Carmel Magazine July 2017 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

JULY 2017

MAGAZINE

DOUGH MASTERS NOBLE ROMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BRINGS FIRST OF MANY PUB-STYLE RESTAURANTS

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TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. CARMEL MAGAZINE PUBLISHER

Tom Britt

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PRESIDENT Jeanne Britt

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EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

DOUGH MASTERS: NOBLE ROMAN’S BRINGS FIRST OF MANY PUB-STYLE RESTAURANTS In January, Indianapolis-based pizza company Noble Roman’s kicked off the New Year by opening a Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub. Located in the Monon Marketplace at 17409 Westfield Road, it is situated right across from Westfield’s Grant Park.

Josh@TownePost.com

JULY WRITERS

Allison Yates / Christy Heitger-Ewing Jon Shoulders / Lynda Hedberg Thies Heather Chastain / Suzanne Huntzinger

JULY PHOTOGRAPHERS

Amy Payne / Brian Brosmer Courtney Geyer / Jamie Sangar Zach Dobson

SHOP LOCAL!

6 A New Look For Cafe Patachou:

Newest Carmel Location Debuts Visual Style for all Future Cafés

25 A Taste of Europe: Artisan Picnic Uses Fresh, Local Foods for Casual Dining

8 Chill Out! Top Spots to Keep Cool

29 Indianapolis’ Best Fourth of

11 Recipe For Success: Cunningham

31 LLS Indiana Man & Woman of the

This Summer

Restaurant Group Celebrates 20 Years of Culinary Accomplishment

14 July’s Luckiest Hoosier Alive: Jason Hoard

20 Dough Masters: Noble Roman’s Brings First of Many Pub-Style Restaurants

24 Business Spotlight:

July Celebrations

Year Campaign Raises $1.1M

33 Say Yes to the Dress at Marie Gabriel Couture

35 Delizioso! Convivio Brings Italian Culture and Delicious Dishes

Help our local economy by shopping local. Advertising supporters of the Carmel Magazine offset the costs of publication and mailing, keeping this publication FREE. Show your appreciation by thanking them with your business. BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTS ARE SPONSORED CONTENT

The Carmel Magazine is published by Towne Post Network, Inc. and is written for and by local Carmel area residents. Magazines are distributed via direct mail to more than 25,000 Carmel area homeowners and businesses each month.

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC.

P.O. Box 36097, Indianapolis, IN 46236 317-288-7101 / Fax: 317-536-3030

CHECK OUT THE NEW AUGMENTED REALITY FEATURES IN THIS MONTH’S MAGAZINE! SEE PAGE 10 FOR DETAILS!

38 28th Annual CarmelFest Kicks Off July 3

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A NEW LOOK FOR CAFE PATACHOU NEWEST CARMEL LOCATION DEBUTS VISUAL STYLE FOR ALL FUTURE CAFÉS Writer / Jon Shoulders . Photos provided by Patachou, Inc.

forward, whether a new location or renovation,” she says.

Patachou, Inc., the company responsible for Indianapolis restaurants Cafe Patachou, Petite Chou Bistro and Champagne Bar and Napolese Pizzeria, officially relocated its 126th Street and Gray Road café on February 13. Founder and CEO Martha Hoover says the new spot, at the corner of East Main Street and Hazel Dell Parkway, represents a stylistic move forward for the company.

The new 2,800-square-foot café is about twice the size of the previous location, and includes an outdoor dining area. According to Hoover, the larger space, which was previously a Key Bank branch, better suits the company’s brand, and Patachou staff members have endeavored to retain a warm, welcoming aesthetic for new and existing Carmel patrons.

“It is the first location that debuts a new visual look for Cafe Patachou, which will reflect the interiors of all cafés moving

“It was important to us to make sure our Gray Road staff and regulars were well-prepped for the move,” Hoover says. “We wanted

6 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2017 / atCarmel.com

to make sure everyone was comfortable with the new location and still felt like we could be their go-to neighborhood spot.” The menu currently includes items Patachou has become known for through the years like specialty omelets, broken yolk sandwiches, frites and flavored coffees. Hoover says a few new frozen drinks have become customer favorites at the Carmel location, including Frosé (frozen rosé) and the Diane (frozen red grapefruit juice with vodka, One year before Public Greens opened its doors, Hoover prosecco and citrus-scented simple syrup). launched the Patachou Foundation, a non-profit initiative devoted to delivering healthy meals to children in the Indianapolis area “We also serve pour-over Stumptown Coffee using the experiencing food insecurity and homelessness. Meals are innovative Poursteady, a pour-over coffee machine combining delivered via the company’s Patatruck mobile kitchen, and all precision motion control with unprecedented speed and reliability,” Public Greens profits go directly toward the program. Patachou says Hoover, who opened her first Café Patachou at 49th and Foundation representatives and volunteers occasionally use the micro farm for educational programming including farm tours Pennsylvania streets in 1989. and cooking classes. The Carmel restaurant is one of six Cafe Patachou locations under the Hoover’s next culinary venture is Crispy Bird, set to open later this Patachou, Inc. umbrella, in addition to three Napolese locations and year at 49th and Pennsylvania streets with a focus on fried chicken, Petite Chou in Broad Ripple Village. In December of 2014, Hoover sides, desserts, wine and beer. opened Public Greens, a cafeteria-style eatery on 64th Street near the Monon Trail with a weekly chalkboard menu. A micro farm next For additional information on Cafe Patachou including menus and to Public Greens provides the restaurant with a selection of fresh catering details, call (317) 569-0965 or visit cafepatachou.com. produce including arugula, radishes, turnips and spicy mix lettuces. atCarmel.com / JULY 2017 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 7

Chill Out!

