North Indy Magazine July 2024

COHATCH POLK STABLES OPENS IN NORTH INDY

Photo: Butler University Holcomb Observatory & Planetarium / Visit Indy

THE FOUNTAIN SQUARE

EXPERIENCE

PUBLISHERS

MICHAEL & LINDSAY DURR michael@townepost.com (630) 853-1142

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

SARAH BROWNING

MICHAEL DURR

MATT KEATING

RENEE LARR

LUKE MENDEL

NATALIE MENDEL

MORGAN MURDOCK

JOHN OVERTON

LEAH TRIBBETT

DANIEL WOODY

Scent Scene

9 WORKING THE WAY YOU WANT COhatch Polk Stables Opens in North Indy

15 TREASURE GAME$ HEADED TO THE HOOSIER STATE

Indiana Will be Part of Nationwide TreasureHunting Game’s Midwest Region

Discover the Best Spots in One of Indy’s Coolest Neighborhoods

22 FILM PHOTOGRAPHY OF FOUNTIAN SQUARE BY LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER LEAH TRIBBETT

FEATURED PARTNERS

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599

PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR

ERIN TURK

CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN

TONI EADS

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL SERVICES

DEVON DEAN

COPY EDITOR JON SHOULDERS

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT FRANCHISING.TOWNEPOST.COM

CONTACT THE PUBLISHER

Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?

BURNING BRIGHT

PENN & BEECH CANDLE CO. IS SIMPLY SLAYING THE SCENT SCENE

Penn & Beech Candle Co. started in 2017 in Indianapolis, in a basement on North Pennsylvania Avenue, with two sisters-in-law experimenting with pouring candles and developing custom scents. Brianna and Lacey Doles launched the small, in-home business as a side venture spread through word-of-mouth advertising.

“People would just come to the door and pick up their candles,” Brianna says. “It started as a basement operation for about a year and a half. Then we moved to an online business, and thought maybe we could open up a location close to where my husband, Seth, and I lived. That’s how the first location opened in downtown Indy.”

Brianna says the idea to move the business from the basement to a storefront happened organically, with people curious to see the candle pouring for themselves. She says they would bring friends to the basement to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the process. Seth says the founders developed the idea to move the business to an experience-based brand.

Writer / Renee Larr

Photographer / Sarah Browning

Penn & Beech Candle Co. - Fishers, IN

The mix-and-pour-your-own candle company allows guests to customize their unique candle scents. Customers smell over 100 scents and narrow their likes to just a few. Penn & Beech employees then assist guests in narrowing down the scents to a few that blend well together. Next, guests choose a vessel for their candle. Guests can also enjoy a glass of wine, beer, kombucha or coffee while they decide.

The namesake is a wink and a nod to where both women lived - Brianna on Pennsylvania Street in Indianapolis, and Lacey on Beech Street in Columbus, Ohio. Since their official launch of the downtown brick-and-mortar location in 2018, Brianna, Lacey and Seth have opened a Carmel location and three locations in Columbus, Ohio, with one in the works in downtown Fishers.

“When we opened the downtown location it was a huge success, but we did keep hearing from customers that they wanted a more accessible location rather than driving downtown,” Seth says. “We started on the building in 2019 and opened in 2020. Much like other businesses at the time, we had to close during the height of the pandemic.”

The couple says they fought through the shutdown like many other small businesses, and now the Carmel location is one of their busiest. It’s also by far the largest, with a private event space for hosting bridal showers, bachelorette parties, girls-night-out events and corporate functions.

The trio is currently working to round out their central Indiana locations with a new Fishers location, set to open in spring 2024 in the historic Nickel Plate District. Seth says the new space is situated inside a historic brick building.

“It’s one of the buildings left after all the renovations to the Nickel Plate District in downtown Fishers,” he says. “Design-wise, it will be an elevated version of what we’re already doing in the area. Guests can still have a glass of wine or a beer while they mix their scents, choose their vessels and pour their candles.”

Seth says they plan on moving their current downtown location to the Bottleworks District during its second development phase. “Our original Mass Ave location will always be special to us, but we’ve simply outgrown the space,” Seth says. “Our new location is just across the street from our current one and will provide us the extra space to accommodate all our guests. We are thrilled to join the Bottleworks family while operating in the same community we love.”

Penn & Beech has experienced tremendous growth in their relatively short time on the scene. Seth and Brianna say they are proud of the growth and can’t wait for more expansion in the future.

