MAGAZINESEPTEMBER 2022 TownePost.com KEEPING THE ARTS IN MIND Looking Back on the History of Herron High School QUIPTU Indy-based Startup Enables More Hoosiers To Bike, Paddle, and Camp TINKERING AROUND SHARE IN THE HISTORY OF THREE TINKER LOCATIONS
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IN THIS ISSUE SEPTEMBER 2022 #THISISNORTHINDY FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT franchising.townepost.com TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: 317-810-0011 A TOWNE POST NETWORK PUBLICATION For advertising information, contact: TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER/CEO TOM BRITT 317.496.3599tom@townepost.com PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT 317.810.0011jeanne@townepost.com PRODUCTION COORDINATOR ERIN TURK DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL ENGAGEMENT JOSH BROWN CREATIVE DIRECTORS TONI EADS VAL AUSTIN COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS PUBLISHERS MICHAEL & LINDSAY DURR 630.853.1142michael@townepost.com ANALYTICSREAL-TIME Scan the QR code to see this distributionreal-timemagazine’sreachandnumbers. KEY CONTRIBUTORS AMANDA GIBSON / DESMOND NICHOLSON / DANIEL WOODY MICHAEL DURR / NICK BADMAN / HEATHER HOURIGAN MARKISS STONE / RENEE LARR / SETH JOHNSON GLOBAL FEST | SEPTEMBER 17TH | NOON TO 10PM Celebrate diversity and cultures with live performances by Grupo Bembe, Bollywood Beats, and more. Taste the world with food trucks like Katsumi’s Teaching Kitchen, India Palace, and El Venezolano, and kids can Indianapolis4550zone.ademonstrations,Hunts,EgyptianexperienceTreasureKendoandspecialGlobalTeenFreeadmission.CentralAvenue, 4 KEEPING THE ARTS IN MIND Looking Back on the History of Herron High School 6 COFFEE-CENTRIC Tinker Coffee Continues to Brew up a Strong Presence 11 TINKER STREET Popular Indy Restaurant Has You Coming Back for More 15 BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT™ Migration Wealth Management 17 WOODY’S NECK OF THE WOODS Car Camping 19 QUIPTU Indy-based Startup Enables More Hoosiers To Bike, Paddle, and Camp 24 TINKER HOUSE EVENTS Local Event Space Mixes the Old & the New
KEEPING THE ARTS IN MIND
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“I sat in the back of the room, and I heard people suggest things that weren’t fundable, weren’t sustainable, and weren’t the kind of ideas that people get passionate about, and those are my three tests for a good project,” Taft says. “I very insecurely raised my hand in the back of the room, and I said, ‘Ya know, Herron's First Class with CEO Janet McNeal (center) Photographer / Bill Foley
Writer / Seth Johnson Photographer / Michael Durr
LOOKING BACK ON THE HISTORY OF HERRON HIGH SCHOOL
The year was 2003, and Harrison Center founder and executive director Joanna Taft was already finding early success in the city’s Old Northside, providing artists with affordable studio spaces while also drawing hundreds of people out to gallery openings.
Beneath the surface of these initial accomplishments, however, Taft was made aware of a larger, underlying issue facing Harrison Center artists — one that required a great deal of hard work and innovative
“Bythinking.2003, my artists started coming to me and saying, ‘I need to move to L.A., New York or Chicago,’” Taft says. “I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’ They looked at me and they said, ‘Joanna. You are attracting emerging patrons — we need real art patrons. We can’t stay in Indianapolis unless there’s a broader art patron base here.’”
Around this same time, the John Herron Art Institute had also announced that it would be moving to IUPUI’s campus, after a century of being located in Herron-Morton Place where the historic Tinker house once stood. Due to her involvement with the Harrison Center, Taft was invited by then-Mayor Bart Peterson to be a part of a commission focused on figuring out what to do with the college’s former campus. Shyly sitting at one of these meetings, Taft eventually proposed the idea to start a liberal arts high school where John Herron Art Institute once was. Hence, the initial seed for Herron High School was planted.
