MAGAZINE
JULY 2021
“Most Beautiful” Mosque Opens in Hamilton County REKAZ HOMES COMPLETES ALHUDA ISLAMIC CENTER OF INDIANA
BORN TO RACE
Conor Daly Has Made His Own Track
AGAVE BAR AND GRILL
Sisters Add a Personal Touch to Their Mexican Eatery
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JU LY 2021
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Love for the Game: Carmel Brothers Share a Passion for Lacrosse
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Building Bonds: DADCAMP Provides Quality Father-Child Experiences
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“Most Beautiful” Mosque Opens in Hamilton County: Rekaz Homes Completes Alhuda Islamic Center of Indiana
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Dinner Is Served: Kinnard and Drake’s 1830 Chophouse Specializes in Casual Fine Dining
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Born to Race: Conor Daly Has Made His Own Track
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Agave Bar and Grill: Sisters Add a Personal Touch to Their Mexican Eatery
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Derek Daly’s Racing Success Began with Drive
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skills with each other in their backyard. “I remember when we were first getting into it, Brannick and me would set goals on how many passes we could get before dropping it, and we would just get really psyched when we got to the number,” Chase says. “It slowly just crept up to where we didn’t have to set a number anymore and could just do it infinitely.” After honing their craft locally, the Arbuckle brothers eventually became involved with True Lacrosse, the Midwest’s premier club lacrosse program. “I think around sixth grade, we started playing travel for True Lacrosse here in Indiana,” Brannick says. “Eventually we got good enough to go play for True Nationals in our age group, which is all the best kids from all the True organizations coming together. They play on that team, and that team will go to tournaments and play other teams.” Zachary #32 , Brannick: #7 and Chase #3 Arbuckle
LOVE FOR THE GAME CARMEL BROTHERS SHARE A PASSION FOR LACROSSE
Writer / Seth Johnson Photographer / Mark Rafalkoz
Brannick, Chase and Zach Arbuckle are three brothers united by their passion for lacrosse. “We always grew up playing football and other sports, but we always thought lacrosse looked cool and our parents thought it looked cool,” Chase says. “We went to a clinic and just fell in love with it. It was one of those things where we still played other sports, but lacrosse quickly became the number-one sport for us.”
All three are currently enrolled at Carmel High School, and Brannick (class of 2022), Chase (class of 2022) and Zach (class of 2024) were part of the varsity lacrosse team that fell to Hamilton Southeastern High School in this year’s state championship. When they’re not playing for Carmel, the three brothers also stay busy with club lacrosse, with Brannick and Chase playing for True Illinois Premier 2022, Zach playing for True Illinois Premier 2024, and all three playing for the Long Island Sting. After discovering their love for lacrosse at a fairly young age, the three Arbuckle brothers can remember sharpening their 4 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
As the Arbuckle brothers explain, True Lacrosse has helped to put the Midwest on the map when it comes to lacrosse, especially considering the sport’s popularity on the east coast. “The Midwest was being really left out for a long time, and True was the first program that really came and brought all of the Midwest together to rival all the Northeast teams,” Chase says. “That was when it started getting really serious for us, when we made the national team and we were able to go out and see the really good competition for the first time.” “I remember going out there our first year,” Chase continues. “We got our butts handed to us every single game, and that was a big eye-opener to the skill level we wanted to compete at. Ever since then, we started practicing really hard and playing more teams like that. I think that’s really what made the difference here in the Midwest. A lot of kids only play the school season, like half of the year or so. When we’re able to go out and play in the summer and we’re able to go out and play some of the best club teams in the country, we learn a lot.”
Through the years, True Lacrosse Cofounder Jake Deane has witnessed the Arbuckle brothers’ growth firsthand.