Top Spots to Keep Cool This Summer Summer is here, and July means it is heating up around Indy. We’ve got you covered. Check out the best spots in Carmel and Zionsville to chill out and keep cool this summer.

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AUGMENTED REALITY DEBUTS IN TOWNE POST NETWORK MAGAZINES All Nine Hyper Local Community Magazines Now Offering Interactive Print Writer / Tom Britt

July issues of the Towne Post Network magazines will be the first in Indiana to showcase the latest in Augmented Reality (“AR”). What has been popular with gamers for the past few years is now making its way into print marketing, adding an interactive layer to an otherwise 2-dimensional print publication.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. Download the Layar app to your mobile device. 2. Scan a page with the AR logo on it. 3. Watch the page come to life!

HOW WILL I KNOW WHICH PAGES ARE INTERACTIVE?

Augmented pages will have the AR logo in the bottom corner. By scanning them with the Layar Augmented Reality app, the page will become interactive showing you a video, web links, photos or even shopping buttons.

WHY AUGMENTED REALITY?

Magazines show up once a month, we need to be relevant every day of the month. To do this, our team utilizes social media, direct mail campaigns, video production and now augmented reality to create engaging content and local marketing programs that really work. While AR is still in its infancy with print, we look at it as another tool in our toolbox to help our local advertisers capture measurable results. If you’d like more information on how the Towne Post Network and our 135,000 plus monthly magazines can benefit your company, please give me a call or email. Better yet, scan our Table of Contents page. Tom Britt, Publisher tom@townepost.com (317) 288-7101

WHY THE LAYAR APP?

We have been testing this application for more than two years and found it to be the most dependable and scalable app for AR. What will be a game changer is the release of Apple’s IOS 10.0 this fall, which will include AR for the first time.

INDY METRO / JULY 2017 / TownePost.com

Recipe For Success CUNNINGHAM RESTAURANT GROUP CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF CULINARY ACCOMPLISHMENT

Mike Cunningham is the man behind Cunningham Restaurant Group and restaurant concepts like Mesh, Stone Creek Dining Company, BRU Burger Bar and more.

Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Brian Brosmer

In an industry as challenging and unforgiving as the restaurant business, Indianapolis-based Cunningham Restaurant Group (CRG) is still thriving after two decades, with an ever-expanding selection of successful restaurant concepts including Mesh, Boulder Creek Dining Company, Vida and BRU Burger Bar in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Louisville and Lexington. Founder, CEO and company visionary, Mike Cunningham, says a thorough understanding of day-to-day restaurant logistics, as well as an innate sense for customer hospitality, are crucial to stay successful in such a difficult field with so many competitors. And he should know because his understanding began when he was in the third grade.

State Technical and Community College, he had worked his way up to assistant manager with the Ground Round Grill & Bar burger chain. Cunningham’s foray into entrepreneurship came at age 22 when Ed Sahm, one of his Ground Round colleagues, decided to open his own independent restaurant and pub – Sahm’s on 116th Street in Fishers – and needed a manager. A few years later, Cunningham was debuting his own concept – a frozen yogurt and café shop called the Big Chill - which would expand to five locations beginning in the mid-1980s.

“This is a business I’ve been in my whole life, so I understand when things are not being done right and know how to adjust and fix things,” Cunningham says. “A lot of people think it’s all fun and good times, but this industry is hard work, and there are many moving parts that can go wrong every The youngest of nine children, Cunningham single day. You have to surround yourself was washing dishes at the local Skyline Chili with people who care and want to strive for down the street from his Cincinnati home perfection day in and day out.” by age eight to help make his large family’s ends meet — an experience that later gave By 1997 Cunningham had observed the way to multiple restaurant cooking jobs rise of TCBY and several other affordable through high school. By the time he had frozen yogurt chain competitors and obtained an associate degree in hotel and decided to sell his Big Chill stores to return restaurant management from Cincinnati to the full-service restaurant game. He INDY METRO / JULY 2017 / TownePost.com

found a prime location in Brownsburg and opened Boulder Creek Dining Company, offering modern fare and a rustic, mountainlodge setting, now in its 21st year and still thriving. CRG was off and running. “The challenge then, and what the challenge will always be, is finding good people that want to take care of others and have that hospitality gene,” he says. “To make guests feel like they’re home when they’re in your restaurant, that’s what sets you apart.” Avon-based, Italy-inspired Charbonos followed a few years after the opening of Boulder Creek, and CRG continued to gain momentum, steadily expanding and adding new establishments to its portfolio including six Stone Creek Dining Company locations in Indiana and Ohio and Moerlein Lager House in Cincinnati. Cunningham has continued to sharpen his command of all things culinary and currently oversees 21 restaurants in four cities, with two new Indy eateries scheduled to open this fall in the Ironworks Hotel on East 86th Street – Rize, a health-conscious breakfast and lunch spot that will offer catering, and Provision, an upscale lunch and dinner concept. “It was a slow, methodical growth over 20 years, and it used to be one (restaurant)

A lot of people think it's all fun and good times, but this industry is hard work... every two years, and then one every year and then multiple per year,” says Cunningham, adding that CRG currently employs approximately 1,600 people.

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Adaptation has played a key role in Cunningham’s winning formula, and he says CRG has responded to the rise in customer demand for unique, locally sourced ingredients.