Over the years, Herron High School has expanded its footprint, adding HerronRiverside High School and Herron Preparatory Academy to make up what’s now referred to as Herron Classical Schools.
She continues, “A few years ago, we adopted this sentence: Joyful teaching equals joyful learning. We have this on banners throughout our schools. We believe if teachers love and enjoy their content area, students will be inspired to learn.”
I don’t know much about it, but I hear that there’s this new charter school movement, and I feel like there’s a funding source there that could help us honor the art and education history of this site. What if we created a high school designed to grow art patrons?’”
Having now seen Herron High School grow and develop over the years, Taft (now board president emerita) can also reflect on the impact she’s seen the school have on the Herron-Morton neighborhood as a whole.
“Before Herron opened, 16th Street was a pretty dead street,” Taft says. “There weren’t restaurants, coffeeshops or other businesses along there — it was a lot of vacancy. But when Herron opened, all of a sudden Foundry Provisions opened because they had potential clients in the kids. So you started seeing kids walking around the neighborhood in their uniforms. I don’t know what it is, but seeing kids walk around just makes you smile and feel safer Herrontoo.”High School is located at 110 E 16th St in Indianapolis. For more information, visit them online at herronhighschool.org or give them a call at 317-231-0010.
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“I interviewed and learned from 130 diverse people in the community, from philanthropy to education to fundraising to community development,” Taft says. “There were people who metaphorically patted me on the head and said, ‘Oh Joanna. Did you know starting a high school is hard?’ But I kept getting out of bed every day because I felt like it needed to be done, and nobody seemed to be passionate about doing it.”
Faced with the task of starting this high school from scratch, Taft spent the next year-and-ahalf seeking all kinds of community insight and support.
Herron High School eventually opened its doors in 2006, holding classes in the basement of the Harrison Center before eventually moving to their current location across the street in 2007. Rooted in classical, liberal arts traditions, the Herron High School curriculum was developed with the arts in mind, in hopes of fostering future art patrons in Indianapolis.
“It’s a liberal arts curriculum, which is kind of time tested,” Taft says. “In ancient Rome, it was very important for citizens to have an education so they could be wise in how they voted. Today, we still need that citizenship that is educated so they can vote, be citizens and enter into community life.”
In reflecting on their growth over the years, Herron Classical Schools president Janet McNeal pinpoints the school network’s impassioned staff as a primary reason for their continued success.
“We have hired and continue to employ teachers who love our students and believe that they can become true scholars,” McNeal says. “They are content experts, and they are mission-driven educators.”
COFFEE-CENTRIC TINKER COFFEE CONTINUES TO BREW UP A STRONG PRESENCE
It originally started as a wholesale coffee roaster on 16th Street, which was once called Tinker Street. It was not just a homage to their original roasting location or a little historical connection to Indy history - the idea of always tinkering also came into play. Now they’re eight years into the business, and Hall and Johnson have grown it in every way possible - and they don’t plan on stopping. Tinker’s coffee is incredibly attainable in various forms. Their roastery, located on West 16th Street, is where you can catch the roasting action or pop in for a bag of beans. If it’s brewed coffee or lattes you want, a quick hop, skip and jump away to the AMP will find them serving coffee in an orange shipping container. If you’re traveling out of Indy, you’ll find them in the Indianapolis airport for a little slice of something local before you take off or after you’ve landed.
Photographer / Michael Durr
Writer / Amanda Gibson
You can’t talk about Indianapolis coffee without talking about Tinker Coffee Company. While Indianapolis was making great strides in distilleries and breweries, coffee wasn’t quite keeping up the pace like it was in other cities. In 2014 Steve Hall and Jeff Johnson (who just happen to be brothers-in-law) decided to fill a void they were seeing and start Tinker Coffee Company.
Tinker Gemini is their mobile coffee cart that you may find at events around the city, and they also cater private events. You can even have Tinker delivered to your door through their subscription service. Once you sign up for the subscription, just
Steve Hall - Co-Founder of Tinker Coffee
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Contact Dove House CEO Wendy Noe (wnoe@doverecoveryhouse.org) to learn more about how you can get involved. Scan the QR code to purchase tickets or become a sponsor.