“One of the things we’re most proud of is growing from a small, self-run basement business to having over 100 employees now,” Seth says. “Running a small business is tough to navigate, especially during a time of so much growth, but I think we’ve gotten a lot smarter in terms of managing it. I have to give credit to our amazing team. As long as we have our close relationships dialed in with the folks leading our stores, managing our warehouse, heading up our marketing and so on, we’re equipped to handle the growth.”

Brianna says it’s crucial to each and every team member for the guest to have a fantastic experience. She says they place high importance on each location’s look, feel and even smell. Seth says they listen to customer feedback and implement change when necessary. They have even expanded the brand’s wholesale line to large businesses wanting a custom candle scent to represent their brand.

Penn & Beech loyalists know to be on the lookout for holiday offerings like new scents, as well as special offers like buy three, get one free. For more information or to make a reservation, visit pennandbeech.com.

Premier weight loss is a locally owned medical practice focused on increasing the accessibility of best-in-class weight loss therapeutics. Our team specializes in turning initial patient assessments into actionable treatment plans.

What sets us apart is our specialized team, transparent pricing and commitment to delivering brand name medications. Our team is dedicated to practicing evidence based medicine, which is why we don’t deal with compounded Semaglutide or compounded Tirzepatide. We only offer FDA approved medications.

WORKING THE WAY YOU WANT

COHATCH POLK STABLES OPENS IN NORTH INDY

Writer / Renee Larr

and

Working from home has its challenges, as many people learned in 2020, in large part due to regulations related to the COVID-19 pandemic. COhatch provides remote workers with thoughtfully designed and carefully curated work and social spaces in various Indianapolis communities. The newest location, COhatch Polk Stables in downtown Indianapolis, opened June 5.

Located in the former stable building for the Polk Sanitary Milk Company, the 22,000-square-foot space features 38 private offices, over 100 co-working seats, a thirdfloor view of the beautiful Indianapolis skyline, phone booths and multiple event spaces, making it the largest COhatch location in Indiana.

“One thing COhatch does very well is to preserve the history of every building where we’re located,” says Veronica Tosino, community manager. “We want to be great neighbors to our communities. We do that

Photographers / Michael Durr

Morgan Murdock

Veronica Tosino COHatch Polk Stables Community Manager

by keeping as much as we can that is unique and original to the building.”

Some of those original, historic details include exposed wood beams, barn doors, and meeting rooms named after meaningful events and dates at Polk Stables. For example, Tosino says the 1872 meeting room is adorned with tomatoes because Polk was a cannery for tomatoes in 1872. The Brightwood neighborhood was a railway town in the past, and the Bee Line was the railway company that distributed Polk products. The Bee Line meeting room is named in its honor. Tosino says visitors will notice charred wood beams on the third floor. A previous fire damaged those beams.

Another captivating feature of the building is The Polklore Micro-Museum. This unique space, a collaboration between COhatch and the Harrison Center for the Arts, celebrates the story of the Polk dairy and its neighbors. The museum engages in four key areas: neighbor co-creation, art assemblage, immersive experiences through technology, and a residency experience for artists and entrepreneurs, offering a truly one-of-a-kind experience for visitors.

The museum was co-created with local Martindale-Brightwood residents and artists. One unique feature of the museum is the use of augmented reality, which enables residents to share their own personal stories. Visitors simply scan an artifact with a smartphone, and an educational video of a local resident sharing their story tied to the artifact will pop up.

“Joanna Taft with the Harrison Center for the Arts has done such a wonderful job with the museum,” Tosino says. “She’s done such a wonderful job educating us

on the rich history of the neighborhood and the building itself. We want residents to know we’re here to be a part of the area.”

Taft says the Harrison Center for the Arts has partnered in the MartindaleBrightwood neighborhood since 2016. They use the power of art to preserve neighborhood culture in a changing neighborhood. She says they have been creating art about the neighborhood and collecting stories of the neighborhood since that time. Since 2017 they have been partnering with the neighbors to save the Polk Stables building in a way that would also honor the neighborhood story.

“When COhatch asked us how we would like to partner, we pitched the idea of their hosting a museum that would preserve the stories/culture of the long-term neighbors and invite a new generation into the story,” Taft says. “The museum will also host an artist studio, recording studio and Polk Fellowship program for visiting artists and entrepreneurs. The components will allow us to partner creatively with the neighborhood to achieve their

Scan for recipe:

Operation : Sips of Summer the official spirit of

MIDWEST SUMMERS

Circles Ice Cream collaborates with COhatch Polk Stables and dishes out special themed Cookies In Cream flavor at the grand opening celebration.

goals, including preserving culture and strengthening economic and community development.”

