INDIANAPOLIS February/March 2015
Ty Herndon
Shakes Up Country Music
Bette
Indy’s
LGBT Attorneys
We believe that diversity shouldn’t mean _____, but rather the _______ that moves (division)
communities
(right angle)
forward,
from
_______.
(point A to point B)
Differences don’t make us _____ or (less than)
______ to one another, instead they (not equal)
promote creativity, new ideas and push innovation through the changing _____. (times)
In
business,
truly
communities
embracing
all
the
we serve is not about
reaching a _____ or ______ to make ______, (number)
(percentage)
(money)
it’s a pursuit __________ the bottom line. (greater than)
______ (equality)
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it just makes good sense {
DININGOUTFORLIFE.COM/INDIANAPOLIS www.53.com Fifth Third Bank. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
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giving back LETTER FROM THE
INDY PREPARES
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
TO DINE OUT FOR LIFE Joey Amato creative director Blake Kniffin MANAGING EDITOR Joseph Brownell Publisher
Tom Alvarez, Jesse Walker Book Reviewer Sebastian Fortino Business CorrespondentS Norman Brandenstein, Bob Chenoweth, Mark A. Lee entertainment contributor Chris Azzopardi Food & Wine Editor Karen Kennedy HEALTH EDITOR Matthew Grant PsyD, HSPP Legal Writer Barbara Baird life & style Writer Albert Winks Political Editor Josh Peters Arts & entertainment editors
It’s hard to believe that January has come and gone with just the blink of an eye. Big things are happening with UNITE in 2015. Without giving away too many surprises, I want to share a few hints of what you’ll see this year. Firstly, we are happy to announce the launch of our sister publication UNITE in Cincinnati. To get a glimpse of what they’re doing, visit unitemag.com/cincinnati. Secondly, we are in the early talks of co-sponsoring a social event that will involve the closing of streets downtown. My lips are sealed on that for now! Lastly, be sure to start following us on Facebook and Twitter. We will be expanding our brand’s presence online in 2015 with some great video interviews on topics that affect us all. Joey and I are thrilled to feature the Divine Miss M on our cover. In this candid interview, Midler dishes on Mae West and briefly discusses the possibility of an HBO biopic on the legend with Midler in the lead role. She also discusses her new album It’s The Girls! and its corresponding tour. Midler provides an interesting take on the evolution of the term “diva” and reflects on her own past experiences with the LGBT community’s struggle for equality. We are excited to highlight some of Indy’s LGBT attorneys. Not only are these individuals seasoned with the legal matters that surround our community, they are LGBT themselves. If you find yourself in need of counsel, you can rest easy knowing that there are attorneys that have walked a mile in your shoes and have the legal knowledge and experience to represent you. We hope that you all will get as much enjoyment from this issue as we did putting it together!
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Mark A. Lee
Rivendell Media (908) 232-2021 Unite Magazine (615) 852-6660 joey@unitemag.com
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by Blake Kniffin According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC), roughly 1.2 million people in the United States are living with HIV—and 14% don’t even know they have it. Right here in Indiana, 10,000 people are infected with HIV. To fight the AIDS epidemic and support those living with HIV in our community, the 21st Annual Dining Out For Life® returns April 30 to raise needed funds for The Damien Center, Indiana’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS service organization. Participating restaurants donate between 25-100% of their sales for the day to the Damien Center, making the fundraiser an easy way for anyone to support the fight against HIV/AIDS in Central Indiana. Diners simply eat at a participating restaurant, and a generous portion of their bill benefits The Damien Center’s efforts to empower those living with HIV/AIDS and prevent the spread of HIV in our community. The 2015 event will feature local restaurants ranging from casual to sophisticated and everything in between, including old favorites and newcomers to the cause. Started in 1991 in Philadelphia, Dining Out For Life is an international event now produced in 60 cities throughout the United States and Canada. More than 3,000 restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds from this one day of dining to the licensed HIV/ AIDS service agency in their city. More than $4 million dollars a year is raised to support the missions of 60 HIV/AIDS service organizations throughout North America.
photos courtesy of The Damien Center.
Chef Joseph’s donated 25% of proceeds in 2014.
cover photo appears courtesy of Warner Brothers Records visit www.unitemag.com @UNITELGBTMAG UNITELGBTMAG
Best, -Blake
Crowd waiting outside Rec Lion Grog House for 2014’s Dining Out for Life. Red Lion Grog House donated 100% of proceeds last year.