What could be sweeter than indulging in a decadent dessert made by your favorite local bakery? Enjoying that tasty treat while also empowering women to become substancefree, self-sufficient and healthy. Dove House is opening new doors for women in recovery, and you will want to be part of this exciting event.
8 / NORTH INDY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2022 / TownePost.com
A SWEET EVENT TO SUPPORT WOMEN STRUGGLING WITH SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
The Dove Recovery House for Women Celebration Luncheon & Dessert Auction will take place Wednesday, September 21st from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the Ritz Charles in Carmel, IN. Sponsorship opportunities and individual tickets are available at doverecoveryhouse.org/luncheon.
In their recently completed tasting room that they named The Lab, they renovated the former Psychic Derailleur bike shop that was within the same warehouse as theirs, and it allows for classes for the community, coffee cuppings, and trainings with their wholesale
Jeff Johnson - Co-Founder of Tinker Coffee
know you may be getting exclusive coffee roasts that they don’t sell to just anyone.
“We really pride ourselves a lot on the quality of coffee,” Hall says. “Sourcing is huge for us. Making sure we purchase exceptional, green coffee to roast is really important.” He also notes that they have one main roaster - Johnson. Having one person roast the majority of the green coffee they buy inevitably helps with the consistency of each roast’s profile. The Tinker staff members make sure they aren’t missing the opportunity in their industry to provide notable hospitality. This comes into play with their expansion into cafes and education of the 1125 W 16th St, Indianapolis - Tinker Coffee
Manypartners.local coffee shops, offices and churches are brewing Tinker for their own customers. One of the newest ways you can find them is actually in Walmart. Not too long ago they were contacted by Coffee Collective Co., which is a business made up of former Walmart executives who want to get great coffee onto Walmart
Theyshelves.came back to Tinker with 36 Walmart locations, and they decided to stock them all. Since 2014 the Indianapolis coffee scene has expanded to include many different options, whether it be roasters or coffee shops. Tinker really led the way for them all, but how does the Tinker team set itself apart to this day?
One of Tinker’s goals moving forward is to put Indianapolis on the map for coffee. They see this as a priority, so they’ve hosted and will continue to host many coffee-focused events.
The Midwest's only international school is right here in Indianapolis.
This International Baccalaureate (IB) World School takes a different approach to education. With immersion and dual language programs in French, Mandarin, Spanish, and English and enhanced cultural experiences, our students are ready for whatever the world has to offer After all, why stop at the Crossroads of America when you ’ re prepared to go anywhere? community on the coffee that lives on their shelves at home.
Hall mentions the expansion of more cafes, and while he isn’t at liberty to discuss this in great detail, he says there would be more space to allow for a more expansive menu. Be on the lookout, because if these past eight years of business have shown us anything, Tinker is going to continue to fill multiple cups to expand their business, please our palates, and bring attention to Indy in a new way. For more info, call 317-438-5728 or visit tinkercoffee.com.
“We’ve all had good and bad hospitality experiences, and to me it’s a missed opportunity to not take the chance to live out your brand through hospitality and meet people where they are,” Hall says.
Now accepting applications, 3 year old through high school. No language experience required.
People from around the entire country attend coffee events like the AeroPress Championship. “We want to bring more attention to Indy as a coffee town through these events and experience the coffee culture here,” Hall says. “These national events will build the profile of Indy in the coffee world.”
HIGH SCHOOL OPEN SHADOW DAY
Students currently in Grade 8 through 10 are invited to fast track their application process and attend our Open Shadow Day OCTOBER 18
Tinker – to make small changes to something, especially in an attempt to repair or improve it
Tinker Street
Popular Indy Restaurant Has You Coming Back for More
Writer / Desmond Nicholson
Let’s do some tinkering around and venture inside Tinker Street the restaurant on the historical 16th Street. And while we’re at it, let’s say hi to our neighbors across the street, Gallery on 16th. Meet Ashlee Nemeth, she is the Sommelier for Tinker Street Restaurant. She’s been with Tinker Street Restaurant since day one of 2014 as the second employee and has been with Tinker ever since. Tinker Street opened shortly after the beginning of January 2015. The name of Tinker came about through background research. 16th Street used to be Tinker Street in the late 1800s. The restaurant arrived first, followed by Tinker Coffee and Tinker House Events. Tinker restaurant was there first as an Asestablishment.theSommelier, Ashlee tries to do some tinkering around by working with vendors to bring wines to Tinker Street Restaurant that pairs well with the dishes they create, along with the vibe it represents.