Dreams a Reality

“People want to eat locally grown, healthy food, which is a greener approach for everyone even the restaurants because you’re not trucking your produce from California or your meat from Arkansas or wherever,” he says. “And it keeps those jobs in the state.” Never one to ignore industry trends, Cunningham has gone further than just sourcing local produce from Hoosier growers. He recently purchased a 7,800 square-foot greenhouse on the south side of Indianapolis, where, this summer, CRG will begin harvesting hydroponically grown lettuces, herbs, peppers and tomatoes for its kitchens. “Certainly the local trend is big right now,” Cunningham says. “At our Vida concept, which is new in the last 14 months, we have a hydroponic wall in the kitchen. We’re pulling fresh lettuces and herbs right off our kitchen wall and serving it that day. You have to do things like that and evolve in this kind of business to keep things fresh and interesting for everybody.” For additional information on Cunningham Restaurant Group, visit crgdining.com.

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JULY'S LUCKIEST ALIVE Jason Hoard

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REAL-LIFE GOOD LUCK CHARM Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

stop the abduction. But the frightening incident ignited in Hoard a desire to learn the art of self-defense.

“I’m that guy where puzzling meets unbelievable,” says Jason Hoard, a postal service employee and father of four who seems to be a real- “A kid can’t beat up a grown man, but I wanted to be able to protect life good luck charm. myself,” says Hoard, who, as an adult went on to teach safety awareness and self-defense techniques to children at local YMCAs Back in 2005, Hoard struggled in his attempt at purchasing a in Hendricks County. scratch-off lottery ticket. Another lucky break came one day when Hoard pulled up to a “I had no idea what I was doing,” says Hoard, a resident of Avon. green light and noticed the car in front of him wasn’t moving. He “After putting $20 in one of the machines and expecting change, I hopped out to check on the driver and saw the woman behind finally figured it out.” the wheel wasn’t breathing. It turns out she had suffered a heart attack. Hoard said a quick prayer, then began administering Days later, he saw a picture of the $1 million lotto winner and CPR he had learned through his YMCA training. When the recognized the face as the guy who was at the gas station at the EMTs arrived on the scene, they credited Hoard with saving the same time he was. woman’s life. Several years later, the story repeated when Hoard spotted someone at a lottery machine playing a local draw game. Hoard thought to himself, “I really should try that game sometime.” The next day, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw on the news that a man had won the $2 million jackpot playing that very game.

And speaking of life, Hoard was shocked last year when his wife woke him up with the surprise greeting, “Happy Anniversary! We’ve having another baby!”

With three older children — ages 15, 12, and 10 — Hoard thought they were done growing their family when they were met with this What are the odds? Apparently, quite good. Because recently Hoard unexpected blessing. On the day his daughter was born, however, tested his luck once again when one of the draw games in Indiana Hoard and his wife learned that she was going to need surgery reached a record high jackpot. to repair an issue with her stomach. So, at just four months old, Hoard’s baby girl went under the knife for what was expected to be “I’m in Meijer in Plainfield when I think, ‘I still need to try that a three-hour procedure. game!’” Hoard says. Just as before, days later a prize of $122,000 was claimed with a ticket bought at — where else? — the “We had no sooner finished praying when the doctor came into the Plainfield Meijer. waiting room to tell us he was done in just 41 minutes,” Hoard says. “Apparently, when he got into the operating room, he encountered Though he’s never enjoyed a financial windfall, 42-year-old Hoard the best-case scenario.” says he’s always considered himself “a pretty lucky dude.” His first bout with good luck came when he was just five years old. This family man may not have struck it rich financially, but when it comes to the luck of life, he feels rich beyond measure. “I was playing blocks with my friend on the front lawn when some guy snatched up my friend right before my eyes,” Hoard says. “When I say I’m a lucky dude, I’m a lucky dude,” says Hoard, who Luckily, Hoard’s mom was in law enforcement and was able to spreads goodness, gratitude and good fortune to everyone he meets.

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NOT ENOUGH SKILLED PEOPLE TO FILL INDY TECH JOBS… YET The local tech job market is rapidly expanding. The dramatic expansion of opportunities has created a significant gap between the high-paying job opportunities available and skilled workers ready to take advantage. One local non-profit, Eleven Fifty Academy, has set its sights on changing that. Eleven Fifty Academy, located in Fishers, offers immersive learning programs that teach people at all skill levels to embrace the benefits of computer coding. Incoming students range from stay-at-home parents re-entering the job market to high school graduates that have decided a four-year degree is not an option. Programs are fast paced and concentrated on delivering real world experience that local employers are looking for to fill job openings now. People that want to launch, change or enhance their career can acquire the skills they need quickly without the cost or time commitment needed from a four-year program offered at colleges and universities. An undergraduate degree in computer science takes about four or more years to complete with costs ranging between $80,000 and $200,000. In contrast, Eleven Fifty Academy’s programs are no longer than 12 weeks and cost less than a semester of a CS degree program.

Eleven Fifty Academy offers more than coding boot camps. Dedicated staff members actively pursue opportunities with Indiana companies for its students. The relationships they have forged with local tech companies pay major dividends for the academy’s students. Currently, student job placement rates are at 86 percent (a number any academic institution would be proud to achieve). Working with employers to identify skill gaps in the market, coupled with a highly agile curriculum gives the coding school a significant advantage over larger institutions that have had trouble rapidly adapting to changing markets. More and more Hoosiers are discovering Eleven Fifty Academy and the fast-track courses they offer to get their coding career started or elevated. Elyse Swoverland is just one example. Swoverland graduated from Purdue University with a degree in Neuroscience, but in 2015 she decided to change her career and pursue her passion — technology. Swoverland had almost no coding experience before finding out about Eleven Fifty Academy. After completing Eleven Fifty’s 12-week program, it didn’t take long before she got an offer from Sallie Mae, where Swoverland continues her coding career as a senior software engineer.