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“What’s really impressive to me about them is their desire to get better,” Deane says. “They’re very committed to wanting to get better, and they have big-time goals. They want to play at the highest level they possibly can, and I really do believe they have the ability to do so.” When it comes to their most recent season with Carmel varsity lacrosse, the three brothers certainly have individual accomplishments they are proud of. Brannick and Chase both say they improved on their athletic physique, while Zach has learned how to handle his nerves when competing on a bigger stage. “My first game of my freshman year, I didn’t think I did so well - I was false starting and was really nervous to play in front of a big crowd,” Zach says. “I think I’ve grown a lot this year on learning how to cope and do well. It’s really been a good learning experience that I’ve gotten throughout the year.” Looking back, the Arbuckle brothers say this past season with Carmel was ultimately defined by resilience. “Something I’m really proud of this year is how much we were able to overcome the losses that we had at the beginning of the season and how much our team just did a 180,” Chase says. “I think the commitment to the team really rose. The leadership by the seniors is something that I’m going to remember forever.”
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BUILDING BONDS DADCAMP PROVIDES QUALITY FATHER-CHILD EXPERIENCES
Writer / Ryan Kennedy Photography Provided
Jason Braun believes many of the ills afflicting society have one thing in common - disengaged fathers. “If there’s one thing our communities, our churches and our governments should be really focusing on, it should be helping dads just become the best they can be,” Braun says.
families get better. That’s what’s different about DADCAMP from other types of activities or things that are out there for families to participate in with their kids.”
fathers and their high school-aged children, DADCAMP Middle School for fathers and their middle school-aged children, as well as DADCAMP Grades 1st-5th and DADCAMP Old School, which is for fathers and adult sons.
Braun says DADCAMP started as part of a church in Kokomo. In 2016 it became an independent nonprofit organization.
Braun has three children, and he credits DADCAMP with helping him to be a present, positive force in their lives.
“It’s not associated or affiliated with any one church or anything - it’s just its own deal now,” he says.
“The tools, the things that I’ve been equipped with, the ways to navigate conversations, the ways to build them up, and the ways to have presence in their lives that I’ve learned through leading this organization have been invaluable,” he says.
Braun says a typical weekend consists of sessions aimed at building relationships between fathers and their children, and also sessions exclusively for dads, where the men “Essentially, it is a father-child experience work together, share their experiences with where we create a weekend-long event one another and help each other become for dads and kids to invest into that the best fathers possible. DADCAMP also relationship, but we also really focus on dads brings in speakers to talk to the dads in themselves,” Braun says. “All of our content attendance. is driven at helping a father just become a little bit better at doing his fatherhood thing, The organization offers four different types and we know that when fathers get better, of camps: DADCAMP High School for Rather than wait for someone else, Braun decided to act. He co-founded DADCAMP.
TownePost.com / JULY 2021 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 7
DADCAMP will host 14 events in Indiana this summer. Although it started locally, the organization hosts events not just all over the country, but also all over the world. According to the official website, DADCAMP leaders hope to be in 25 countries and 25 states by 2030. One way they hope to achieve this goal is
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Greene was introduced to DADCAMP by his neighbors and says the concept intrigued him. He has attended three times, once with each of his children, and already has plans to go back. He says he wants to spread the message to as many people as possible, and his goal is to make sure that every dad in the world knows they have what it takes to be a parent. “I took my first one and took each boy on separate times, and had really amazing life experiences with my kids that otherwise I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to gain,” Greene says.
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“What you’re committing to when you sign up for the DADCAMP Army is to give of yourself your time, to give financially, to bring people to DADCAMP and to spread the word,” says Gabe Greene, a member of the DADCAMP Army. “Much like God calls us to do - give of your time, your talents and your finances. DADCAMP looks for that support and I take that very seriously.”
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DOMES AND MINARETS The domes are made of gold-plated fiberglass with a radius of 30’ for the large dome and 18’ for the small domes. It took four months in Ohio to build and 25 days to assemble and attach to the structure with the help of 14 specialized team members. The minarets stand 60’ tall on a metallic skeleton with cement blocks and fiberglass at the top.