Photographer / Michael Durr Original Art / Heather Hourigan
One of Ashlee’s favorite dishes at Tinker Street restaurant is The Panzanella (tomato, cucumber, castlevetrano olives, garlic, shallot, bleu cheese, pecorino Romano, herbed vinaigrette, balsamic reduction, baguette and basil), the perfect summer dish.
Wines from Amaro de Capo to Tokaji 6 Puttonyos Aszu, Tinker Street has you covered for after-dinner wines. And speaking of dinners, Tinker Street Restaurant believes in offering a seasonal menu. How boring would it be to eat the same things, week-in and weekout? Especially when you want to eat seasonally and locally?
From Korean Fried Mushrooms to the Curried Cauliflower Steak, to the OH SO buttery, cooked to perfection that will have you licking the plate, Mushroom Risotto with Scallops. Tinker Street is Ashlee Nemeth Sommerlier and Front of House Manager at Tinker Street Restaurant
Casual boho style with a bit of funky flare! Visit us at 46th & College Ave or www.indyuh.com Find us on instagram + facebook! @urbanhippieindy
S T A R T I N G S E P T E M B E R 1 6 serving up the best scallops in the city. I highly suggest you try them before they leave the menu. Tinker Street does offer a nice selection of vegan and gluten-free dishes. One thing that does change frequently on the menu at Tinker Street is the soups. Sometimes, more than twice a week, if it sells well and they have the ingredients, they will sell the soup all week. For example, the Watermelon Despactio, which is selling well for the summer. Tinker Street serves cold soups for the summer and hot soups for the winter.
After sipping some wine as the sun sets and your stomach is
GREAT SERVICE • GREAT PEOPLE • GREAT LOCATION Visit us at our retail location 5040 East 62nd St. N.W. Corner of 62nd & Binford Blvd. www.QuickShredIndy.com 317.251.1167 20% OFF No Matter How BIG or Small, We Shred It All! *In-Store Use Only RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL DOCUMENT SHREDDING In Full V i e w ! E 71st St E 62st St AllisonvilleRd BinfordBlvd OperatedOwnedFamily& 15%ElectronicOFFDisposal *In-Store Use Only pleasantly pleased with the meal that you devoured, you can’t leave Tinker Street without dessert. Try the Red Velvet Brownie, cream cheese ice cream, raspberry, sprinkled with chocolate pearls. Or maybe you want a dessert that’s too pretty to eat like the Honey Cake. Blackberry lavender jam, macerated berries, orange blossom frosting, alp blossom cheese, topped with an edible flower. You can visit Tinker Street Restaurant on 402 E 16th St, Indianapolis, IN. For more information check out their website tinkerstreetrestaurant.com and follow on Facebook at Tinker Street and Instagram @tinkerstreetindy. 14 / NORTH INDY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2022 / TownePost.com @travelingfoodieguyde approves! TinkerRestaurantStreet SCANVIDEOFOR
MWM offers comprehensive wealth management, including retirement planning and savings, cash flow planning, debt paydown prioritization, insurance and risk management, tax planning, college education planning, employee benefits optimization, estate planning and investment management. What sets Feutz apart is his love for educating and assisting his “I’llpeers.beturning 30 in a few months, and I really enjoy working with people in their 30s and 40s,” Feutz says. “At that age, people are going through so many changes in their lives. I feel like I’m helping them not only change their lives but potentially make generational changes. Many of my clients are the first in their family to have a significant amount of income to do something with.”