The Polk Fellowship program is a residency program for both artists and entrepreneurs to move wonder into action. Venezuela native Michelle Bonilla is the first Polk Fellow. She attended the Herron School of Art and Design and graduated from college in Spain. For her residency, she is exploring the small but growing Hispanic community in Martindale-

Museum this month, and creating a fourpart podcast about the following:

1. Polk Fellowship/history of Polk Stables project

2. Neighborhood History

3. Polklore Museum

4. Reflections on the COhatch Polk Stables opening and her fellowship experience

The COhatch Polk Stables location is not just a historic gem, but also a convenient

from Mass Ave and the Bottleworks District. Every meeting room includes whiteboards and televisions. Amenities within the building include high-speed Wi-Fi, 24/7 access, printing, copying and mail services, office supplies, as well as a kitchen with coffee, tea, beer and wine, ensuring all needs are met for a productive and comfortable work environment.

COhatch Polk Stables is located at 1533 Lewis Street in Indianapolis. For more information or to become a member, visit

COHatch Polk Stables grand opening celebration

Sajan George Managing Partner at Praxis and Founder and CEO of POLK Group speaks on the opening of COhatch Polk Stables

Model: Kacie

Koons

Photo: Emma Knutson Photography

TREASURE GAME$ HEADED TO THE HOOSIER STATE

INDIANA WILL BE PART OF NATIONWIDE TREASURE-HUNTING GAME’S MIDWEST REGION

Writer / Matt Keating

Dirk Gibson and his Treasure Game$ (TG) have been changing lives for the better, and he can’t wait to do the same in many regions of the United States, including, possibly, Indiana.

Gibson’s TG platform puts thousands of people on the road in search of a Wish Lamp - a real lamp worth a lot of money.

Last March a couple from New Mexico, Ron Novak and Michelle Bush, became the only winners. They found the lamp in Dallas, Texas, using a clue from a “Seinfeld” episode. They had an option of winning $1 million in cash, or three wishes worth $1.2 million. They opted for the three wishes.

Gibson said he loves being able to help people with his game. TG provides liveaction, tech-driven, real-life treasure-hunting games and entertainment.

“It is a little surreal when you

having a real impact in real people’s lives - and that is very rewarding after years of work to build the platform.”

Gibson said Indiana is part of four regions for the new treasure search.

change someone’s life in a significant way through something you created,” Gibson said. “For me, I was so happy for them and so touched by how much it impacted their lives in a way that is life altering. Seeing good people work hard and earn the prize, and fulfill their dreams, is very rewarding because they deserve it, and I am proud that we provided a platform for them to make their dreams come true.”

Gibson enjoys seeing TG change lives.

“I was also proud that the Treasure Game$ platform was providing such a great life adventure while making dreams come true for real people,” he said. “It is so great to see people out there with their families and loved ones having real adventures and making memories together treasure hunting. This type of nationwide, high-value, live-action treasure-hunt experience did not exist in the world until we created it, and now we get to see the vision become reality, and actually

“The Region Indiana is in activates on August 1, and the lamp that will be found is worth $200,000,” he said. “The Day 1 Poem will come out on Launch Day, and if someone deciphers it, they could find the Lamp on the first day.”

Gibson noted that two clues are released every day after that, until the Lamp is found.

“All of the states in that region will be the inspiration for the clue creators initially,” he said. “Then the clues will start narrowing down to the Lamp location state and area within the state, as time goes on in the treasure-hunt season.”

Gibson said there is a lot of research involved.

“Our treasure hunters will learn a lot about Indiana and the other states in the region, because they have to do research to solve the clues every day,” he said. “And if the Lamp is in Indiana, then they will also learn a lot about the specific city/town it is in. I can’t

really say much more, other than it is in a very cool location, whatever that means.”

“For Region 4, there is a $200,000 payment, not $1 million, as three wishes do not come with this region. The region of Indiana, which is Region 4, activates on August 1. Region 4 also includes Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin, so players in those states can play.”

Gibson is an award-winning producer of the History Channel’s “Mountain Men,” and the “Young Guns” series. He has also built and operated successful companies in travel, adventure, health care, real estate, risk management, and entertainment.

Gibson was inspired to start the game to help other people.

“I wanted to build a better model for spreading wealth than the lottery, where every day people had a real shot at winning life-changing money all the time by using skill and hard work to increase their odds of

Dirk Gibson with Ron Novak and Michelle Bush

winning,” he said. “Our model spreads wealth differently in that as we grow, we will have more games and more regions activated all the time, resulting in thousands of people winning versus one person winning a major jackpot every three to four months.”

Gibson said TG is much more than a nationwide treasure-hunting platform, and aims to spread more wealth to more people than any other company on earth.