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“Most Beautiful” Mosque Opens in Hamilton County REKAZ HOMES COMPLETES ALHUDA ISLAMIC CENTER OF INDIANA Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Arif Hussain
When Rekaz Homes was entrusted to build the new Alhuda Islamic Center of Indiana, CEO Hossam Wanas, a proud citizen of Fishers, felt compelled to make the mosque into a work of art with architecture that would make the whole city proud. “Having witnessed the rapid rise of Fishers as one of the best cities to live and raise a family with an excellent profile of safety and diversity, the call to action became even more pressing to create a building that showcases all our great city has to offer,” says Wanas, who has worked in the construction industry for many years starting from his home in Alexandria, Egypt and continuing in Fishers, Indiana. Wanas envisioned erecting a mosque that would be the most beautiful in the country, and one that complements the city’s futuristic vision. Therefore, he actively participated in the initial exterior and interior design, consulting with master builders, designers and craftsmen in Egypt and traveling to conventions around the world to learn about the best materials that
could be used for the project, all while being mindful of cost. “The challenge was obvious as we already have exquisite mosques in the United States such as the Diyanet Center of America in Maryland and the Islamic Center of Washington, D.C.,” Wanas says. 10 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
MAIN PRAYER HALL (MUSALLA) This is the main prayer area totaling 13,000 square feet with a soaring 28’ ceiling. The floors are covered in fine Turkish carpet with a thread density of 1.1 million points per square meter. The woodwork was carried out by the finest carpenters in Indiana, assembling over 1,000 detailed wood pieces. The columns are octagonal and are encased in fine Brazilian granite known as Taj Mahal. A Quranic verse adorns this space that was crafted in Indonesia using mahogany wood and was assembled by an expert in Chicago.
COMMUNITY AND VOLUNTEER WORK The community has so much to give. This small army of volunteers, under the direction of Judy Aljabi Nahlawi, who took the initiative and lead the effort, was able to help cut costs so the funds could go to more needed areas. Countless hours of working on Gold Leaf ceilings, stenciling patterns on walls, and cleaning were put in to insure the mosque would be ready for the grand opening.
ENTRANCE AND GATHERING AREA A special focus was on creating an open space, mimicking the Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, and further accentuated by light colors that echo the exterior design to give a visually smooth transition upon entering the mosque. The materials were carefully chosen, and include porcelain tiles from Italy and a handmade Islamic mosaic from Spain. Brass accents were used throughout to tie the design elements together. The entrance to the prayer area is covered in the Brazilian Taj Mahal granite and is crowned with Islamic art inspired by the Cologne Mosque in Germany.
He recognized that it would be difficult to execute a similar project, due to the larger space and budgets that the leaders of those projects enjoyed. “These buildings were inspired by architecture from the Ottoman Empire dating back to the 14th century and influenced by Byzantine architecture, combining a blend of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern history,” Wanas says. “Therefore, my direction to help this mosque be most unique was to choose a concept of design focused on modern Islamic architecture.” As a result, the mosque is the only one in the U.S. that uses these elements, making it truly one of a kind. Combining the rich elements of Islamic history with contemporary building design, modern Islamic architecture incorporates the use of
modern-day building materials including glass, fiberglass, copper, gold leaf, porcelain floors, marble, granite, and vivid colors such as white, blue and gold, all while maintaining the fundamental structural appearance of a mosque complete with domes, minarets and Islamic art. “This approach allowed us to build an iconic structure that mirrors the vibrance exhibited throughout the City of Fishers while staying
JESSICA HANCOCK’S ISLAMIC ART The smaller 14’ domes are inspired by the domes in Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. The main dome, which is 28’ in diameter, is unique and displays select Quranic verses. The semicircular wall niche denoting the direction of Mecca. Hancock also provided artwork for windows, wall patterns (for the carpenters), gilded one 20-foot arched entry ceiling and the 4-foot tall border atop the gymnasium. TownePost.com / JULY 2021 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 11
LIGHTING AND CHANDELIERS All of the chandeliers were custom built by master crafters in Egypt. Made from copper and gold plated with 18-karat gold, the chandeliers hanging from the smaller domes are 7’ in diameter and weigh 600 pounds each, inspired by those of the Sayeda Zainab Mosque in Cairo, Egypt. The main dome chandelier is made from the same materials, and is 14’ wide and 1,200 pounds. It is inspired by that of the Masjid an-Nabawi in Medina. In addition, 30 pendants and wall lights complete the overall design.