The first step is to meet potential clients for a one-hour introduction and discovery meeting. Feutz says this allows him to get to know the clients one-on-one and learn about their lives. He wants his clients to see the relationship as mutual and not transactional. The next step is to allow clients to “sleep on it.”
MWM is a fee-only company. Feutz and his co-founder, Jeremy Crocker, don’t make commissions and don’t sell products.
Writer / Renée Larr Photographer / Michael Durr Drew Feutz grew up, as he says, in a cornfield about 30 miles southwest of Indianapolis. His blue-collar family instilled those small-town values of hard work, honesty and down-to-earth approachability. Feutz says he applies those same values to his career as a certified financial planner with Migration Wealth Management.
“I never want to pressure anyone to make a decision that day,” Feutz says. “If it’s a great fit, that’s great. If not, I will help you find something that is a better fit for you.
Financial planning can be intimidating. We don’t want you to feel intimidated by us.”
“By being fee-only, it eliminates that conflict of interest,” Feutz says. “We’re not going to sell you something you don’t need because we would receive a commission on it. This allows us to truly, honestly help our clients.”
That commitment to honesty that Feutz learned all the way back in that cornfield is what sets him apart today.
For more information, migrationwealthmanagement.com/nim922.visit
Feutz says it’s important to him to keep things like pricing transparent with clients.
MIGRATION MANAGEMENTWEALTH migrationwealthmanagement.com765-235-9229operations@migrationwm.comCONNECT TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2022 / NORTH INDY MAGAZINE / 15
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Writer / Photographer Daniel Woody @daniel.woody
Welcome to my neck of the woods! My name is Daniel Woody, and I’m a local photographer with a passion for outdoor adventure. I’ll periodically be writing brief columns related to all things outdoors, and my goal is to inspire, educate, and empower you to get outside and seek out new adventures around Indiana. We’re not known as an “outdoorsy” state, we don’t have big mountains or palm tree lined beaches, but there is still adventure to be had here if you know where to look. So, for my first column, I’d like to tell you about one of my favorite, quick & easy ways to experience the outdoors: Car Camping. When I say car camping, I’m technically referring to “dispersed” camping. That’s the term to Google to find additional info on the topic. Generally speaking, dispersed camping is a term used to describe camping anywhere in a National Forest outside of a designated campground. The forest roads that run
WOODY’S NECK OF THE WOODS: CAR CAMPING through national forests will often have primitive campsites scattered along their edge. I much prefer to seek out one of these free campsites, and avoid paying $20+/night to camp at a cramped and noisy Hoosiercampground.NationalForest (HNF) has a number of dispersed campsites along its forest roads, and I’ve spent years driving most of them and documenting each campsite I’ve come across or camped at. They’re often spaced far enough apart
My creature comforts typically involve food. In my opinion, it’s hard to beat a tasty meal when you’re in the wilderness.
• If you pack it in, pack it out.
• Leave it better than you found it. One of the upsides to car camping is being able to bring plenty of creature comforts with you. While camping can be done with minimal gear, if you have the option to carry it with your vehicle instead of on your back, you might as well throw in a few extra items to make your experience more enjoyable. The phrase “bring everything but the kitchen sink” is more applicable here than ever before. If you do find yourself camping with a kitchen sink, then you’ve probably graduated to #VanLife or beyond… hopefully. Don’t be shy about packing an extra cooler just for your “beverages” or an air mattress for your tent. Throw in some extra jugs of water and a robust first aid kit, too. If you can safely carry it in your vehicle, better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.
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camping in Indiana is generally pretty forgiving for the uninitiated. We don’t really have any large predators, so you can rest easy at night anywhere in HNF. Smaller critters will be attracted by any food or trash you leave out, though, so be sure to keep those items contained inside your vehicle when not is use. In fact, it’s best to practice “Leave No Trace” principles whenever you’re outdoors, and pick up after others who have left their trash before you. I try to live by two general rules:
that you feel like you have the whole forest to yourself. Each campsite will have a small, rock-ring firepit, and usually enough room to park 2-3 cars and set up as many tents. If you’re not familiar with HNF, I’d highly recommend contacting a Ranger Office first. The contact info for the HNF Ranger offices can be found at forest/offices.fs.usda.gov/detail/hoosier/about-Therangerswillbeable to guide you to the best areas for dispersed camping, and can also inform you of any hazards in the forest that you may Fortunately,encounter.