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table of contents
Megan Hilty to Perform
culture
WITH THE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA by Jesse Walker Rising star of the stage and small screen, Megan Hilty will make her Indianapolis debut with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in Printing Partners Pops Series concerts at 8 p.m., March 6 and 7, and at 3 p.m. on March 8 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre.
FEATURE BETTE MIDLER LGBT ATTORNEYS TY HERNDON
Manufactured by The Doug Jeffords Company
CULTURE INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ART & SOUL IRT’S THE GIVER
16 20 30 5 7 32 38
This past summer, Hilty participated in a reading of a new Broadway-bound production of Cole Porter’s Can-Can. She previous-
LEGAL SAME SEX MARRIAGE
10
A&E ON THE AISLE WITH TOM ALVAREZ
24
DINING REVIEW OAKLEY’S BISTRO THE INDY BREW
26 28
ART IMA’S DREAM CARS
36
BUSINESS POWERING YOUR MOJO
34
A native of Seattle, Hilty moved to New York City after graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, and quickly made her Broadway debut as Galinda in Wicked. She went on to perform the role in both the national tour and in Los Angeles. After receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Doralee Rhodes in Broadway’s 9 to 5: The Musical, Hilty was honored with nominations for Lead Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Awards and L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards.
Megan Hilty
Casablanca: Film + Orchestra
HEALTH HEALTH FOUNDATION AWARDS GRANTS 8 ART THERAPY 14
RETURNS VALENTINE’S DAY WEEKEND by Jesse Walker In addition, The Hilbert Circle Theatre returns to its movie palace roots with the presentation of Casablanca with the soundtrack to the film performed by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra on Valentine’s Weekend – Friday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Saturday, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Feb. 15 at 3 p.m.
photos courtesy of Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra
JMThomason.com
GIVING BACK DINING OUT FOR LIFE
Led by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, Hilty will return to her Broadway roots with a set list of Broadway’s favorite songs and ballads with full orchestral accompaniment. Hilty most recently starred alongside Sean Hayes in NBC’s comedy Sean Saves the World during the 2013-2014 season and as the seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama Smash for two seasons. In March 2013, Hilty released her debut solo album, It Happens All the Time, through Sony Music in a partnership between Sony Masterworks and Columbia Records. The album includes fresh interpretations of compositions by contemporary songwriters and producers.
ly starred as Lorelei Lee, the diamond-loving blonde made famous by Carol Channing, in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, to which she earned rave reviews. Additionally, her voice was featured as Rosetta in Disney’s Tinker Bell: Secret of the Wings. She’s previously recorded vocals in Disney’s The Secret Life of Magic Gourd, Phineas & Ferb, Glenn Martin DDS, American Dad, Tinker Bell and the Pixie Hollow Games, Robot & Monster as well as singing as Snow White in the film Shrek the Third.
Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca
One of the most beloved films of all time, Casablanca won three Academy Awards in 1942 — including Best Picture — and is credited as one of the iconic works of American cinema. Set during World War II in the Moroccan city of Casablanca, this star-studded drama features Humphrey Bogart in his first romantic lead role, leading-lady Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Claude Rains and Peter Lorre,
among others. In the six decades since its premiere, the film’s famous lines, including, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” have become part of America’s popular consciousness, as has the film’s unforgettable music, written by Max Steiner. Notable Casablanca songs include: “As Time Goes By,” “It Had to be You,” “Shine,” “Avalon,” and “Perfidia.” The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra will perform the soundtrack to the film, underneath the big screen and is conducted by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly. Tickets for both events can be purchased through the ISO Box Office by calling (317) 639-4300 or online at www.IndianapolisSymphony.org.
UNITE MAGAZINE | 7
health
Brothers United: Reaching the Hard to Reach
Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis
As the largest minority-serving HIV/AIDS service organization in the state, Brothers United is the key go-to agency for the LGBT communities of color. While the agency was originally formed to reach African American men who have sex with men, it has become one of the few agencies to successfully provide HIV testing and treatment services to the transgendered and Ball communities as well.