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RESTROOMS AND LAVATORIES (ABLUTION WASH AREAS) A characteristic design incorporates porcelain and mosaics, further defined by the use of indirect lighting to highlight the golden faucets, stone handles and golden beveled mirrors.
FATUMAH INTERFAITH ROOM This room is named in loving memory of the young Fatima Hassuneh, who passed away in a tragic traffic accident in 2017 at 18 years old. She was known for her kindness, good manners and passionate participation in interfaith activities. This room is to be used as a safe, welcoming space for people of all faiths to foster education, compassion and peaceful coexistence. It is the only room which contains a rare marble wall etched with a golden color pattern, and an inner dome decorated with a spectacular pattern. It houses a state-of-the-art audiovisual system through which remote meetings can be conducted.
true to a budget set forth by the donations of community members,” Wanas says. The project, which took three years to complete, is a 40,000-square-foot structure with a distinctive exterior and an interior that merges open areas, natural light and high-quality finishes to achieve the final product. In early August 2020, Wanas started taking multiple groups of community members on tours through the building and during various stages of the construction process. Each time the people were left awestruck at the beauty of his intricate creation.
All the positive feedback made Wanas strive to make sure this project was nothing but amazing. Wanas searched for quite some time to find just the right artist who could paint murals throughout the building. After a rigorous nationwide selection process, he came across the artist Jessica Hancock. “Until I found her, my original plan was to bring in someone from overseas because I wanted someone who could do Islamic artwork,” Wanas says. 12 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
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He provided Hancock with pictures and elements to study, and she delivered. “Jessica had the patience to learn it and she worked tirelessly for four months creating a signature design pattern for the mosque’s unique Islamic art,” Wanas says. “She did great work.” Alhuda Islamic Center is located at 12201 Lantern Road in Fishers.
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Dinner Is Served KINNARD AND DRAKE’S 1830 CHOPHOUSE SPECIALIZES IN CASUAL FINE DINING
his partners Chris Canal and Chef Shawn Sublette, opened Lebanon-based Backroads BBQ, a family-friendly, Texasstyle barbecue and southern comfort food concept. Five months later when COVID took hold in the U.S., the partners came up with an idea to help out the local community - an idea that would eventually prompt local officials to approach the partners about opening a steakhouse. Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Mariah Krafft
Joe Stein says that Kinnard and Drake’s 1830 Chophouse, the new establishment he co-owns on West Main Street in Lebanon, has filled a major culinary void in the local community. In November of 2019 Stein, along with
During that time period we donated close to 4,500 meals to help people out.” On the heels of this philanthropic effort, a few local leaders, including Mayor Matt Gentry and Boone County Chamber of Commerce representatives, contacted the partners about opening a steakhouse in the area. “Apparently the city has been desperate to have a steakhouse for years and years, and they asked if we would be interested in putting a steakhouse on the square,” Stein explains. “We then put together a group that launched 1830 Chophouse. It wasn’t necessarily in our long-term plan to go this route, but because of the food distribution company, and because of Shawn being a chef, we thought we had a pretty good team we could put together and bring something to Lebanon that it’s been lacking.”