Quiptu:
Quiptu has recently begun partnerships with a number of local shops, like Bicycle Garage Indy, in both states. Quiptu functions as a lead generation channel for these shops, who often spend any funds to advertise their rental service. One differentiator with Quiptu is that they allow owners the ability to offer delivery of the gear at a surcharge to the renter. Meeting a renter at the Monon Trail with a bike or Eagle Creek Reservoir with a kayak makes life really easy for a renter who just has to show up and be ready for a good time, and it adds to the overall income earned by the owner - a win-win!
Quiptu is led by Josh, Co-Founder and CEO, John Laughlin, Co-Founder and COO, and Ben Kirby ‘Kirby’, Head of Brand and Storytelling. Josh and John are brothers-in-law. Kirby is dating John’s sister, Mylene. The team had a good laugh when it was brought to their attention by an advisor that two of the founders of Indy’s well-known tech company, ExactTarget, Scott Dorsey and Chris Baggott, are brothers-in-law. If only they could replicate that kind of success!
Here’s a coupon code for 25% OFF your first transaction: Quiptu25%
ack in January 2021, Josh Roche, overheard his friend, Zach talking about a gravel biking trip across the state of Montana (the GDMBR for those familiar). Josh quickly volunteered himself as a companion adventurer for a week. However, Josh soon realized that a specific type of gravel bike and bags were needed for the trip. It was too expensive to buy for his first trip and once he started searching, he found that there were no efficient rental options that could streamline this type of adventure. So he borrowed Zach’s old one, disassembled it, shipped it to Montana, and waited half a day to receive it. It turned out the bike didn’t fit and it needed to be put together in their Uber driver’s backyard. After a 350-mile trek across Montana, Josh had to disassemble it, ship it, and reassemble it again to return to his friend’s garage. Josh knew there had to be a better way. This story paved the way for Indy-based Quiptu – a peer-to-peer platform for renting outdoor gear adventure gear in Indiana and Colorado. The platform allows bike, paddling, and camping gear owners an opportunity to earn income on equipment that many times already sits in one’s garage or basement. It also provides renters with a way to circumvent spending north of $1,000 on gear that they might not use often enough to justify purchasing or avoid the hassle of having to schlep your gear.
The team also has a team of 5 ambassadors representing the company in markets where there are fewer Quiptu boots on the ground. The team is inspired by the growth seen with predecessor companies in the sharing economy space like Airbnb, Turo, Outdoorsy, and Hipcamp. Quiptu is currently live in Indianapolis and 3 other markets in Indiana as well as Denver and 3 other markets in Colorado. Quiptu eclipsed the 100 listing mark in late August and has seen growth month-over-month since its launch on June 1st.
Indy-Based Startup Enables More Hoosiers to Bike, Paddle, and Camp B
Cooking can be intimidating for some, and maybe especially so outside of a traditional kitchen, but camp cooking should be easy and delicious. Spend some time before your trip searching the far reaches of the internet for “one-pot/pan” or “over-the-fire” recipes. Once those are in hand, I’d recommend doing a little food prep before your trip. If there’s anything I can do in my kitchen at home before I leave, that will translate to massive time savings when cooking at camp. Not to mention, if you injure yourself during food prep (we’ve all sliced a finger by accident before) it’s much easier to properly attend to your injury while at home than it might be out in nature. Good food goes a long way towards making an experience enjoyable and bringing people together. My favorite goto camp dinner is burritos. Burritos are perfect in every way, and I’ll prove it to you! First off, they’re simple to prepare. All you need is one skillet to cook your meat. Cook it over the fire or on a camp stove, and then add any topping you’d like. Secondly, burritos are portable. No plate or silverware required! And lastly, the leftovers are great for the next morning. Just cook up some scrambled eggs and throw the leftover meat in with them. BAM! You’ve now got yourself a breakfast burrito! Burritos: Easy to cook, easy clean up, and extremely portable. What’s not to love? Food aside, you’ll also want to consider any outdoor activities you plan to do while you’re camping. Whether it’s sitting
"SEEK ADVENTURESNEWAROUNDINDIANA." - DANIEL WOODY -
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If there’s an outdoor-related topic that you’d like to see covered in the future, please contact us on Instagram @thisisnorthindy or @daniel.woody Written by Daniel Woody Follow my adventures on Instagram @daniel.woody
If you’re new to camping and in need of some gear, consider trying out a new service called Quiptu. It’s an online, peerto-peer, gear rental service, and if you’re familiar with the interfaces of AirBnB, Turo, Outdoorsy, etc. then you’ll feel right at home on Quiptu’s website. Their platform offers a great way to try new gear or rent something specific for your next adventure. All the gear is provided by other local outdoor enthusiasts, so you might even make a friend while you’re at it!