“We have also created a positive platform where our treasure hunters upload their treasure-seeking adventure content inside our platform, creating a community that is fun, uplifting and uniting,” Gibson said. “This type of sharing inside our platform is bringing humans together for real-life fun and adventure while changing lives. This is one of the elements that makes TG so special and needed in today’s world. TG is a beacon of hope for humanity. Everyone is welcome, and we hope to lift everyone’s spirit by being engaged with our platform.”

To learn more, go to treasuregames.fun.

Paddle With Friends!

We are Friends of the White River. Since 1985, we’ve advocated for the preservation of the river as Central Indiana’s most precious natural resource. We represent the people who use the river for outdoor recreation, those who live near its banks, and all citizens who benefit from the river.

FOWR would like to invite you to come Paddle with Us this summer. Our River School program turns an urban corridor of White River into an environmental classroom for students, civic leaders and selected partner programs. Enroute, our guides discuss history, shoreline and aquatic wildlife, riparian flora, environmental science and water quality, all while engaging people in a first-hand look at Central Indiana’s most valuable natural resource.

We’re always recruiting volunteers to help with programs. Experienced paddlers can join the River School program as Raft Guides and use their skills on our White River Canoe Cleanups. You can also volunteer for a shore-based cleanup, or join Habitat Healers to restore streambanks. Check out the Events page

Memberships and sponsorship opportunities are available on our website. These donations are usually tax-deductible and provide an amazing opportunity to make a positive impact on Central Indiana’s most precious natural resource.

•

• Prior to the 2nd and 3rd visit, you will apply testosterone or a placebo for 3 days and during the 2nd and 3rd visits, you will receive a medication called Ibutilide (Covert) by IV, have your blood taken and ECGs performed throughout the day.

• You will receive up to $500 after completing all study visits. Parking and meals during the study are included.

If you are interested in participating, please call or text 317-847-2094 or email: hwroblew@iu.edu

Photography by Michael Durr

Before we ever lived in Indy (almost 10 years ago), coming into the city was a very special experience. For one of our first dates, Luke spent countless minutes perusing Groupon for a fun and creative evening. We ended up at the Fountain Square Theatre Building for a night of duckpin bowling and swing dancing. This was our very first time in Fountain Square and we had no concept of everything this place has to offer. Now that we have lived here for several years, we are constantly frequenting this edgy, cool, one-of-a-kind district. Complete with tastes, shopping, music and art, there is always fun to be found when you go walking down Virginia Avenue. Let the following serve as a tribute to some of our favorite places that make up this beautiful neighborhood.

A Cup of Chai

@acup.of.chai

1028 Shelby Street

A Cup of Chai is Indiana’s first chai cafe. Maybe you are just as shocked reading that as we were writing it. This month marks the one-year anniversary of their grand opening, and it has been a warm welcome from this community

that thrives on new experiences. Coffee shops get a lot of love (and rightfully so), but this cafe fills a much-needed gap that is centered around comfort and ritual. When you are looking for a place to start your day, work from home, or just find relaxation amidst a busy week, stop into A Cup of Chai and let them show you an experience you can’t find anywhere else.

Easy Rider Diner

@easyriderindy

1043 Virginia Avenue, Suite 3

The most important meal of the day meets southwest comfort diner vibes? OK, say no more - we’re in for the ride! We have been huge fans of this brunch-lovers’ paradise since it opened its doors in late 2022. But did you

know they are also open for dinner AND late night? That’s right, you can basically spend your entire day here if you wanted to. We especially love the chilaquiles, and one of the grab-and-go sandwiches to take with us before we catch a show next door at HI-FI. Come enjoy this comfy, cozy diner and be blown away by the flavors that await.

Fountain Square Brew Co

@fountainsquarebrewing

1301 Barth Avenue

While the effects of the pandemic were still being felt by the small businesses throughout the city, FSBC shut its doors and it looked like we had seen the last of this beloved community brewery - that is, until industry power couple Dama and Beppe Cuello underwent the task of rebuilding this brewery from the ground up. They have poured their hearts (and wallets) into this place so people like us can enjoy an ice-cold beer, and for that we are beyond grateful. They also offer fun and unique events on a DAILY basis! So if you haven’t paid a visit in a while because you thought they were closed, you owe it to yourself to pull up a chair. And while we sip a Workingman’s Pilsner on a hot July day, we can smile and know that Fountain Square Brew Co has its brightest days ahead.