“We decided we would help Backroads support the community by donating meals to families in need - whether from losing a job due to COVID, from just not wanting to go out, or whatever,” says Stein, who coowns Ideal Food Group, a 70-year-old food distribution company, with Canal. “We decided that for every meal we sold during a 30-day period back then, we would donate a The partners soon took over the space meal to the Boys and Girls Clubs in the area. formerly occupied by People’s Revel 14 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
Room, and a three-month period of light renovations became the next order of business. The full interior capacity is 125, and Stein says the patio will be able to accommodate up to 60 people when warm weather hits. “It was pretty much in usable condition, and we just had to add some equipment and tables to the space,” Stein says of the physical preparation and renovation process. The menu boasts plenty of traditional steakhouse fare including, of course, a range of steak options, as well as pasta, sandwiches, soups, salads and desserts.
online, and carry-out orders are welcome. “We have attempted to recreate an old chophouse feel, so there are hardwood floors, dark woods, and high-quality steak at a moderate price,” he says. “On Facebook and other places we’ve been compared price-wise to some middle-of-the-road steakhouses, but for quality we’ve been compared to places like St. Elmo and some of the nicer steakhouses around. We’re going for a quiet, romantic feel.”
Stein adds that Ideal Food Group owns a local slaughterhouse, and the steakhouse’s meats come from a farm within 10 miles of the restaurant, to be processed at a “The menu items that stand out the most are facility in Ladoga and then shipped to 1830 our seven-ounce Filet Mignon, our Bone-In Chophouse. Ribeye and our New York Strip,” Stein says. “On our appetizers, our Smoked Tomato “It’s hard to get any fresher than our Soup is one dish that’s really gotten a great processing cycle,” Stein says. response. We also have Stuffed Mushrooms and a Spinach Artichoke Dip that have been The steakhouse opened in November of last favorites. There’s also your stand-by Shrimp year, and Stein says locals have responded Cocktail with your spicy cocktail sauce.” positively to the concept so far. The owners decided to give a nod to some local history when choosing a name for the steakhouse.
Co-Owner Joe Stein
“Kinnard and Drake were two military men, and it’s debated as to which one discovered Lebanon, so we tipped our hat to them,” Stein says. “Also, 1830 is said to be the year Lebanon was founded by Kinnard and Drake.”
“It is exceeding our expectations and our projections wildly,” he says. “On the weekends if you don’t have a reservation you’re probably not going to get in. We’re really looking forward to opening up our outdoor seating when the weather breaks, to create some additional capacity. We’re getting great feedback, and it seems that the community is receiving it well.”
Stein describes the eatery’s overall aesthetic as casual fine dining, where customers don’t have to show up in a suit or dress to have a nice dinner. Reservations can be made via phone or
Kinnard and Drake’s 1830 Chophouse is located at 111 West Main Street in Lebanon. For additional info, call 765-764-0764 or visit 1830chophouse.com. TownePost.com / JULY 2021 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 15
Manager Amber Gray
Chef Shawn Sublette
BORN TO RACE
CONOR DALY HAS MADE HIS OWN TRACK Conor Daly
Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies Photography / Provided
From a young age, the world of racing was all Conor Daly and his brothers, Colin and Christian knew. Their father, IndyCar and Formula One racing legend Derek Daly had retired and moved into a career with ESPN as a television color analyst. His job took them to race tracks around the country. His mother was a competitive Jet Ski racer and worked at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Competitive racing was in Conor’s DNA. “My earliest memories are at IMS,” he says. “Always there, always watching the cars at the track and then traveling to races as well. My dad had a racing school in Las Vegas
and the family would spend a lot of time out there and we would go back and forth. And yet, he still never put it out there as something I should do.” Ironically, it was not Derek’s idea to get Conor started in racing. It was a neighbor who contacted his dad to come out to a track because they had purchased a go-kart. They were hoping to get some advice and while they were there, they casually asked Conor if he wanted to jump in and do some laps. And that is where it all started.
of buying a trailer to go to races and it wasn’t going badly I had an idea that I was OK,” he says. But Conor was doing more than OK. He was able to win some races, so they continued racing and he continued winning. “It wasn’t until I was 12, 13 or 14 that I was started to compete at a national level and get up against some national and international competitors and things seemed to be going well,” he says. “There are ups and downs in racing and oftentimes more downs than ups. But it was something that I had a passion for and was enjoying.”
