway or large trees in the yard, create ambience by incorporating landscape lighting. “They have the solar lights now, so you don’t have to have electrical work done, which makes it inexpensive and easy,” she said.

Replacing house numbers and giving your mailbox a new look also add beauty to your property. “Get a new mailbox or paint the existing one a color that complements or relates to the style and colors of your home,” she said. “There’s something about a mailbox being clean, fresh and new that adds curb appeal. Plant flowers around the base of it for an added boost.”

Suverkrup also recommends adding a bit of character and whimsy to your yard with weather-resistant outdoor artwork.

Want to add color to your landscape with flexibility you can’t get with traditional flower beds? Create an instant flower garden using containers. You can easily design a dynamic setting using pots of varying sizes and colors, Suverkrup said.

Stagger containers around the base of large trees, along your sidewalk or on the porch. Place them on steps, tables or use other props to offer height and dimension.

Get creative when choosing flowers and the containers that will hold them, recommends Beth Wetherald, landscape designer for Wischmeier Nursery in Columbus.

“Concrete and antique containers and barrels are great,” Wetherald said. “Start with something in the center as a focal point, like elephant ears or ornamental grasses.”

Using different types of grasses allows for the luxury of moving them into your yard when you’re finished, she said. “You might also consider adding bird baths, fountains or benches so you have a quiet place to sit and enjoy all your hard work.”

Refreshing your entire landscape is something that can get expensive, but it will add value to your property, Wetherald said.

“If you have shrubs that have been around for a long time, replace them. And make sure everything is kept trimmed.”

Columbus resident Sue Kamo offers

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Updating house numbers, painting your front door and refreshing your mulch are simple ways to revamp your yard.

those who are seeking to spruce up their property similar advice: Edge around your trees and add mulch.

In 2013, she and her husband, Lloyd, were recipients of the Curb Appeal Award offered

by Columbus in Bloom. The annual award is given to community residents and businesses in recognition of their outstanding efforts to promote the beautification of Columbus.

Kamo said the transformation of their property on 19th Street was an evolutionary process. She was in charge of the design and planting and said the biggest challenge she ran into was building the rock wall along their sloped backyard.

Edging around trees, adding mulch and keeping borders clean make a difference.

When it comes to adding pops of color, think year-round, she said.

“Develop an area if you want to do planting and cut those areas out,” Kamo said. “I plant bushes along with flowers so something is always green and full. And I mix in some annuals with perennials so I have something blooming all year long.”

Depending on the perennials you choose, it isn’t uncommon to have to relocate them, she said.

“If they aren’t doing well or take over an area, you can take them out and move them,” she said.

“And don’t forget to water, water, water.” –C–

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Home & Family

One couple’s Columbus home serves as their sanctuary,

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Story by Jennifer M. Willhite Photos by April Knox

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Daniel and Lucky Gobin’s home is a prime example of what can blossom when you let creativity guide you.

“Balance the heart with the mind,” Daniel says.

“But don’t give up on the heart, because the heart is the thing that leads you.”

A custom stained-glass piece created in a dodecagon, the shape of the house.

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The 9,000-square-foot dodecagon (12-sided) home Daniel, 63, shares with his wife, Lucky, 62, stands on seven acres just west of Columbus off Youth Camp Road.

Visitors are greeted in the nearly 900-square-foot atrium, affectionately called the pyramid room. A 108-petal lotus flower, etched in the 3-inch-thick stone floor, serves as the genesis of the home’s mandala design. Everything about the house is symmetrical.

“Mandala is a Hindu word representing a design that begins at one point and has a geometrical configuration so that you can keep adding on to it infinitely and always have harmonic proportion,” he explains. “It is a logarithmic spiral.”

Daniel, an Indianapolis native, says the idea to build this style of a home came to him one day as he was walking through the woods in Brown County.

Fresh out of college, the then 23-year-old aspiring architect had a vision that he wanted to pursue.

“Whenever you are struck by creativity, you should follow it. It’s like a river,” he says. “If you follow, it opens up and leads you to things that you never could have thought of in the beginning.”

He began constructing the home in 1974 with a meager $700, with timber harvested from the land and with a lot of help from family and friends.

The initial stages of construction were performed like a “good old-fashioned barn raising,” he says.

Teams of horses were used to pull the logs. The timbers were raised by hand, hand-hewed and locked together with black walnut pegs.

The post-and-beam design of the home began with a single post and 12 additional beams made of poplar.

The central post of the home, visible in the basement, essentially supports the weight of the house, he says.

“When I started it, I slept in it as I built it,” Daniel recalls. “I’d build one room and then another room the next year, because I was building out-of-pocket.”

The main living space in the home: family room, dining room and kitchen.

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By 1984, the original 7,000-square-foot home was completed. Then, in the mid-1990s, he met Lucky, someone who shared his dreams. Eventually, they married.

Lucky says when she first saw Daniel’s home it was unlike anything she had ever seen. “It was such an interesting house,” she recalls. “I felt like it had a lot of spiritual energy. I could feel the love in the house and the love behind the construction. I felt his passion, and I was really drawn to that.”

Over the next 20 years, the couple added an additional 2,000 square feet, hiring contractors to complete the framing and flooring, but doing the rest themselves.

From the entry, stairs descend into a labyrinth of steps, halls and doors that divides the home’s 20 rooms and two, three-story towers. Four spacious rooms surround the atrium.

A mural painted by Wendel Field on the ceiling of the master bathroom. RIGHT: A wall fresco, also by Field, a reproduction of a 15th century Japanese mural of Buddha and celestial musicians.

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“Everything in this house used to be something else,” Daniel explains. From the salvaged native oak fence built in the 1960s that now serves as wall covering in the basement to the immense old oxygen tank top that’s mounted as a hanging light fixture in the kitchen, almost all the materials are repurposed and/or locally sourced. Much of the natural materials used in the décor, including the bathrooms’ stone walls and wooden cabinet handles, was sourced from local creeks and wooded areas.

The flooring of the library is also uniquely — and appropriately — sourced. “The floor slabs are giant blackboards from a schoolhouse over on the east side of the county,” Daniel says. “They tore the schoolhouse down and sold the boards for $5 apiece, so I bought them and made slate flooring out of them.”

The home is energy-efficient by design. A 12-sided home is nearly round, which encloses more

square footage of floor space and decreases the need for wall space, he explains. The lack of wall space offers fewer exit points for heat to escape.

The home also is equipped with passive solar panels constructed of concrete and glass, a geothermal energy system and two Russian-style fireplaces, located on either side of the pyramid room.