around camp while reading a book, or you want to go full weekend warrior, pack the gear to make it happen. Heck, you’ve got a vehicle, so you might as well strap some bikes or kayaks to it.
22 / NORTH INDY MAGAZINE / SEPTEMBER 2022 / TownePost.com All Nikon products include Nikon Inc. USA limited warranty. ©2022 Nikon Inc. Visit robertscamera.com to Learn More! For content creators, vloggers and streamers Be inspired. Inspire others. NEW Creator Ready Shown with accessories from the Creator’s Accessory Kit (sold separately)
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Walk on the Wild Side September 9th 6pm to 8pm – FREE! Learn how to photograph animals at the zoo. This presentation will cover a wide variety of subjects such as photographing through barriers, choosing camera angles, lens choice, choosing aperture and shutter speeds, and understanding animal behavior so that you are ready for the shot.
Ron Magill is a Nikon Ambassador, award winning photographer, conservationist and Zoo Miami’s “Goodwill Ambassador.” He has made frequent television appearances on many programs including, “National Geographic Exaplorer”, the Discovery Networks, the “Today Show”, “Good Morning America”, “The Late Show ”, “CBS’ This Morning”, “Dateline” and “CNN.” In addition, he has written and produced many wildlife articles and awardwinning photographs that have appeared in publications and galleries around the world.
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TINKER HOUSE EVENTS LOCAL EVENT SPACE MIXES THE OLD + THE NEW Writer / Renée Larr Photographer / Michael Durr
Founder and President Brian Willsey calls the aesthetic of the 4,000-square-foot space industrial-chic.
Brian Willsey - Founder / President of Tinker House Events
Tinker House Events launched in late 2016 in the building as a premium event space located on the second floor of the building.
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Willsey, along with his wife, Nabeela Virjee, were co-founders of Hotel Tango in 2014. His role was that of a jack-of-all-trades during the start of the business. Willsey, along with founder Travis Barnes physically renovated the building that is now the Fletcher Place tasting room, so he knows a thing or two about older buildings.
“The building developer wanted to keep the historical integrity of the building,” Willsey says. “The space has exposed bricks, huge industrial windows, wooden beams, and old radiators. Although the radiators don’t work, they lend themselves to an older feel. We gave it a modern touch with pieces from local artists, custom lights and doors. We’ve mixed in the old with the new.”
According to the Indiana Historical Society, the building that houses Tinker House Events is of substantial historical significance. The building dates back to the early twentieth century. The U.S Bank Furniture Company authorized it as a warehouse for their inventory. In 1915 the building was obtained by the company Wiegel Cabinet Company who utilized it until 1930. Later, a rag recycling company purchased the building. Since 1980, the building has been the headquarters for several organizations, including a scrap yard.
“The tasting room was hosting a lot of private events early on, which led to us having to shut down the space to the public on Friday and Saturday nights,” Willsey says. “We realized this wasn't a stable long-term plan, and we needed to find another spot to hold private events. Tinker was the first iteration in that plan since it would also hold the new distillery operation. Ultimately, it was decided that Tinker House Events and Hotel Tango Distillery were better off operating as their independent business operations. My wife and I are both still minority shareholders in Hotel Tango to this day.