Looking back, Conor never felt pressure to perform, and he knew he was driving but had no idea if he was even any good. “I didn’t know if I was good or not or what that The biggest test in his career came at the even meant. But when we took it to the level age of 15 when he decided to compete 16 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
in the Skip Barber National series. The winner of the championship was offered a scholarship which basically meant you won a considerable amount of prize money and would go on to compete at the next level. At 18, Conor won the championship in his rookie year, proving that he was on a serious road ahead because he was competing against some of the best young drivers in the country and a lot from Europe and South America as well.
afraid for my son to race,” Derek says. “But the most important part about this is that it was his decision to race. I was not living vicariously through him. I told him I will help you in every possible way as long as you’re pulling me through the sport. I am not going to pull you.” Conor took the advice to heart, making sure to pull his own weight. “There was a lot that I was sacrificing and giving up to be the best racer that I could be and be focused on everything,” he says. “I was never at school, I was never around. I didn’t go to college. I was always fully into racing, fully into my job and being a professional and always trying to get better.”
“Once you get to Indy Lights level, which I did at 18, we went to Europe as well to try to pursue Formula One at the F3 level. So, there was a lot happening from 20102013 because he was pretty much driving everything. It was a very deep mountain to He was working in his full-time job at 18 climb going through the ranks at that point,” years old and it was intense because there he says. were a lot of young drivers trying to make it into the top levels. At any given time in He qualified to drive in the Indianapolis Formula One, there are only 22 drivers and 500 in 2013 at the age of 21. While there are IndyCar only 33 drivers that line up, so certainly drivers that have done it earlier, he felt it required him to give this level of he was busy trying to work toward driving intensity. Formula One also so that pushed IndyCar back a bit. Conor reflects on his personal road to Indy and all that it has given him. “You can’t do both at the same time, but I was winning in Europe and people in America “I am really lucky to be racing at this level,” were still paying attention. I was lucky he says. “I get to meet a lot of people, go to enough to win at every level. We just kept a lot of events and race in a lot of events. going and taking opportunities whenever But the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is the they presented themselves,” he says. place that is so tied to my entire family. My mom, my dad, my stepdad, my brothers. Conor has racing in his DNA but is quick to We have all been out there a lot. I’ve seen share that his dad always told him that his friends win. I’ve seen people that I look up success was up to him. to win and to be part of it is truly incredible.” “As a parent, since I knew what it is like being hurt badly by the sport, I was not
Conor may have been born to a race family, but he is creating his own legacy, proving TownePost.com / JULY 2021 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 17
that he was born to race — and there would be no greater victory than the one in the Winner’s Circle of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, the Indianapolis 500. To inquire about business opportunities, contact andrew@athelogroup.com. To follow Conor on Instagram go to @conordaly22.
AGAVE BAR AND GRILL Co-Owner Cynthia Zimla
SISTERS ADD A PERSONAL TOUCH TO THEIR MEXICAN EATERY
Writer / Seth Johnson Photographer / Linda Oldiges
of mind that stems from their parents.
current Agave Bar and Grill menu.
For Cynthia Zimla and her sister Evelyn Veloz, owning a restaurant has always been a dream.
“It all started with our parents,” Zimla says. “They are the pillars of everything that we do. She and I are running and operating these restaurants, and every time we need advice we always just go back to our parents.”
“We’ve actually added a few dishes to the menu that have been authentic to where we’re from - Toluca, Mexico,” Zimla says. “They’re dishes we loved growing up when our parents would make them. That’s exactly why we added them to the menu. We wanted to make sure that when people went to eat at Agave, they had the feeling that they’re getting a homemade meal, while eating with family and friends.”