18 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2017 / atCarmel.com

“When I heard about Eleven Fifty Academy, I thought that it was perfect, and it was exactly what I needed,” Swoverland says. “In addition to more than tripling my salary, I finally feel confident and excited about the path that I’m on. The success that I’ve had in my professional life since graduating from Eleven Fifty Academy has translated to more positives in every area of my life.” Eleven Fifty Academy attributes much of its success to its core message of “for people, not profit”. This commitment compels the school to seek favorable scenarios for each of its students. Before classes start, the admissions team assists with financial aid opportunities from a variety of partners including the State of Indiana. During class, the learning team focuses on real world skill development and soft skills needed to thrive in today’s workforce. After the course, the career readiness team leverages its employer relationships to match candidates to employers using a number of highly innovative programs that the academy has developed to facilitate job placement. “We’re not interested in just teaching the students a new skill in 12 weeks and dropping them into the market,” says Eleven Fifty Academy President John Qualls. “We provide assistance to help them launch and maintain their career.” Eleven Fifty Academy recently launched the SmartStart Program — a 12-week program that includes a 12-week internship and a 12-month apprenticeship allowing students to be hired quickly while incentivizing employers to choose Eleven Fifty Academy students over other institutions. With coding continuing to be a fast-growing field, Eleven Fifty Academy is becoming a popular choice to get prepared for an industry that is looking to hire more and more software developers. “If you like computer games, have taken some online coding courses, if you think college may not be right for you, and you want a faster track to a career, take the next step — get a career in coding,” Qualls says. To learn how to get started, visit Eleven Fifty Academy online at elevenfifty.org or give them a call at 855-925-1150.

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DOUGH MASTERS NOBLE ROMANâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BRINGS FIRST OF MANY PUB-STYLE RESTAURANTS

Scott Mobley became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Roman’s in 2015.

Writer / Allison Yates Photographer / Jamie Sangar

In January, Indianapolis-based pizza company Noble Roman’s kicked off the New Year by opening a Noble Roman’s Craft Pizza & Pub. Located in the Monon Marketplace at 17409 Westfield Road, it is situated right across from Westfield’s Grant Park. Noble Roman’s is famous for its traditional style and deep-dish Sicilian pizzas, breadsticks and cheese, and this new endeavor marks an expansion of the beloved pizzeria company. “Operating full service is in our corporate blood,” says Scott Mobley, President and CEO of Noble Roman’s. They’re right on trend with the foodies around the country. In May 2017 Bon Appetit wrote that, “The 80s Pizza Joint is Cool Again.” Cheesy pizza, breadsticks and booths are back. For Noble Roman’s, they never went out of style. Noble Roman’s first opened as a full-service restaurant in Bloomington, Indiana in 1972 under the name ‘Pizza Pub.’ The brand expanded as restaurants until the mid to late 1980s when consumer demands shifted. At that point, the brand innovated and focused primarily on providing miniature pizzerias for nontraditional locations, such as airports, hotels, hospitals, convenience stores and military bases. The growth for the company in this space was enormous. Soon, there were 800 locations across the country. atCarmel.com / JULY 2017 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 21

The Noble Roman’s brand later began servicing take-n-bake pizzas in grocery store deli departments in 2010. More than 2,000 grocery stores throughout the U.S. have been trained and licensed to do so, and many feature baked Noble Roman’s pizza, either by the slice or whole pizza. Then, in 2015, Scott Mobley became the President and Chief Executive Officer of Noble Roman’s. After careful consideration of the most prosperous market for the company, he decided their next move would be to open more sit-down establishments. In a February 2017 press release, Mobley said the stand-alone pizzeria is a “culmination of some of the best of our history combined with all-new, leading-edge technology and recipes to produce what we think will be a terrific growth vehicle for the future.” As Noble Roman’s made their plans to expand, which took more than two years of planning and development, it was natural to locate their newest store in the Westfield and Carmel area. Mobley says Westfield is prospering and growing, and they wanted to be part of it. Being a hometown brand, it’s uncommon to find a Hoosier who doesn’t have fond memories of Noble Roman’s. Most people who’ve lived around the Indianapolis area remember the company’s sit-down restaurants and are thrilled to see the shift back to this model of business. For many, Noble Roman’s was their first employer. Others simply reminiscence about the role the restaurant played in their childhood. The Carmel and Westfield community has gladly welcomed the new restaurant, bringing nostalgia to those familiar with it and a great new experience for first-time customers. “The community has been really gracious and receptive,” Mobley says. Noble Roman’s is even making plans to establish itself further in the community. So far, they’ve participated in a number of community charities and they’re in the process of screening nonprofits to partner with. 22 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2017 / atCarmel.com

Now, when both returning and new customers alike step into the new pub, they should feel a sense of nostalgia but also get a sense of what’s currently popular today, Mobley says. Some of their 13 flat screen TVs not only play sports but also black and white movie shorts and cartoons. Noble Roman’s theme is that pizza should be fun, and it’s clear the new restaurant is ideal for friends and family to have a good time. There’s a lot of detail in the restaurant, an important aspect of creating an optimal customer experience that Mobley learned from his father, the founder of the company. There’s not one single thing that makes a pizzeria successful, Mobley says, all the small details must be taken care of. The space features an open kitchen so guests can watch the pizza-making process. You won’t have much to see, though, as Noble Roman’s boasts cooking times of 2.5 minutes for traditional pizzas and 5.75 minutes for Sicilian pies. They sell affordable craft beer and wine, but guests will also find a root beer tap (for kids, but Mobley admits it’s one of his favorite parts) and what they call a ‘Dusting and Drizzle Station,’ where customers can customize pizza with things like rosemary olive oil. As for future plans for the company, Mobley says this is just the first of many more pubs set to open. In the works are plans to open another Westfield and Carmel location by the end of the year and several more throughout the greater Indianapolis area in the future. The new pub is part of their long-term growth plan. “We see the pub as a growth vehicle for the brand,” Mobley says. And it’s certain that the Westfield and Carmel community will be part of that. atCarmel.com / JULY 2017 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 23