Along with being investors, we are also big fans and proud of the company and the brand.”
The building is situated on the corner of 16th St. and The Monon Trail and is home to Hotel Tango Distillery and Provider Coffee
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LOCAL. REGIONAL. NATIONAL. COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE We specialize in Retail, Restaurant, Medical & Entertainment Real Estate. SERVICES Tenant Representation Master Brokerage Market Entry Evaluation Site Selection Landlord PropertyDevelopmentInvestmentRepresentationSalesConsultingManagement 6440 Westfield Blvd, Indianapolis, IN | 317.472.1800 and Cocktail Lounge on the first floor and a private business on the third floor. The second-floor event space offers sweeping views of the downtown Indianapolis skyline.
“Certainly, weddings are our mainstay of the events we host,” Willsey says. “But, we’ve also hosted birthday parties, happy hours, corporate celebrations, holiday parties and fundraisers. We’re very active in giving back to our local community and fighting for those who are less fortunate. We’re eager to find any use for the space. We love highlighting it and for our guests to have a great time in a historic atmosphere.”
Tinker House Events has hosted more than 2,000 events and can accommodate 200 seated or 230 standing guests.
Tinker House Events is located at 1101 East 16th Street, Suite 200. For more information, visit tinkerhouseevents.com or call 317-607-2521.
Willsey says Tinker House Events got in early on the redevelopment stage of the area. He says the neighborhood didn’t have much going on, but it continues to grow with the possibility of new restaurants and a co-working space in the pipeline. Foot traffic has increased with the addition of Monon Loft Apartments and the Oaks Academy Middle School. Willsey says the possibilities for the area are endless.
“All of the other event spaces in our city are awesome, but I think we’ve really leaned into our aesthetic here,” Willsey says. “We have some custom pieces that you won’t see anywhere else. We love mixing in local artists along with the historical element of the building. The other differentiating factor is the view of the Indianapolis skyline. You’re in the city with a more relaxing and chill vibe. It’s a little more slowed down area than being right in the downtown mix.”
There are plenty of event spaces throughout Indianapolis and the downtown area. Willsey says there are several reasons Tinker House Events is chosen time and time again by customers wanting to host alluring events.
TownePost.com / SEPTEMBER 2022 / NORTH INDY MAGAZINE / 29
History of Our Building
Why Blackink IT is proud to call Tinker Street “Home”
Our Mission At Blackink IT, we want to keep our clients and communities safe and productive. Our team implements and manages technology with a proven and proactive approach. By providing resources, deepening our involvement in the community, and serving as a proud member of the Indy technology hub, we are able to live out this mission every day. Part of this mission is our partnership with the local corporate work study program, Providence Cristo Rey High School. This article was written by our Providence Cristo Rey intern, Miracle Anderson. Call (317) 472-8000, or email Katie Noble at knoble@blackinkit.com
Tech on Tinker Street
At Blackink IT, we take pride in our headquarters and history. According to local sources, our building dates back to the early twentieth century. It was authorized by the U.S Bank Furniture Company as a warehouse for their inventory. In 1915 the building was obtained by the Wiegel Cabinet Company, who utilized it until 1930. Since 1980, the building has been the headquarters for several different organizations, including a scrap yard. From the mid-eighties, the building was left abandoned. In 2017, Blackink IT took over the third floor, and 1101 E 16th Street has been our home ever since. Why Tinker Street? Our location within the Old Northside neighborhood places us in the heart of the Indy tech industry. What was once a dirt road known as Tinker Street has become a location to network and innovate. Indiana is known for the recent growth of its tech industry, and we work to contribute to this growth. Technology has become one of Indiana’s most expansive industries, with more than 184,000 tech jobs in 2021. Therefore, Indianapolis, and more specifically 16th Street, serves as an ideal location for Blackink IT and other technology companies that call Indiana home.
Want to learn more about how technology can help you achieve business strategy?
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