“Every day it’s just a dream to be able to go in and fulfill everything that we’ve ever dreamed of,” says Zimla, who owns Agave Bar and Grill with Veloz. “It’s literally breathtaking every single day.” Located in Carmel’s Arts & Design District, Agave Bar and Grill serves up authentic Mexican dishes and drinks. With specials every day of the week, the restaurant has a menu that features unique takes on burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, quesadillas and more. Zimla and Veloz share a restaurateur frame
After searching for a restaurant to purchase, Zimla and Veloz eventually decided on Agave Bar and Grill, which already had an established customer base in Carmel. “We met with Alejandro [Hernandez], who was the previous owner of Agave, and he said, ‘I’m leaving and I would love to sell it to you guys,’” Zimla says. “The moment we walked into Agave, it was love at first sight.” The sisters’ Mexican upbringing inspires the 18 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
Some of the specialty items at Agave Bar and Grill include the sopes and molcajete. “We added sopes, and you can mix with steak, chicken and chorizo,” Zimla says. “We also added molcajete, which is chicken, streak, shrimp and chorizo, and it’s cooked
inside this volcano rock. It’s brought out to the table still sizzling in this volcano rock.” Other items at Agave Bar and Grill include the tamales and Puebla poblano. “People love the tamales,” Zimla says. “Those are cooked in sheets of corn, and we’ve just kind of switched the recipe a little bit to make it more ours. The Puebla poblano has a poblano pepper from where my father is from - Puebla, Mexico. It had a few strips in there. We just added some more so you could actually get the taste of that poblano pepper.” Agave Bar and Grill offers a specialty drink menu as well. “We added the paloma,” Zimla says. “It’s an easy, authentic Mexican drink. We just made it a little bit spicier. We also have a spicy margarita and a black margarita. Throughout the time we’ve been there, we’ve perfected the skinny margarita too, which is our own special recipe.” Every time a customer walks into Agave Bar and Grill, they can expect to find a daily special. “The specials we’ve made throughout the week are to get you going,” Zimla says. “On Mondays, we do something easy like a
combo, where you’re coming back from the weekend. Then slowly throughout the week it’s something more fun. We have a Toluca burrito and the enchiladas.” When it comes to the staff at Agave Bar and Grill, Zimla says her employees are like family. “Our staff have all been there with us for almost four years,” she says. “They’re honestly family. During the holidays, they actually all come to our house with their TownePost.com / JULY 2021 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 19
families. We don’t consider them staff. Everybody’s just a family member.” Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Zimla says Agave Bar and Grill has been able to remain busy, thanks especially to takeout orders. “I wouldn’t say it affected us in business [except] with people dining in,” Zimla says of the pandemic. “People were scared to come out, and we understand that, so we had to switch gears to accommodate more
takeout. I think we had to grow and evolve with it.” As for the support Agave Bar and Grill receives from the Carmel community, Zimla and Veloz are extremely grateful. “They leave me speechless,” Zimla says. “We’ve watched so many of our guests’ children grow up. They call me Miss Cindy because I’ve watched them from when they were in strollers to where they’re walking and talking now. They’ve just been so supportive since the moment they heard Agave had new ownership.” Agave Bar and Grill is located at 31 East Main Street in Carmel. You can call them at 317-844-5551, and visit their website at MyAgaveBarandGrill.com.
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DEREK DALY’S RACING SUCCESS BEGAN WITH DRIVE
Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies Photography / Provided
racing in the streets that night, his father promised to take him to the race.
Mark Twain once said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Derek Daly remembers the exact day he found out why he was born. Spoiler alert: He was born to race cars.
“Everything about the race, the colors, the noise, the smells that I experienced that day, I told my father, I am going to become a professional race car driver,” Derek says.