SWEET M'S BOUTIQUE 2446 E 146th St. Carmel, IN 46033 (317) 669-0697 sweetmsboutique.com

Writer / Heather Chastain

Sweet M’s Boutique is now open in Carmel. “It’s really exciting. It all came together perfectly, and we decided to jump on it,” says owner Stacy Maxwell. “So far, the response has been amazing!” The new boutique is located at 146th Street and U.S. 31 in the Cool Creek Commons strip center. This new location comes on the heels of their two Plainfield locations, Sweet M’s and Sweet M’s Boutique Too. Sweet M’s Boutique Too opened last month and is designed to cater specifically to sizes 14-24. “It’s our biggest customer request to carry more of these sizes and the feedback so far has been great,” Maxwell says. Stacy noted that Sweet M’s will always carry sizes small to 3X in the two Sweet M’s Boutique stores and online.

When the Maxwells decided to open a boutique, they had their daughters in mind. The owners have three daughters (ages 20, 17 and 14) and two young sons. “We really believe in dressing with modesty,” Ryan says. “You can dress nice and be modest and be proud.” Stacy echoed his sentiment. “We wanted to provide fashionable, modest, reasonably priced clothing,” she adds. Stacy says they also believe in giving back to the community. They also carry two brands with philanthropic missions. Good Work(s) key necklaces donate 25 percent of their net profits to charitable organizations. They also sell a brand called byTavi. The brand is made by women in Cambodia who are victims or vulnerable to human trafficking. The program teaches them to sew and allows them to make a living and support their families. 24 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2017 / atCarmel.com

Sweet M’s also believes in having exceptional customer service and the Maxwell say they truly believe in the SMB Team across all three locations. If you’d like a more personal shopping experience, you can book an after-hours party for your friends. In additional to clothing, you can find accessories, shoes and darling little outfits for young girls in their Little M’s section. They carry sizes 5/6 to 13/14. “This is a dream come true for me,” Stacy says. “Having my own store is something I’ve always wanted to do. The “M” in Sweet M’s represents the Maxwell family’s last name. The stores are open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To learn more about Sweet M’s Boutiques visit them online at sweetmsboutique.com.

A TASTE OF EUROPE ARTISAN PICNIC USES FRESH, LOCAL FOODS FOR CASUAL DINING

Photos provided by Courtney Geyer

Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies

The weather is warming up, more of what we do is outside and that means it is picnic season. There is nothing quite like taking some time to relax outdoors and enjoy casual dining with your loved ones. If you’re looking for ways to plan the perfect summer picnic without all the effort, Artisan Picnic, a new locally-owned, Fishers-based business, has just what you need to make your next picnic with friends and family memorable. Picnics can be as simple or as sophisticated as any meal you plan, but having the option of placing an order online to create the perfect picnic can take away the stress of planning the meal and put the emphasis on time with family and friends. Sarah Reuter,

founder and owner of Artisan Picnic, came up with the idea while vacationing in Paris, France a year ago. The inspiration to bring a European, earthfriendly gourmet picnic, filled with fresh, local artisanal foods, literally came in the middle of the perfect picnic in Champ de Mars Park in Paris near the Eiffel Tower. “I had a moment where it just hit me that I wanted to recreate and bring this experience back to Indianapolis,” says Reuter, a former travel executive. “In Europe there is a bread shop, cheese shop, a meat store, a wine store on every corner, and as I was having this amazing picnic experience, I thought, ‘I want to recreate this experience using local food artisans and farmers.’” INDY METRO / JULY 2017 / TownePost.com

She began thinking about some of the local cheese shops and markets right in her neighborhood, realizing that there were so many local butcher shops and bread makers popping up. Reuter realized this was a viable idea as she recalled all the amazing local food artisans and how it might help their businesses. too. Their gourmet picnics include a wide selection of fresh artisanal foods with three choices, “The Frenchie”, “The Italiano” and “The Veggie”. “The Frenchie and The Italiano menu options are similar to the traditional styles of French and Italian Charcuterie (cured meats) and cheese boards,” she says. “Each of the options consists of local artisanal bread, cheeses,

charcuterie, sweet and savory spreads, something pickled and something sweet. The Veggie menu simply leaves out the meat and adds in a variety of fresh local seasonal vegetables and fruits.â&#x20AC;? Reuter is partnering currently with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on their lunch break series in June and three coming up in July where she will be onsite to offer the picnics so you can enjoy the concert without having to worry about getting lunch beforehand. Artisan Picnic is also partnering with the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Fishers Farmers Markets, The Original Farmers Market downtown Indy and is working to expand with more vendors at popular events around the city. If you are interested in trying one of the picnics, check out their calendar of events to see where they will be located throughout the season. Since they do not have a store-front yet, all orders need to be placed online through the website to pre-order and pay for your picnic prior to their event that is on their calendar. Or you can order a picnic for an event of your choosing. Reuter can work with individuals or corporations with advance notice. When a local business is set up to support other local businesses that gives their customers great food and makes spending time with your friends and family easy to enjoy summer, then everyone wins. Order your picnic and letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support our local food artisans in Indiana. For more information about Artisan Picnic vendors, picnic descriptions and their event schedule visit their website at artisanpicnic.com. TownePost.com / JULY 2017 / INDY METRO

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INDIANAPOLIS' BEST FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS Looking for great places to take in some fireworks shows with the family this Fourth of July? There are plenty of shows happening around the area for you and your family to check out.