“I got very interested in a Russian design of the fireplace,” he says. “In America, we have fire boxes where you burn wood and the smoke goes right out of the chimney. Russian fireplaces use baffles. You burn the fire, and instead of it going straight up the chimney, it goes up the brick baffles, then out of the chimney. So you burn a small, hot fire for about two hours, then shut it down and close it off. It holds the heat for 24 to 48 hours.”

To assist with the interior decoration, he enlisted the help of artist, sculptor and friend, Wendel Field.

“He came in and brought a lot of pieces to life,” Daniel recalls. “He was involved in the artistic elements.”

Field’s fresco painting of an Egyptian prayer in the master bedroom and a reproduction of a 15th-century Japanese mural of Buddha in the dining room are just two examples of the eclectic mix of spiritual elements found throughout the interior of the home.

“He did them by hand,” says Lucky. “If you get up there with a magnifying glass, they’re perfect.”

The spiritual elements, including Native American traditions and Eastern and Western religions, that make up the décor have evolved over time. The same diverse spiritual symbolism is mirrored in the gardens outside. A stone pathway leads from the driveway to several devotional structures, including the area’s focal point — a Stonehenge-inspired amphitheater.

“I used to go to England, and I would get per-

Daniel and Lucky Gobin

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The log porch was made from a combination of hand-hewn materials, logs from an old barn and stones from a late 1800s building near Brown County State Park. MIDDLE: The lotus pond.

BOTTOM: The bathroom sink was ground out of a boulder imported from Bali along with the tiny wall stones. OPPOSITE PAGE: The limestone amphitheater.

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“Whenever you are struck by creativity, you should follow it. It’s like a river.”

—daniel gobin

mission from the government to have peace meditations inside Stonehenge,” he explains. “I always loved Stonehenge and had the idea I’d like to build something like it.”

His daughter’s wedding in 2007 offered him the excuse he’d been looking for. Construction of the 100-seat stone structure began in 2006 and was completed in the summer of 2007. The theater’s vertical stones once served as the foundation for some of the first homes and businesses in Bloomington.

The outdoor area also features a 1,500-pound Indonesian garden gnome and a Native American-inspired sweat lodge.

Their home’s spiritual quality is a big part of the couple’s life. “It’s our sanctuary, our temple, our place of worship,” Lucky explains. “That’s what it is for me, and I think I speak for both of us when I say that.

Even in the pyramid, for me, that is sacred space. We wanted to create a sacred energy and feeling when people come here.” –C–

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Personalities

Ronda and Brent Byers 68

Columbus Magazine

In Step Ronda and Brent Byers share their love of dance with the community

Story by Barney Quick Photos by Andrew Laker and April Knox

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eople and families contribute to our city’s cultural richness in many ways. Since the arrival of the Byers family in 2002, dance has moved to the forefront of expressive activities that foster the civic bonds for which Columbus is noted.

Just recently, Ronda Byers organized a noontime Dance Walk through downtown that drew a varied crowd of participants. They waved their hands and swung their hips along Washington Street to the delight of surprised onlookers. It’s typical of the way Ronda and her husband, Brent, enroll others in the service of a more creative Columbus.

Until they moved to Columbus, they’d spent their lives along the northern edge of what is generally considered central Indiana. They both hail from the Hamilton County community of Arcadia.

“I was friends with Brent’s younger sister, Heather,” says Ronda. “We began dating the summer before my senior year in high school.”

Brent was attending Southern Adventist University in Tennessee, majoring in biology and minoring in music. He was involved with a choral group and with theater during those years.

Ronda majored in telecommunications at Purdue University and was a Purdue Gold Duster. The kickline dance team performed at football and basketball games as well as community events. She began her love affair with dance in middle school. “My first gig was choreographing the school musical when I was in seventh grade,” she says.

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The two married in 1987. Over the next 15 years, they lived in West Lafayette, Noblesville, Sheridan and Arcadia. Brent sold franchises for Subway, which began his career in retail marketing. During this time, they also had their son, Brent, and their daughter, Anne-Marie.

In September 2001, the couple’s 10-year-old son watched the terrorist attacks live on television and resolved to join the Marines when he was of age. His determination never wavered. “When he was 17, he wanted me to sign early enlistment papers, and I wouldn’t do it,” says his father, “but he signed up as soon as he was 18.” He served two tours in Afghanistan and is now a student at IUPUC. In 2002, the elder Brent took a job with Johnson Oil Co., which owned a chain of convenience stores under the Bigfoot brand. He then was director of purchasing and merchandising for a Greenfield-based chain called Gas America. Presently, he’s a category manager for Circle K. Ronda taught dance at Total Fitness when they moved to Columbus. She made the acquaintance of a couple, Vuthy and Brandy Ou, who were recent Indiana University graduates who had just established Dance Street. It was originally located in a storefront in the old Commons and then relocated to a larger space on Washington Street. They hired Ronda as an instructor.

Then came the leap into the role of entrepreneur.

The Ous moved to Philadelphia and entrusted Ronda to run Dance Street. Then they decided to sell it. Ronda was a bit unsure about the transition, but “Brent was the business guy, and he told me to keep doing

TOP: Ronda and Brent Byers practice at Dance Street Studio.

BOTTOM LEFT: Brent works with Premlata Poonia. BOTTOM RIGHT: Ronda teaches a dance class.

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“She couldn’t teach me (to dance), though. She handed me off to an employee. They would double team me, and at one point I almost quit. Then something started clicking.”

—brent byers

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what I was doing,” she says.

Now he’s an instructor, and Brent participates in showcases and other events. “I’m often at Circle K at 7 a.m., and then at Dance Street until 10 p.m., so if I didn’t enjoy it, that would be a problem,” he says.

However there was a time when the outdoorsman who enjoys hunting trips to locales such as the Arctic Circle, as well as fishing and mountain biking, did not see himself as a dancer.

When Ronda organized the first showcase, a presentation of choreographed routines by Dance Street students that involve costumes and specially chosen music, he was strictly the emcee. In fact, after Ronda and a student finished their routine, he said to the crowd, “And that’s why I’m not a ballroom dancer!”

He’s also known for a quote from this period in which he said, “Any activity that involves doing something called a twinkle is not for me.”

He did acquiesce to Ronda’s efforts to get him

Ronda with Scott Taskey, her 2014 Dancing with the Stars ... Columbus Style partner. The pair tied for first place.

to give it a try. “She couldn’t teach me, though,” he says. “She handed me off to an employee. They would double team me, and at one point I almost quit. Then something started clicking.”