Growing up in Dublin, Ireland, he loved everything about cars, the motors, the wheels, and the mechanics but there was no racetrack in Ireland, so he raced soapbox derby cars. Until the day that changed everything. By the age of 12, a set of circumstances came together that would change the trajectory of his life. While walking home from school, a Sidney Taylor Racing truck was sitting in the driveway of his neighbor. Sidney was the neighbor’s brother. Derek’s father had arranged to take him to see the car. And when he learned Sidney would be
His parents were extremely generous with their love, support and encouraging him to follow his dreams, but they did not have the means to support him financially. But when you have a date with destiny, your objective is simply just to do whatever it takes to make things happen. Derek started with go-karting, moving on to a dirt oval track where they raced demolition derby-jalopy racing. When he turned 16, he built his own car and his Dad would tow him on a rope across town. But to move up to Formula Ford level, the objective was to raise money or make TownePost.com / JULY 2021 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 21
money. He chose to put his own fate in his own hands and worked for six months in the Australian Iron-Ore Mines and made enough money to buy the car. He returned home racing in Ireland and won the Irish Championship. But with each level of success, there was the next level of financial commitment. He knew that if he wanted to be a professional that he had to move to England. But again, resources were tight, and he says, “I had enough money to race or to live, but not both.” But when you want something badly enough, you don’t make excuses you make plans. Plan B was to buy an old school bus. His mother made curtains and his father made a mattress for him to sleep on. “So, I moved to England with a toolbox, a race car and a school bus. My goal was to make enough money to drive to the next race.” And all he did was win, win, win.
serve as their color analyst,” he says. Derek was later recognized as the most popular motorsports television announcer. By the time his son Conor had his first birthday, Derek was finished with his racing career. Sons Christian, and Colin would soon join the “team” already in progress. Through Derek’s broadcast career, the boys were immersed in racing, so he was careful to not impose the sport on them. Conor, now a successful driver himself, was the one that asked his father if he could try gokarting and is a successful race car driver.
He won 23 races in England and with the recognition of hard work and grit, he was approached by his first Irish sponsor. Having a sponsor would then allow him to move up to the next level. The money would allow him to move up to Formula 3 and race across Europe, Italy, France, Germany, Austria as well as the British Formula 3 Championship. The odds of him winning the Championship were statistically very low, but if he did, it would allow him to open the door to Formula One.
received an invitation to drive in his first Indy Car Race in Phoenix, Arizona. “A year later, I decided to come try out for the Indianapolis 500 and I never left. I loved it. I loved the country and started a new lifestyle and a new life,” Derek says.
Derek not only won the British Formula 3 Championship, but he beat Emerson Fitipaldi’s record for moving from Formula Ford to Formula One in 18 months to just 13 months for him. In a bit of irony, the man that offered to put him in a Formula One car was Sidney Taylor.
The following year, he was involved in a horrific crash that nearly killed him. He endured 14 surgeries was out of racing for two and a half years before returning full time in 1987. That is when the luck of the Irish smiled down on him once again.
After racing Formula One for a while, he
Turns out when you pursue your purpose, things work out most of the time. He received a contract with Tony Bettenhausen and qualified for his first race in the front row with Mario Andretti.
“During an interview, I accidentally turned it into a 10-year contract with ESPN to 22 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2021 / TownePost.com
Colin was a competitive diver, competed in wakeboarding and eventually turned to lacrosse. He went to business school and played lacrosse on a college scholarship. Christian raced go-karts for a little while, but wasn’t that interested but, once he got on the water, Jet Ski racing became his focus. Christian is currently on a racing team in Florida that is like the Penske of Jet Ski racing. He has won four world championships including the King’s Race in Thailand and was the first American to do so. He opened a new smoothie store at Keystone at the Crossing in May called The Daily Dose. Derek spent his entire career doing the work he loves and when you have the freedom to chase your dreams it is bound to impact your family. There is likely no greater satisfaction in life than to figure out your why, to live out your purpose, and to inspire others to do the same. For more information about Derek at www. derekdaly.com
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