IPL DOWNTOWN FREEDOM FEST

Celebrate Independence Day with a bang or a blast! See Indy's largest fireworks display, shooting from the top of the Regions Bank Tower. This fantastic fireworks show is a local tradition and favorite activity. Bring the entire family downtown for food, music (B105.7, 97.1 HANK FM, and 93.1 WIBC carry the official fireworks soundtrack) and fun that ends in an amazing fireworks display after dusk, synchronized to patriotic and popular music Tuesday, July 4 Indiana War Memorial and Museum 6:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m. Free downtownindy.org/events/1099/iplfreedom-fest

GEIST BLAST ON THE BRIDGE

Blast on the Bridge is the place to be for a Fourth of July celebration. The Blast sets off on Tuesday, July 4 on the Geist Bridge beginning at 5 p.m. for an unforgettable night with family and friends. The bridge closes to traffic starting at 4 p.m. and opens to the public at 5 p.m., so be sure to arrive early! Food, beverages and spirits will be available for purchase while children can enjoy fun games and activities. Tuesday, July 4 Geist(96th) Bridge 5:00 p.m. Free

CARMELFEST

CarmelFest 2017 is on once again for Carmel’s traditional Independence Day celebration organized by the Rotary Club

of Carmel. Gary Sexton, Chairman for the CarmelFest, is leading the all-volunteer committee organizing this family-friendly, community event on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4th. July 3-4 Civic Sq in Carmel Free Carmelfest.net

2017 NOBLESVILLE FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS FESTIVAL AND PARADE

The Noblesville Fourth of July Fireworks Parade & Festival is a family-friendly tradition that dates back to 1997. The entire event is geared around the family — making memories, spending time together and celebrating our great country's history and heritage. Tuesday, July 4 Downtown Noblesville Free

LAWRENCE FOURTH FEST

Lawrence will host its annual Lawrence Fourth Fest with activities beginning at 1 p.m. on July 4. This year includes the second annual Wingin’ It With Our First Responders wing-eating contest as well as the Lawrence Carnival at Lawrence Community Park. The carnival will open at 1 p.m. on the Fourth of July. The grand finale fireworks display will begin at 10 p.m. at Lawrence Community Park. Tuesday, July 4 Lawrence Community Park Free us.eventbu.com/lawrence/fourthfest-2017/3465662.amp

WESTFIELD ROCKS THE FOURTH

The 8th annual Westfield Rocks the Fourth celebration is returning to Grand Park for TownePost.com / JULY 2017 / INDY METRO

the second year, but it has relocated the event to the West side of the park. Be sure to check out the annual Headliners Car Show in Parking Lot E. The Kids Zone has also been expanded and the event will continue its tradition of fantastic musical acts. There will also be a wide variety of food and retail vendors. This year will feature several new activities for the whole family to enjoy. The event begins at 10 p.m. for one of the largest fireworks displays in Central Indiana! Tuesday, July 4 Grand Park, 4 p.m. Free westfieldwelcome.com/westfield-rocksthe-4th-2

ZIONSVILLE LIONS CLUB 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION This All-American July 4th Celebration in Lions Park is the second largest fundraiser for Lions Park. Food, music and fun begin in the park at 5:00 pm and are followed by the fireworks at dusk. Tuesday, July 4 Zionsville Lions Club Park $5 parking zionsvillelions.com/events/4th-of-july

STAR SPANGLED SYMPHONY

Bring a picnic and wear your red, white and blue for the Indiana Symphony Orchestra’s annual patriotic celebration of America. The ISO will salute all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces each night. The summertime tradition features symphony favorites including Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture complete with real cannons and spectacular fireworks to cap off each concert. Tuesday, July 4 - 4:30pm Conner Prairie connerprairie.org/things-to-do/events/ symphony-on-the-prairie/star-spangledsymphony-(3)