Perhaps the most recognizable example of the Byerses’ effect on dance in the community is Dancing with the Stars—Columbus Style, an annual event with which they’ve been involved from the outset.

There are also the showcases and open dance nights that their ballroom instruction studio, Dance Street, presents throughout the year. Ronda has also been instrumental in helping Seymour launch its own Dancing with the Stars event, the second staging of which is in the works.

The Columbus fundraiser for Family School Partners and Children Inc. was hatched when the television show of the same name was at its height of popularity. Another local dancer, Charlotte Battin, had given Ronda a call about those organizations and their need for support. “We went to a couple of meetings, and it began to take off,” she says.

The first year’s installment, in 2008, held at Factory 12 Event Loft, consisted of five performances.

The second year, it moved to the ballroom of what is now the Clarion Hotel on the city’s west side.

Notable Columbus citizens are selected to work up routines with various dance instructors, from Dance Street and other studios, and fans of each dancing couple vote for them with monetary contributions.

It’s now one of the most prominent events on the city’s social calendar.

Ronda’s involvement in the development of Seymour’s version occurred when MainSource Bank’s Bruce Wynn watched her routine with his bank colleague, Charlie Farber. A conversation ensued, and planning got underway. “They raised $60,000 the first year,” says Ronda.

Her community involvement also includes choreographing a MainSource group’s routine for Crooners for CASA, a fundraiser for Advocates for Children, as well as choreography for UnCommon Cause, which last year featured a Bollywood theme.

Dance Street also contributes gift certificates to Bowling for Kids’ Sake and She magazine’s Prom-a-rama.

For balance in their lives, Brent and Ronda enjoy time at their home and five-acre property in the wooded hills west of the city. They also spend a great deal of

time with Anne-Marie’s children, Brielle and Addy.

Their impact has left an impression on Columbus residents. Student and friend, and participant in this spring’s downtown Dance Walk, Sarah Cannon says, “It’s great fun to watch Dance Street grow. The secret to its success is a marvelous mix of elements that Ronda and Brent bring to it: passion, expertise, great energy, fun, enthusiasm and a large dose of knowing their customer. They make you feel welcome. Regardless of your skill level, they’ll show you how to progress.”

The studio is indeed growing. Brent and Ronda recently hired two instructors, Lizabeth Aton and Zachary Bear.

It looks like the Byers tribe is well-ensconced in Columbus. “What sets this place apart among central Indiana communities is that, in one day, you can meet people from all over the world,” says Ronda. Adds Brent, “You might assume that in a metropolitan area, but it’s special in a city of 44,000.” –C–

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Nashville, Tennessee

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Travel

Take a short drive in any direction for a fun getaway

By Jon Shoulders

ne convenient aspect of Columbus is its proximity to so many other great cities and attractions throughout the Midwest. When the longing to take a day or weekend trip emerges, many desirable destinations are just a few hours away. But blessings can also be curses. Where to begin? Which spots might work better for a family trip and which for just the gals or guys? And what are the best options for a quieter, romantic excursion? Read on to help make those summer getaway days organized and stress-free.

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Romantic

Retreats Madison Vineyards

Estate Winery and Bed-and-Breakfast 1456 E. Road 400N, Madison, (888) 473-6500. madisonvineyards.com

Glenlaurel Inn 14940 Mount Olive Road, Rockbridge, Ohio, (740) 385-4070. glenlaurel.com The self-described “premier romantic getaway in the Midwest,” Glenlaurel provides plenty of seclusion and Scottish-themed amenities for a unique and private retreat about three and a half hours from Columbus, just outside Columbus, Ohio. When not spending quality time in one of the suites, cottages, rooms or “crofts” (a Scottish term for a small farmhouse), explore private walking trails, a spa and wellness center, a restaurant with six- and seven-course meals and a Scottish-style golf course.

Vintage stovepipe club bags and 100-year-old hickory shaft clubs provided, of course.

“We have hot tubs in 13 of our 19 accommodations, which is somewhat unique among luxury inns and bed-and-breakfasts,” says Sabrina McCartt, general manager and innkeeper at Glenlaurel. “I sometimes like to say it’s Pottery Barn in the forest. There are nice furnishings, but you’re in the middle of a natural setting.”

Couples packages are offered, and romantic add-ons like chocolate-dipped strawberries, gourmet couples’ massages and fresh floral arrangements made by an in-house florist are available to customize your experience.

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As a family-owned wine producer and bed-andbreakfast located about five miles north of the Ohio River, Madison Vineyards offers couples a chance to celebrate their love for each other and their love for wine simultaneously. Sample a range of red and white varieties while relaxing with cheese, fruit and meat trays on the roomy deck overlooking the 37-acre vineyard.

Experience international wine tastings and vineyard tours before retiring to your B&B accommodations for one last toast, either on the spacious patio or in a wine-themed lodging like the Bordeaux Room or the Beaujolais Cottage.

Once a month the vineyard presents its Twilight Tasting Dinner, a four-course meal prepared to accompany a selected Madison Vineyards wine.

Check the website for 2014 Twilight Tasting dates, online room reservations and more information.

Moonrise Hotel 6177 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, (314) 721-1111. moonrisehotel.com A getaway unto itself, the Moonrise also serves as a cozy home base from which to explore St. Louis’ many tourist destinations. Take advantage of the hotel’s several package offerings like the “Peace, Love & Breakfast in Bed” package, which comes with a rose petal turn-down service and breakfast for two in bed, or the “Honeymoon” package, which includes purifying bath sea salts, two embroidered bathrobes, champagne and strawberries and a late checkout time.

If you’re scheduling a busy day at sites like the Gateway Arch, the Hill restaurant and shopping district, Union Station Mall or a Cardinals baseball game, then finish it all off with a drink and a skyline view courtesy of the hotel’s Rooftop Terrace Bar.

Photo courtesy of Madison Vineyard.

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Family

fun

Taste of Chicago.

Photo courtesy of the city of Chicago.

Taste of Chicago cityofchicago.org

A five-day festival starting July 9 featuring 35 food vendors, cooking demos and live entertainment, all on the lakefront—sound good enough to entertain the family for a few days? If not, Chi-Town has loads more in store, like Cubs games at Wrigley Field (which celebrated its 100-year anniversary in April), the Art Institute, Navy Pier, shopping options on the Magnificent Mile and the admission-free Lincoln Park Zoo. The Taste, which is generally regarded as the nation’s largest food festival, typically features Chicago classics that foodies expect like pizza, Italian beef and hot dogs, alongside a range of ethnic vendors. The Blackstone and Drake hotels offer lodging with a little history.