HI-FI

@thehifiindy

1043 Virginia Avenue, Suite 4

One of Fountain Square’s greatest strengths is found in its live music, and the best place to catch this live music is at HI-FI Indy. Almost any day of the week you can be pretty certain there is a show at HI-FI, ranging from local indie artists to nationally renowned performers. The experience is made even more special by this unique venue. Shoulder to shoulder with music lovers everywhere you look, the energy here is tangible and immediately infectious, making it a place that locals love to come back to time and time again. Check out their calendar and pick a show, any show. Thank us later.

Howl + Hide

@howlandhide

1046 Virginia Avenue

In need of a new bag or wallet? Shopping designer brands is out. Shopping local, handcrafted leather goods made right here in Fountain Square is very much IN! It truly feels like a world-class experience when you enter Howl + Hide’s flagship store on Virginia Avenue. If you are anything like us, you are bound to find several things you love, but have to exercise every ounce of discipline to not blow your entire paycheck. All of their goods are made with the highest-quality leather, and created in unique colors and designs that will definitely make you stand out amongst the crowd. Have we convinced you yet? Good, go get the bag!

Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar

@maialina_indy

1103 Prospect Street

Whenever you ask a local for the best Italian dinner in the city, Maialina always seems to rise near the top of the list. We love this corner classic for a few distinct reasons: 1) There is truly no entrée that is lacking. You can’t make a bad choice here because it’s simply impossible to do so. 2) They have the best bruschetta in the world and we will not be told otherwise. 3) They offer half-priced select wine bottles on Tuesdays, and that’s just a no-brainer. We could go on and on, but we want you to

discover the rest for yourself. Add Maialina to the top of your list for your next date night in Fountain Square.

Sam’s Silver Circle @samssilvercircle

1102 Fletcher Avenue

Every great city needs a great dive bar, and that’s a message we can all get behind. So let’s set the scene…you’ve had a great evening in Fountain Square, but you’re not ready to head for home just yet. We know what you’re about to ask and we think the answer is pretty clear. SAM’S! Sam’s Silver Circle is an iconic dive bar if there ever was one, and it checks all the right boxes: cheap beer, late-night food, live music and good times. This is the place where you make a new core memory with friends every time you visit. If you’ve been craving connection and a place where you feel right at home (bonus points if you’re good at karaoke), Sam’s is your one-stop shop!

Turchetti’s Deli & Meat Market

@turchettisdelicatessen

1110 Prospect Street

No matter which door you choose to enter, you’re guaranteed to love the result. This soccer bar/meat-market combo is a local favorite whether you are stopping in for lunch or grabbing some goods to throw on the grill. We love grabbing a seat at the bar and scarfing down burgers and sandwiches from this award-winning menu. And now that summer grilling season is here, this is your go-to butcher shop, where you can stop in for a pickup or get really fancy and have your meats delivered! To summarize, Turchetti’s is a carnivore’s dream space and we think you should check it out right now. Like right now.

The White Rabbit Cabaret

@whiterabbitcabaret

1116 Prospect Street

Follow the white rabbit if you dare, but be warned - you will experience exotic sights and sounds that will leave you thrilled, and full belly laughs that you didn’t know you had in you. The White Rabbit Cabaret is home to the wacky, wild and weird, featuring local artists and performers that

will stop at nothing to make sure you leave with memories that will last a lifetime. Their ever-changing calendar of events features acts of music, comedy, burlesque, movie screenings and everything in between. Hop on down to White Rabbit Cabaret for your after-dinner show that is sure to have you coming back for more.

World Famous HOTBOYS @worldfamoushotboys

1004 Virginia Avenue

HOTBOYS has made such a huge mark in this community, it’s honestly hard to imagine a time before it. Locals love HOTBOYS for their colorful graffiti art, ‘90s jams that come through the speakers, stylish merch, and of course their oh-sotasty hot chicken. You can leave your friend Dave behind, because this is the only hot chicken that you will ever need. And even if you can’t handle the heat, they still have plenty of options for you! Natalie is riding at the Training Wheels level of hotness, and Luke has managed to work his way up to Medium Plus. They even have a HOT HOT challenge for the extra bold! Come check them out in Fountain Square or visit their brand-new location in West Carmel.

Orange St

Fletcher Ave Hoyt Ave

Lexington Ave

Pleasant Ave

Woodlawn Ave

Sanders St

E Morris St

Buchanan St

Prospect St

Fountain Square Brew Co.

World Famous Hotboys

HI-FI

White Rabbit Caberet

Sam’s Silver Circle

Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar

Turchetti’s Salumeria

Howl + Hide

A Cup of Chai Easy Rider Diner

Follow Along All Month Long

Fountain Square Film

Photography by local photographer Leah Tribbett