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LLS INDIANA MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR CAMPAIGN RAISES $1.1M passed away from chronic lymphocytic 13-year-old son Luke, who is a seven-year leukemia in October 2016. leukemia survivor. The culmination of the campaign marked the 10-year anniversary of Luke’s diagnosis date. In addition to the 2017 winners, this year’s candidates included Erik Fromm, Andritsch’s campaign was purely grassroots. Stryker; Amy Fuson-Massillamany, She solicited donations through personal Hamilton County Council and Compass letters and emails, social media and multiple Group; Jason Llewellyn, Holistic Financial Partners; Karen Maginn, Guggenheim small events, plus auctioned off the chance The 10-week campaign culminated with to have dinner with Indianapolis Colts Head Life and Annuity; Kelly Masterson, The a Grand Finale Gala at the Indianapolis Bar Method Indianapolis-Carmel; John Coach Chuck Pagano. Marriott Downtown attended by more Schmitz, Adams Masonry & Construction, than 900 guests. This is the second year LLC; Steven Sullivan, Allegion plc; and Andritsch has been involved with LLS for in a row that the Indianapolis campaign All-Star Candidate Kyle Fisher, Community many years — volunteering with Pennies has raised more than $1.1 million, earning Visionary Enterprises, Inc. for Patients throughout the Hamilton the Indianapolis Man & Woman of the Southeastern school district, walking in Year a Top Five ranking among 80-plus Candidates who raised more than $50,000 Light The Night, and participating in more participating cities across the country. than 20 triathlons and marathons with LLS’s have the ability to link their name to a Team in Training. LLS was and continues to cutting-edge LLS research portfolio. During the spirited 10-week fundraising be a lifeline to her family. Eight of the 10 candidates earned this competition, candidates competed in opportunity: Andritsch, Blaiklock, Fisher, honor of Drake Williams of Indianapolis Fromm, Llewellyn, Maginn, Masterson and Rich Blaiklock is a partner with Lewis and Megan Broviak of Noblesville, who Sullivan. Wagner LLP. Rich has been involved with are both in treatment for blood cancer. Candidates and their campaign teams were the Man & Woman of the Year campaign Candidates who raised more than $150,000 for five years and was nominated to judged solely on their success in raising will be invited to New York City this fall participate this year by past candidates. money, each dollar counting as one vote. to attend an LLS Research Gathering. Blaiklock received support from many Candidates in each chapter vie for the These candidates include Man of the Year corporate sponsors including Lewis local title, and the highest fundraisers Rich Blaiklock, Woman of the Year Vicky nationally earn the title of Man & Woman Wagner LLP, Shepherd Insurance, Penn Andritsch, All-Star Candidate Kyle Fisher Station East Coast Subs and Maginot, of the Year. and Man of the Year Candidate Jason Moore & Beck, LLP. He held multiple fundraising events, such as an annual three- Llewellyn. Rich Blaiklock of Indianapolis was named day Ice Hockey Tournament, a Pickleball the 2017 Indianapolis Man of the Year by “Congratulations to our winners, and to all Tournament, and he guest-bartended at raising $266,775, and Vicky Andritsch of Sahm’s Restaurant. of our candidates and team members who Fishers was named the 2017 Indianapolis participated in this year’s record breaking Woman of the Year by raising $166,762. Leukemia has closely touched Rich’s life. campaign,” said Trish Clark, Executive Director of the Indiana Chapter. “They are His father-in-law Phil Pflum, good friend Vicky Andritsch represents Plexus all passionate and determined individuals, Worldwide, a health and wellness company. Tom McCord, and a college friend’s fiveand leaders in their communities. Their year-old daughter are all blood cancer Vicky named her Woman of the Year survivors. Blaiklock dedicated his campaign efforts further our mission and bring help campaign team, “A Mother’s Hope.” She and hope to patients and their families.” to the memory of his father John, who proudly campaigned in honor of her The 10 candidates who competed in this year’s Indianapolis Man & Woman of the Year campaign presented by Community Visionary Enterprises, Inc. and Guggenheim Life and Annuity raised $1.1 million in 10 weeks to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

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Say Yes to the Dress at Marie Gabriel Couture Writer & Photographer / Stephanie Duncan

need for a high-end bridal shop in Indiana.

Warmer weather for mother-daughter duo, Young and Anne-Marie Colling, means wedding season. Young and Anne-Marie both own the recently opened Marie Gabriel Couture Bridal shop in Castleton.

“One of the reasons we opened Marie Gabriel, was when I was traveling for my former job, when I was in Chicago or even Ohio, I would see so many Indy brides there,” Young says. “Automatically I said, since I worked in bridal retail, ‘why did you come all the way here?’ They would say over and over, ‘I was looking for designers my city didn’t offer.’

Marie Gabriel is a couture bridal shop offering several exclusive designers and serves as a destination for Indy brides looking for the best of the best. “We represent a few exclusive designers in the state of Indiana, that if you want these designers, you come to Marie Gabriel,” Young says. Young, who already owns a bridal shop, Brides by Young (which is located next to Marie Gabriel, and her daughter decided to open another shop when they saw a

“There’s a lot that goes on in this store from beginning to end,” Anne-Marie adds. “The fit, quality and the dress styles. When you’re working with your stylist, we take a very personal approach, and you know you’re in very good hands. This is why we have so many sisters and families who all buy their dresses here. There’s a strong level of trust that develops when you’re a Marie Gabriel bride.” atCarmel.com / JULY 2017 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 33

For Anne Marie, working in bridal is in her blood. Anne Marie doesn’t remember a time where she wasn’t working with her mom. “Our working relationship began at a very young age,” she joked when her mom talked about the early days of traveling back in Hong Kong. Her mother, Young, has been working in clothing and retail for more than 30 years. “I used to work in clothing manufacturing in China, Indonesia and Bangladesh,” Young says. “I would travel intensely for six weeks at a time, so I took her with me. I had stores in Hong Kong as well that I worked on weekends, and I didn’t want to leave my child at home, so she was always in the store, playing on the typewriter.” The family, including Anne Marie’s younger brother, moved to Zionsville back in 2004

where Young said she wanted to plant her roots and worked in a bridal retail store before she eventually opened Brides by Young. “I’m very grateful for Indiana and Zionsville,” she says. “We came here when my daughter was a teenager, and I’m thankful we deiced to settle here. Out of all the places we’ve traveled, this is where we’ve lived the longest.” When asked about how they like working together, they both smiled. “You have to find a balance between being a daughter and also an employee, which maybe we’re still figuring it out,” AnneMarie says. “But, there’s no one better to learn from, for me that’s been one of the best experiences. I don’t think many daughters get to see that side of their parents as often as I do.” For both of them, their favorite part of owning a business together is traveling with each other. “When we travel, we try and take some time to ourselves. Like eating together,” Anne Marie says. “I feel really proud of my mom as a female business owner,” she adds. “We’ve become really engrained into this community since we’ve moved here. Seeing her overcome so much makes me proud.” Both Young and Anne Marie love how supportive the Zionsville community has been since opening their shops. “Shopping local is so important, we depend on the community,” Anne Marie says. “This is why we established this beautiful bridal store with all these amazing designers. So that our Zionsville and Indiana brides know they are getting the best of the best right here. They don’t have to go to Chicago, they don’t have to go to New York. They are honestly getting even better service and selection here.” If you haven’t said yes to the dress yet, you can find the mother-daughter duo doing what they love most at Marie Gabriel Couture and Brides by Young in Castleton at 5252 E 82nd St. Suites #201 and #202. 34 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2017 / atCarmel.com

DELIZIOSO! CONVIVIO BRINGS ITALIAN CULTURE AND DELICIOUS DISHES Writer / Suzanne Huntzinger Photographer / Amy Payne

Pillowy pasta bursting with rich sauces and flavorful Italian herbs, leaving your taste buds asking for more. Convivio restaurant in Carmel brings you that and more. Just opened in November of 2016, Convivio has been drawing in steady crowds. Guests come to Convivio for more than just a great meal. Just walk in the doors of the modern restaurant and immediately experience a heaping helping of Italian culture. From the Italian art that adorns the walls, to the books on the shelves and the music playing, guests will feel just like they’ve landed in Italy.