Banshee roller coaster. Photo courtesy of Kings Island.

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Indiana Dunes

Visitor Center, 1215 N. State Road 49, Porter, (219) 926-2255. indianadunes.com You’ll probably need to plan your itinerary in advance for a trip to Indiana Dunes since there’s so much to do in the region, indoors and out.

Visit the beach along the sandy Lake Michigan shoreline and then attack the 70-plus miles of hiking and biking trails throughout and beyond the dunes. “It’s often called Indiana’s ocean due to the spacious beach areas,” says Ken Kosky, promotions director at Indiana Dunes Tourism.

“The Seven Peaks Water Park in Porter is fam-

ily-oriented, and there’s also the 49er Drive-In Theatre, which is the only drive-in theater in northwestern Indiana.”

There are multiple parks with playground equipment, ice cream parlors, several museums and plenty of shopping (there’s even a specialty toy store called Alice’s Garden Toy Boutique).

Stop at the Visitor Center upon arrival, to find out the best attractions, activities and accommodations for your family.

Indiana Dunes

Kings Island 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason, Ohio, (513) 754-5700. visitkingsisland.com This summer Kings Island is unveiling its new Banshee roller coaster, featuring a 150-foot curved first drop and reaching speeds up to 68 mph, making for good timing to take the kids for the day or weekend. Parents won’t get bored, either, with live entertainment including the “Flashback:

Totally ’80s” music show, Soak City Waterpark and family rides like the Eiffel Tower and White Water Canyon. Kings Island has teamed up with Great Wolf Lodge water park resort for package deals that include lodging plus amenities at both sites. Visit the website for details.

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girls Getaways

Photos courtesy of French Lick Springs Hotel.

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French Lick Springs Hotel

Heartland Spa & Fitness Resort

8670 W. State Road 56, French Lick, (888) 936-9360. frenchlick.com

1237 E. 1600 North Road, Gilman, Ill., (800) 545-4853. heartlandspa.com

Next year will mark 170 years since the French Lick Hotel was established, and nowadays the historic hotel, which is located less than two hours from Columbus, offers a full range of amenities and services for guests. Golf, tennis, horseback riding, bike rentals and an outdoor pool can help get your group out under the sun, and nightly activities include casual and fine dining, horse-drawn carriage rides and the 51,000-square-foot French Lick Casino. The “Girlfriends Getaway” spa bundle comes with a facial and manicure/pedicure combo—a restful option for the end of a long day of activities throughout the hotel grounds.

Relaxation and rejuvenation are the focus at Heartland Spa, a health and wellness vacation spot in northern Illinois, just across the state line with a range of spa treatments, fitness facilities and nutritious cuisine. The staff creates your daily schedule, which includes yoga, body sculpting, pool workouts and spin sessions, along with presentations on fitness and well-being during the day and movie and popcorn gatherings in the evenings. Heartland describes its accommodations as “quaint and comfortable with a touch of country charm,” and the rooms have no televisions or phones to help quiet the mind and relax the body. “It’s very comfortable here, and we incorporate all aspects of wellness, with a bed-and-breakfast feel,” says Kim Houseman, spa manager at Heartland. “The full spa often appeals to mother-daughter or girlfriend groups.”

Getaway packages are all-inclusive with meals, snacks, exercise classes, unlimited access to fitness facilities and guest speaker presentations. Check the website for themed weekend packages like “The Brontë Sisters Theme Weekend” happening later this year, which, in addition to Heartland’s regular health and fitness program, includes discussions of the Brontë sisters’ literary works and a special movie marathon.

Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center 2800 Opryland Drive, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 889-1000.

Even if you and your friends never leave the confines of the Opryland Resort during your stay in Nashville, Tenn., you still probably won’t run out of things to do. There are 17 restaurants and cafés within its walls, including Mexican, Italian and American dining, as well as boutique shops and fashion stores if the shopping urge hits. The Relâche Spa & Salon offers a lengthy list of services from massages to facials to manicure/pedicures. Spa guests also have access to a steam room, a sauna, locker rooms and a co-ed relaxation lounge. If the impulse to hit the town is just too much as nighttime approaches, try the District area downtown or Printer’s Alley for a variety of clubs with no shortage of live music.

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For the

boys

White River State Park 801 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, (317) 233-2434. inwhiteriver.com The park features 250 acres of outdoor and indoor diversions, and the heart of downtown Indy is just a stone’s throw eastward. Schedule a sports day and hit Victory Field, where the Indianapolis Indians Triple-A baseball squad plays from April through September, then cool off during a walk through the NCAA Hall of Champions, which features hands-on displays and sports simulators that give visitors a chance to engage in the life of a student-athlete.

Check the website for a calendar of live concerts at the outdoor Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River Park stage; this season’s lineup includes Ray LaMontagne, The Avett Brothers and the Arctic Monkeys. If your crew has the energy after exploring what the park has to offer, venture downtown for some nightlife and plenty of spots with late-night food menus like Bakersfield on Mass Ave. or the Bourbon Street Distillery.

Photos courtesy of White River State Park

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Bardstown, Kentucky Tourist Center, One Court Square, Bardstown, Ky., (800) 638-4877. visitbardstown.com About 40 minutes south of Louisville, the “Bourbon Capital of the World” is home to nine distilleries that offer tours and tastings daily.

Kentucky’s second oldest city also has four golf courses open to the public, a Civil War Museum, the Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History and a Kentucky Railway Museum, all of which might help to work up your thirst. Bourbon enthusiasts can take it to the next level and tackle the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, a multiday circuit of distilleries throughout the central Kentucky area, including the Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg and the Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, among others. More information at kybourbontrail.com.

Lake Monroe lake-monroe.com eaglepointe.com fourwindsresort.com

Photo by Brian Sanders

Fishing, swimming, pontooning and relaxing are all part of the experience at Lake Monroe, the state’s largest body of water, just south of downtown Bloomington. Dust off the clubs for a long weekend of golf during a stay at Eagle Pointe Golf Resort or the nearby Fourwinds Resort & Marina, both of which are situated on the lake and feature dining and live entertainment regularly through the summer. Single-level and double-decker pontoon and fishing boat rentals are available through Lake Monroe Boat Rental at (812) 837-9909. Eagle Pointe’s 18-hole, professional level course is open to the public, so if your group wants to hit the downtown B-Town hotspots after playing, try the Hilton Garden Inn, the Courtyard Marriott or the Indiana Memorial Union Biddle Hotel for lodgings closer to town. –C–

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Arts IU Center for Art and Design Photo by Ben Hill.

AN EYE FOR ART No more galleries in Columbus?

Never fear.

There are other ways to get your creative fix.

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hen word of the June closing of the city’s art gallery, Jacksson Contemporary Art, started to spread, questions among art aficionados focused on one thing: where to go locally to see good art. Creating a new artisan center downtown was discussed, as well as a performing art center, but — at press time — the paint hadn’t yet dried on those ideas. In the meantime, we caught up with several folks in the know to find out where to go around town to see art. Here’s what we uncovered.

The Indiana University Center for Art and Design (310 Jackson St.) “always has a show in its gallery,” reports Erin Hawkins, Columbus Area Arts Council board president. “There’s a whole mix of things shown there.”

Though it has no permanent physical location to show for it, the Columbus Museum of Art and Design (CMAD) is busy curating shows all year long. The “museum” operates thanks to a volunteer committee, and members’ curatorial efforts can be found on display at Hotel Indigo (400 Brown St.), Columbus Regional Health’s WellConnect (237 Washington St.) and on the second floor of The Commons (300 Washington St.).

And there’s more. Karen Shrode, executive director of the Columbus Area Arts Council, suggests several spots where you can find — and, in some cases, purchase — local art.

Columbus Area Visitors Center 506 Fifth St.

Columbus City Hall 123 Washington St.

Columbus Area Visitors Center

Columbus Regional Health 2400 17th St.

Haw Creek Heritage Center 111 Aiken St., Hope

Columbus Regional Health

Stillframes Photography and Design 811 Lindsey St.

Tre Bicchieri 425 Washington St.

Lastly, there’s the great collection of public art the city boasts. Columbus already has more than 70 architecturally significant buildings and pieces of art throughout the city to check out, and the Columbus Area Arts Council’s 2014 Sculpture Biennial will bring eight more pieces from regionally and nationally recognized artists to the Columbus Arts District downtown this year. “That’s exciting,” Hawkins says. “Walking downtown can be kind of like visiting a gallery.”

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In Columbus, a hands-on arts creation program called Artz Daze — Get Up, Get Out, Get Art takes place on July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5 and Oct. 3 in front of The Commons. Each event, to which guests are simply invited to show up and create, runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit artsincolumbus.org.

Get your fill of regional and national art at any of these events

ArtFest, an annual fair now in its fifth year, takes place Aug. 23 and 24 in Columbus. With more than 100 artists from all over the nation on hand, the event has expanded to two days for the first time this year to offer visitors plenty of time to shop along Washington Street.

The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, along with other musical acts, will perform throughout the event, which “keeps growing,” says Bob Anderson, ArtFest organizer.

“The quality of the artists keeps improving, and support from the city has been fantastic.” For more information, visit columbusartfest.com.

Bloomington’s Fourth Street Festival of the Arts & Crafts, an institution in the college town since 1977, takes place on Labor Day weekend every year. Preparations for this year’s staging are well underway. More than 100 vendor booths will feature the works of artists from all over the region in a variety of mediums, including ceramics, leather, glass, photography and printmaking. There’s also live music and spoken-word presentations planned, as well as a Kidszone, where little ones can participate in a community art project. For more information, visit sites.google.com/site/4thstreetfestival.

The Penrod Arts Fair, held on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art each year, enters its 48th year on Sept. 6. With more than 300 artists, six stages of entertainment, more than 50 arts-related, nonprofit organizations, an Indiana craft beer garden and an extensive children’s area available, the event is one of the largest and most revered events of its kind in the Midwest. For more information, visit penrod.org.

Compiled by Barney Quick

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Evansville’s Funk in the City program, which stages both a spring art festival and a late-September event, is generating more buzz every year. The 12th annual Haynie’s Corner Art Festival takes place on Sept. 27.

Attendees work to create Mexican Terra Cotta Sun Masks during Art Daze on Washington Street.

More than 100 artists are expected to participate, and food vendors will offer a bounty of cuisine options.

Ashley Vezzoso, Funk in the City president, says that a portion of the festival’s proceeds go to the renovation of the Alhambra Theater, a venerable old-school Haynie’s Corner movie palace that is being modernized as a performance space. For more information, visit funkinthecity.com.

Madison is gearing up for the 44th annual Chautauqua Festival of Art, a juried event that takes place on Sept. 27 and 28 this year. Held in the Lanier mansion neighborhood, between Vine and Broadway streets along the Ohio River, the event features works made of textiles, glass, wood and more, as well as live music and artisan food offerings. For more information, visit madisonchautauqua.com. –C–

Metals works dry after an iron pouring workshop at ArtFest.

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Featuring the art, writing, poetry and photography of talented local students.

If you know a young Columbus area poet, writer, artist or photographer, please send in their creations for possible inclusion in our next issue. Email high-resolution photographs or word documents to awaltz@hne-media.com.

Don’t forget to include the student’s name, age and school.

“Sienna Stone Wall” Olivia Smith, Graduating Senior, Columbus East High School

“Friend in Red Scarf” Mariann Fant, Grade 11, Columbus East High School

* If you’ve recently submitted art, but haven’t seen it in Student Views, don’t worry, it might appear in a future issue!

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Denise Yang, Grade 8 Central Middle School

Emma Smith, Grade 7, St. Bartholomew Catholic School

Courtney Hunter, Graduating Senior, Columbus East High School

Brianna Eder, Grade 6, St. Bartholomew Catholic School

Audrey Tian, Grade 8 Central Middle School

Kristen Grimm, Graduating Senior, Columbus North High School

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Weddings

Paige Harden & David Langenderfer Feb. 22, 2014 Wedding at Sandy Hook United Methodist Church; Reception at The Commons Photography by Dreamscape Photography

David and Paige met in late 2012 at a time when Paige admits she wasn’t feeling very optimistic about romance. “I was 30 years old and had not been very lucky in love,” she says.

But when they met in person for coffee, she “knew the moment I sat down at the table across from David that he was someone I would want to spend a lot of time with,” she recalls.

By March of 2013, David was ready to pop the question. “I suggested we go to Mill Race to climb the tower,” he says. “We got to the park and started walking up the stairs, but soon found out that the tower was closed after the first flight. I had to scramble to figure out what to do. As we were walking, I remembered the pier where the two rivers meet at Mill Race.”

The couple walked out to look over the water and it was there that David brought out a ring, dropped to one knee and proposed. “Her response,” he says, “was ‘Are you serious?’ and then she said ‘Did I say yes yet? Yes!’” –C–

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Crooners for CASA: Advocates for Children Benefit April 12 | Mill Race Center

1. The New Four Freshmen perform. 2. Proceeds from the event benefit Advocates for Children’s assistance of local child abuse and neglect victims.