Restaurant owner Andrea Melani says that’s what he set out to achieve when he began planning the concept for the restaurant.

the moment, the meal and the conversation.

Convivio delivers all of that. With an open kitchen concept, and a simple yet elegant, rustic modern décor, Melani pulled out all “I wanted to share my passion for food and Italian culture by creating a restaurant where the stops for his new restaurant. But the most unique feature of all is Convivio’s onepeople can connect with it,” he says. of-a-kind pasta shop. Unlike at any other Italian restaurant in Indianapolis, people can Capitalizing on Melani’s vision of sharing come in to Convivio and watch fresh pasta his beloved Italian culture, the name being made. It was a feature Melani spent a Convivio was hand selected from two considerable amount of time crafting. While sources. The name derived from a literary he was working on developing the restaurant’s work by author Dante Alighieri called concept, Melani returned to his homeland of Convivio, which includes commentary Italy for inspiration on his new venture. on the culture of the day. The second inspiration for the name came from the “I was looking for just the right pasta Italian concept describing a state of mind, machine and I found it,” he says. like sharing a meal together and enjoying atCarmel.com / JULY 2017 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 35

But the journey to Convivio started way before Melani’s return to Italy. Growing up in the northern territory of Cinque Terre (about an hour and a half from Florence), Melani was always around cooking. His parents owned a local restaurant and he was surrounded with food and cooking. He says he doesn’t even remember specifically being taught to cook. “I just picked it up,” he says.

In a world of change, our focus is steadfast.

Melani picked up something else special. He met a young lady from Indianapolis on a trip backpacking through Europe. The two spent lots of time together and decided to return to her hometown where they eventually married. So, Melani’s journey into the restaurant business began in 2000 in Indianapolis at the age of 25. He started off working in a number of local family restaurants. He went on to work at the popular Italian food chain, Bravo, where he managed three Indianapolis locations. Never losing sight of his dream to open his own restaurant, Melani began looking for a business partner and location. Both elements came together when a new friend of his opened the Ciao by Villaggio restaurant in Zionsville. Melani’s friend became his business partner, providing the financial backing he needed to make his restaurant dream a reality. Then, after exploring several open locations for the restaurant, the perfect spot in Carmel on Spring Mill Road was available. All the pieces finally fell in place.

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Convivio continues to evolve, with a menu offering authentic favorites like Tortelloni Pansotti (tortelloni filled with spinach and Swiss chard in a light cream sauce), fresh artisanal pizzas and mouth-watering appetizers like fresh burrata with prosciutto wrapped breadsticks. Melani keeps it innovative by choosing a particular region of Italy and offering specials that reflect the cuisine of that region, such as Tuscan specialty, Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Although the restaurant has not even been open a full year, Melani says he’s already pleased with its success. “We have a long road ahead of us, but so far, we’ve exceeded expectations in sales and customer reviews,” he says. “We couldn’t ask for more.” Melani says he’s considering the possibility of opening a second restaurant with his business partner, perhaps next year. In the meantime, he plans on moving forward with business as usual, continuing to fine tune processes and procedures and new menu items. Stop by Convivio, 11529 Spring Mill Road in Carmel just north of the Market District, for fine Italian cuisine and the perfect date night or get together with friends. Check out the menu at convivioindy.com or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/ convivioindy for information on events and specials.

atCarmel.com / JULY 2017 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / 37

28TH ANNUAL CARMELFEST KICKS OFF JULY 3

FESTIVITIES CONCLUDE NIGHT OF JULY 4 WITH THE FIREWORKS SHOW Writer / Allison Yates Photography / Zach Dobson Photography

The CarmelFest grows yearly, explains Thaddeus Rex, co-chair of the CarmelFest marketing committee, but they’ll still feature signature events such as the Wright Brothers performance at 7:30 p.m. at the Geico Gazebo Stage on Monday, July 3.

Carmel gears up for its 28th annual Independence Day celebration CarmelFest on July 3 from 3:00 p.m. to 10:30pm and July 4 from noon to 10:30 p.m. Presented by the Rotary Club of Carmel, the allvolunteer run festival is held at Civic Square, The Indy Eleven “Hats Off to America” Southwest of S. Range Line Road and North parade returns again this year at 10:30 of Carmel Drive. a.m. on Tuesday, July 4, showcasing bands, motorcycles, Colts Cheerleaders and, this Get ready to join more than 50,000 year, to the delight of a sweet-toothed festival-goers as they enjoy great food, public, candy will be part of the parade entertainment and activities, and don’t again after a hiatus. forget to sport your most festive America gear. Spend the holiday enjoying the games

38 / CARMEL MAGAZINE / JULY 2017 / atCarmel.com

and food, and don’t miss the chance to sit under the stars and watch the long-awaited fireworks show presented by Centier Bank on July 4 at 9:45 p.m., signifying the end of the celebrations. The festival also includes a Freedom Run, starting at 8:00 a.m. on July 4, starting at Carmel High School, and a vocal competition — the Indy Connect CarmelFest Has Talent. Catch the semifinals on July 3 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the finals on July 4 from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., both on the Geico Gazebo stage. For more information on schedules, events and parking visit carmelfest.net.

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