3. Connie Barnhorst, left, and Cathy Goode. 4. Pica Saddler. 5. David Tiede, center, and Sherry Stark. 6. Harry McCawley.

7. Brandon and Rachel Roll visit with Ella, seated, and David Elwood. 8. (From left) Terry Hogg, Michael Ferrara, Miranda Hogg, and Missy Ferrara.

9. Hors d’oeuvres served before the karaoke performances. 10. (from left) Ella Elwood, David Elwood, Tom Harmon, Laura Meyer and Victor Meyer.

11. (from left) Judy Johnson, Tom Johnson, Vikki Johnson and Tanya Ely. 12. She Stole My Beer members: (back row, from left) DeeAnne Marlow, Ginger Lirette, Melissa Morelli, Jennifer Rumsey and Tracy Embree. (front row, from left) Christine Schaefer and Suzanne Wells.

13. Rick Scalf, Advocates for Children’s community outreach coordinator, and guest. 14. The Melanies perform. 15. Bud Herron receives the Volunteer Award.

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CAP Adult Prom April 26 Factory 12 Event Loft

1. Jennifer and Brian Houshour.

2. Casey Boilanger, Child Abuse Prevention program coordinator, left, talks with friends, Miranda Fox, Becky Thompson and Valerie Lane.

3. Courtney and Nicole McCoy.

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4. (from left) Jaclyn Sparkman, Riley Sparkman, Amanda Zurbrugg, Andrew Hull, Nikki Jordan, Donnie Reeves, Beth Laker and Jameson Smith.

5. Casey Boilanger.

6. Dawn and Scott Andrews.

7. Ben and Christal Downing, left, with Alena Bates and Patrick McCarron.

8. (from left) Casey Boilanger, Robin Gill, Patrick Gill, Nathan Frasier, Sarah Frasier and Laura Moses.

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9. This year’s event was themed “Our Future’s So Bright, You Gotta Wear Shades!” and raised a total of $39,256.

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10. Sarah Gehring, left, and Melitta Nelson.

11. Nick Eddy and Mackenzie Klaes.

12. Prom king Tim Cooney enjoys the evening with his wife, Jane, and mother, Mary Alter.

13. Megan Tatlock, left, and Courtney Diles.

14. William Haeberle and Cindy Massey enjoy having the dance floor to themselves.

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The Phil’s Maine Event: Lobsterfest May 17 | Heritage Fund Courtyard

1. (from left) Richard McCoy, Hutch Schumaker, and Theodore Prudon. 2. Eric Baird. 3. Grace and Mark Cairns.

4. (from left) Jenny Simms, Sarah Cannon and Suzie Rentschler. 5. David Tiede. 6. Caitlin Smith, left, and Sharon Sung Andrews.

7. Christy and Ken Langston. 8. For $100 per plate, dinner included New England clam chowder, steamed clams and mussels, and freshly caught lobster from Maine. 9. Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Youth Orchestra performs.

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Columbus Farmer’s Market June 7 | Cummins Parking Lot

1. (From left) Bianca Snider, Gay Lawson and chef James Gregory at The Chef’s Daughter omelet booth.

2. Campfire Kettle Korn. 3. Lori Phillips, left, and Julie McQueen.

4. (From left) Archana Chandrasekaran holds her son, Arjon, with Chandrasekaran Kannan, and Jayasree Chandrasekaran.

5. Keith and Amy Dixon. 6. Nina Franke and her daughter, 10-month-old Kayla.

7. Chad Buehler with his dog, Ferris Buehler. 8. (From left) Mary, 7, Frances, 4, and Kristen Sparks with their dog, Toto.

9. Jan Brinkman.

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Salute Concert May 23 | Courthouse lawn

1. (From left) John Sasse, Donna Sasse, Nancy Olson, David Maudlin and Larry Olson wait for the Salute Concert to begin. 2. Donald Sjaardema, 92, was recognized during the event. Sjaardema is the father-in-law of conductor David Bowden and was a POW after his plane was shot down during WWII. 3. Tom Dell. 4. Dane Floyd holds his daughter, Yuliva. 5. Marc and Jasmyn Nehring, with their children, Hannah and Andrew.

6. Army National Guard members and their guns were a key part of the 1812 Overture. 7. Pfc. James Orner explains how the charges work to Navy reserve member Reeves Flint and his daughter, Esther. 8. Veterans of all branches of military service were easy to spot during the concert.

9. Veeksha Anil holds an American flag and wears patriotic colors. 10. Boyce Stattenfield. 11. Margy Nierman, left, and Theresa Westerfeld.

12. Ainsley Russell and her father, Chad. 13. The event is free, and part of the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic concert season.

14. Keith Prior Sr. and his son, Keith Prior Jr., stand to salute during the recognition of veterans.

15. (From left) Maleah McClellan, Nathan McClellan, Wyatt McClellan, Christy Peters and Ginger Brazda, with their dog, Bulmer.

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summer 2014 | Compiled by Amy Norman

Calendar of Events

MUSIC | ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT | OUTDOORS | SPECIAL INTERESTS

Cirque du Soleil Varekai comes to Indianapolis July 24-27.

(Photo by Eric PichĂŠ)

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key notes MUSICAL EVENTS

June 27 Live on the Plaza featuring Black Violin with youths from the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic strings camp. Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Bartholomew County Public Library plaza, 536 Fifth St. Information: blackviolin.net July 10 Barometer Soup performs as part of the JCB Neighborfest.

Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free. Location: 300 block of Washington Street in front of The Commons.

July 12 Enjoy the Columbus Scottish Bagpipers at the east door plaza of the Columbus Area Visitors Center.

Time: Noon to 2 p.m.

Location: 506 Fifth St. July 19 Indiana Black Expo Heritage Music Festival II features Anthony Hamilton, Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds and Chrisette Michele. Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $35 to $65. Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S.

events for kids

July 24-27 Cirque du Soleil Varekai comes to Indianapolis. Tickets: $35 to $145. Location: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis. Information: bankerslifefieldhouse.com Aug. 23 Spend an evening with Duck Dynasty: Willie, Korie, Si and Alan Robertson. The group will answer submitted questions from ticket holders for this special evening. Time: 7 p.m.

Location: Columbus North High School gymnasium, 1400 25th St. Information: (812) 343-9762 or blankslatepro.org

Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.

Information: bankerslife fieldhouse.com Aug. 7 My Yellow Rickshaw performs as part of the JCB Neighborfest. Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Cost: Free. Location: 300 block of Washington Street in front of The Commons.

Aug. 16 Enjoy the Columbus Scottish Bagpipers at the east door plaza of the Columbus Area Visitors Center. Time: Noon to 2 p.m. Location: 506 Fifth St. Aug. 30 Don’t miss the 28th annual community Our Hospice Concert featuring Kansas. Proceeds benefit Hospice of South Central Indiana. Time: 6 p.m.

Cost: Free. Location: Mill Race Park, Fifth and Lindsey streets.

Information: (812) 314-8053 Sept. 4 Terry Lee and the Rockaboogie Band perform as part of the JCB Neighborfest. Time: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Cost: Free. Location: 300 block of Washington Street in front of The Commons.

Sept. 20 Check out classic cars, trucks, hot rods, motorcycles and more at 106.1 The River’s Hot Rods & Rock ‘n’ Roll. Bring everyone out for this family-friendly event. Time: 3 p.m. car show; 7 p.m. free concert

by Rick K and the Allnighters.

Cost: Free. Location: Downtown Columbus. Information: 1061theriver.com

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open spaces OUTDOOR EVENTS

June through September Every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., the Columbus Farmers Market offers fresh produce grown by local farmers and gardeners, flowers, home-baked goods, drinks, local art and jewelry, herbs and music. Location: Cummins parking lot, between Brown and Lindsey streets.

Information: (812) 371-3780 or columbusfarmersmarket.org

Enjoy the quiet beauty of the 100-year-old Irwin Gardens, keeping the tradition of public hours started by the original Irwin family in 1909. See the newly renovated descending fountains and turtle pools while sitting under the wisteria. Time: 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Sundays. Cost: Free. Location: 608 Fifth St. Information: (812) 376-3663

The Columbus City Farmers Market features local growers, producers and artists through Sept. 20. Time: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Location: Fair Oaks Mall parking lot, 25th Street. Information: (812) 378-0539

June 28 The BBQ, Blues and Brews festival is an outdoor festival featuring live blues music, barbecue from local pit masters and locally brewed beer from four breweries. Time: 4 to 10 p.m. Cost: Free admission; food and beverage for purchase.

Location: 400 Fourth St. Information: (812) 379-2022

Spend an afternoon or evening at the ballpark watching the Indianapolis Indians this summer.

Tickets: $10 to $16. Location: Victory Field, 501 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis. Information: (317) 269-2542 or indyindians.com

Enjoy mile after mile of flower-adorned fence rows during the Honeysuckle Hundred bicycle ride. There will be four ride options from 12 miles to 100 miles. Time: 7:30 a.m. Location: 308 Fourth St. Information: honeysucklehundred.com July 13-19 Come to the Johnson County 4-H Fair. Animals, food, exhibits by 4-H members and fun for the entire family. Information: johnsoncountyfair.com

July 4-12 Bartholomew County 4-H Fair offers a watermelon seed spitting contest, a pie eating contest, tractor pulls and so much more. Events daily.

Times vary. Information: bartholomewcountyfair.com

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July 26 The sixth annual Reeves Festival, an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the farm, is served with genuine Hoosier hospitality and musical entertainment.

Time: 8 to 10 a.m. Location: Historic Breeding Farm, 13730 N. Road 100W, Edinburgh.

Information: (812) 372-3541 or bartholomewhistory.org The Johnson-Witkemper Insurance Biggest Block Party

Irwin Gardens Ever features local and regional bands, including headliner the Dane Clark Band. Local acts will include Rown 25 and Oddz-R and Barney Quick. Food from downtown restaurants, beer and wine, and kids’ activities. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Area Arts Council. Time: 5:30 p.m. to midnight. Cost: $8 adults; children 12 and younger free. Location: Downtown Columbus. Information: (812) 376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org Aug. 9 Test your endurance during the 19th annual Columbus Challenge Triathlon, which benefits the Foundation for Youth scholarship fund. Individual and team registrations are available with sprint and Olympic distances. Location: Tipton Lakes Marina, 6000 Tipton Lakes Blvd. Information: foundationforyouth.com Aug. 10 The 2014 Red Bull Indianapolis GP is a round of the MotoGP World Championship, the most prestigious motorcycle road racing series in the world. Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W. 16th St., Speedway. Information: indianapolismotor speedway.com

Don’t miss the Indiana State Fair, August 1-17 Times: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 8 a.m. to midnight Friday; 8 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Saturdays.

Admission: $10 adults; children 5 and younger are free. Information: indianastatefair.com. Here’s the lineup for the Coliseum Concert Series: July 31: Lynyrd Skynyrd with special guests Jamey Johnson & Drake White and the Big Fire. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $26 to $60.50 Aug. 1: Robin Thicke with special guest Estelle. Time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $35 to $75 Aug. 5: Phillip Phillips. Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25 to $35 Aug. 6: American Idol Live! 2014 Tour. Time: 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $26 to $60.50

Aug. 17 Bark in the Park: End of Summer Doggie Day is specifically designed for man’s best friend.

Vendors will be present with information for dogs and their owners. The Indy Dog & Disc Club will entertain in the field east of the pool at 6 and 7 p.m.

Doggie Swim is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. All dogs must be sociable, accompanied by an owner/ handler, and on a leash, except while swimming. Time: 6 to 8 p.m. Cost: $5 per dog. Location: Donner Park Aquatic Center, 22nd and Sycamore streets.

Information: (812) 376-2680 Aug. 17 The Columbus Youth Camp Panting Deer Enduro Challenge features great new biking trails combined with never-before-seen rides on nearby private property. Time: 9 a.m. Location: Columbus Youth Camp, 12454 W. Youth

Aug. 8: Pitbull. Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $35 to $75

Photos by Getty Images

Aug. 9: Hunter Hayes. Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $35 to $45

Camp Road. Information: pantingdeer.com Aug. 21 Help support Family Service by playing in the Family Service Golf Scramble. Time: 11:30 a.m. lunch; 1 p.m. shotgun start.

Cost: $100 per person, which includes lunch and 18 holes.

Location: Harrison Lake Country Club, 588 S. Country Club Road. Information: family servicebc.org Sept. 13-14 Take in all things Scottish at the Scottish Festival. Enjoy highland dancers, clan tents, athletics, sheepdogs, European cars, bagpipes, re-enactors, Scottish country dancing, food and more. The Columbus Scottish Festival is the home of the annual Midwest Highland Games Championship. The athletic competitions include amateur and professional athletes. Time:

Southern Indiana Pipes and Drums marches through the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds at the 2013 Columbus Scottish Festival.

Aug. 17: Jim Gaffigan. Time: 8 p.m.

Tickets: $25 to $45

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NASCAR Sprint Cup Events Don’t miss any of the action during the 2014 Super Weekend leading up to the NASCAR race at the Speedway in Indianapolis. It is four action-packed days of racing.

Here’s what’s happening:

open spaces (cont.)

8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Location: Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Information: (812) 546-6060 or scottishfestival.org Sept. 20 Enjoy tours of the charming and picturesque Duck Creek Valley during the Hope Bike Ride with live music, a pancake breakfast and root beer floats.

Proceeds benefit the Hope Food Bank. Cost: $25 until Sept. 6; $30 until Sept. 16; $40 after Sept. 16. Kids 12 and younger ride free with a paying adult. Time: 7:30 a.m. Location: Hauser High School, State Road 9, Hope. Information: hoperide.org

Sept. 27 Get ready for the Mill Race Marathon in Columbus. The event will include a full marathon, half-marathon and 5K. The marathon will be sanctioned by United States of America Track and Field and will be a certified Boston Marathon qualification course. Information: millrace marathon. com

July 24: Hauler Parade July 25: Tudor United Sportscar Championship Race Day July 26: NASCAR Nationwide Series Race Day July 27: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race Day. Location: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W. 16th St., Speedway. Information: indianapolismotor speedway.com

Sept. 26-28 Enjoy concerts, food, crafts, a parade and more at Hope Heritage Days. Information: (812) 546-4673 or heritageofhope.com

Jimmie Johnson leads during a 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway. (Getty Images)

stage & scene ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS

Every Thursday enjoy first-run independent films before they open nationwide. Location: Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. Cost: $9. Information: (812) 378-4937 or yescinema.org

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Aug. 23-24 The Columbus ArtFest features artwork from local, regional and national artists. The juried show features dozens of artists in mixed media, ceramics, fiber, leather, furniture, glass, jewelry, printmaking, sculpture and woodwork.

Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 23; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 24. Location: Washington Street in downtown Columbus. Information: columbusartfest.com

Yes Cinema

enlighten me SPECIAL INTEREST EVENTS

June 21 Have you ever wondered how the pioneers’ clothes got their colors? Learn this and more during Saturday Sampler: Natural Dyes. Learn how to use things found in nature to make fabric dyes. Everyone gets to try their hand and dye something special to take home. Time: 11 a.m. to noon. Location: Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Information: (812) 3723541 or bartholomewhistory.org June 21-22 Enjoy the 22nd annual Indian Market and Festival, a two-day celebration of Native American art and culture. Meet more than 130 Native American artists and performers from more than 60 tribes. Time: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost: $10 adults at the gate; $8 museum members; 17 and younger free. Location: Eiteljorg Museum, 500 W. Washington St., Indianapolis.

Information: (317) 636-9378 or eiteljorg.org July 11 through Aug. 1 Dan Kiley was one of the most important and influential Modernist landscape architects of the 20th century.

The Landscape Architecture Legacy of Dan Kiley is a traveling photographic exhibition and retrospective featuring 45 vibrant photographs that chronicle the current state of 27 of Kiley’s more than 1,000 projects worldwide. Cost: Free.

Time: 1 to 5 p.m. Location: IU Center for Art and Design, 310 Jackson St. Information: (812) 375-7580 or tcif.org July 12 & 19 Steam has helped move this nation forward and has played a major role in Bartholomew County’s history. Look at

everything steam can do, from engines to toys, during Saturday Sampler: Full Steam Ahead.

Time: 11 a.m. to noon. Location: Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Information: (812) 3723541 or bartholomewhistory.org Aug. 9 Learn how rural families in Bartholomew County enjoyed the nation’s first rural free delivery postal service during Saturday Sampler: The Post Office. Time: 11 a.m. to noon.

Location: Bartholomew County Historical Society, 524 Third St. Information: (812) 372-3541 or bartholomewhistory.org Aug. 17 Get ready to churn butter and mix cornbread as you learn to cook like a pioneer during Otis’s Outings: Campfire Cooking. Work together to create a hardy frontier meal using hearth cooking techniques and historic recipes, and then sit down to enjoy. Time: 1 to 4 p.m. Cost: $8 adults; $5 children. Location: Henry Breeding Farm, 13730 N. Road 100W, Edinburgh.

Information: (812) 372-3541 or bartholomewhistory.org

postal service during Saturday Sampler: The Post Office. Time: 11 a.m. to noon. Location: Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Information: (812) 3723541 or bartholomewhistory.org Sept. 13 & 20 What do a mermaid, a unicorn tail and a two-headed cow have in common? They are all the types of “artifacts” included in traveling displays of oddities that were a popular form of entertainment before movies. Check out some of the strange items in the Bartholomew County Historical Society’s collection during Saturday Sampler: Cabinet of Curiosities. Time: 11 a.m. to noon. Cost: Free. Location: Bartholomew County Historical Center, 524 Third St. Information: (812) 372-3541 –C–

Participate in glass-forming workshops, demonstrations and an iron pour on Aug. 22 and 23.

Aug. 22-23 Participate in glass-forming workshops, demonstrations and an iron pour during Meltdown, sponsored by the Columbus Area Arts Council.

Scratch block and time slots for the workshops will go on sale in July via artsINcolumbus. org. Location: Between Third and Fourth streets on Washington Street. Information: artsINcolumbus.org Aug. 23 Learn how rural families in Bartholomew County enjoyed the nation’s first rural free delivery

Columbus Magazine

105

A Look Back

Clowning Around Tommy Thompson, standing, was the ringmaster for the Junior City Slickers, a group of Columbus teens who modeled themselves after the City Slickers, a popular band in the 1940s and ’50s, famous for their sounds made on unusual instruments. The junior version of the band toured the Midwest even though many members were still students at Columbus High school.

The Republic file photo. Details provided by Harry McCawley.

If you have photos you’d like to have considered for “A Look Back,” please email them to awaltz@hne-media.com.

Include any information you have, including who took the photo and event details.

106 Columbus Magazine

CANCER DOESN’T

DEFINE

YOU.

And it doesn’t control you either. Before beginning treatment, take a second and consider getting a second

opinion. An accurate diagnosis is critical and you need to make sure you’re getting the latest, and most advanced, cancer treatment – from research trials to innovative surgery. Even when you’re told you have no other options.

Call the Second Opinion Clinic at (317) 528-1420 to schedule a review of your cancer treatment options.

FranciscanStFrancis.org/cancer Inspiring Health