AWARDS $3.15 MILLION by Blake Kniffin The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis recently awarded grants totaling $3.15 million to 10 health care providers and HIV/ AIDS service agencies to transform their organizations and services toward a reinvigorated effort to end HIV/AIDS in Indiana. This round of grants is the largest amount ever awarded at one time for HIV/AIDS services in Indiana. Based on the findings of a full review of efforts to end HIV/AIDS in Indiana conducted by The Fremont Center, The Health Foundation Board of Directors authorized a one-time special grant session and requested proposals to expand HIV testing for high-risk populations, better integrate high-quality HIV/AIDS care into the primary healthcare setting, and improve retention rates for HIV/ AIDS care and treatment. “The Fremont Center report showed us that our health care networks had to be better aligned, operating with a solid infrastructure and greater capacity in order to make a marked difference in our ability to end HIV in this generation,” said David Suess, The Health Foundation board chairperson. “The Health Foundation has long been known for taking the lead on hard-to-fund issues, like HIV/AIDS. Through this grant program, we are once again helping key agencies partner, change, and grow to meet the changing needs of those at risk for HIV.”
Eskenazi Health: Establishing HIV as the “fifth vital sign” With the $1 million grant it received from The Health Foundation, Eskenazi Health will offer rapid HIV testing at eight Eskenazi Health Center locations to approximately 385,000 people. Eskenazi Health estimates that, within the 14-month funding period, more than 40,000 of those who are offered the test will opt to take it. “Every patient that comes to an Eskenazi Health Center has his or her vital signs checked; blood pressure, body temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate. As a result of The Health Foundation’s generosity, we can ask all of our patients if they want an HIV test, in essence making it our fifth standard vital sign,” said Dr. John Kunzer, chief medical officer of Eskenzi Health Center. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one in five people living with HIV are unaware that they are carrying the virus, and only 28% of those with HIV in the United States are successfully treated to suppress the virus and thereby stay healthy and prevent onward HIV transmission.
The Damien Center
If a person receives a HIV-positive diagnosis at an Eskenazi Health Center, all eight locations will be able to provide specialized care on site through an expert treatment team trained and supported by the Eskenazi Health Infectious Disease group, which will increase the number of those who are retained in specialized care.
Bartenbach, the Damien Center’s executive director. “Adding these additional programs to our array of in-house medical and wrap-around services increases our ability to monitor clients and help them sustain a lower viral load. Healthier clients are more employable and can become more self-sufficient.”
“Identifying more of those living with HIV/AIDS and getting them into care is a vital step toward ending HIV transmission and AIDS in Indiana,” Dr. Kunzer added.
The Damien Center serves 1,400 clients, 93 percent of whom are living at or below the federal poverty threshold.
The Damien Center: Consolidated approach to increase health While Eskenazi Health will combine testing and treatment within its health clinics, the Damien Center will add many primary care services to its HIV/AIDS health care menu. Through the $1.3 million grant it received from The Health Foundation, the Damien Center plans to add a full-time psychiatrist, a full-time dentist and dental exam room, three medical examination rooms, and a career development program to its suite of services for clients who are HIV positive or at high risk of HIV infection. They also will expand medical services provided by Indiana University Health’s LifeCare Clinic and Community North Infectious Disease Clinic.
Eskenazi Health Center
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“The Damien Center is a safe and trusted place for those with HIV to come when they don’t have a support network of their own,” said Tom
The Damien Center will use a portion of the grant to address organizational capacity issues and raise additional income to achieve financial sustainability. According to Bartenbach, this includes hiring a full-time development officer and a Medicaid data entry specialist as well as upgrading phone and computer systems to support the launch of an electronic health record system. The Damien Center also plans to launch a marketing and social media campaign to inform high-risk audiences of the range of testing and treatment-as-prevention options at the Center. “The Board of The Health Foundation saw the potential synergies between the Eskenazi Health Center and The Damien Center’s grant proposals,” said Betty Wilson, president and CEO of The Health Foundation. “For those patients who test HIV-positive at an Eskenazi Health Center but do not use the clinic for primary care, our grant ensures the Damien Center can be poised to bring them into its holistic care system and provide services immediately.”
“This is quite possibly the most powerful funding we’ll receive for HIV/AIDS in the African American community,” said Larry Jimison, executive director of Brothers United. “We will be able to provide services and training that is culturally aware and appropriate to populations who have been ostracized from traditional care due to their sexuality, race, gender, or lack of stable housing and engage them into a care system they don’t naturally trust.” The $250,000 grant to Brothers United will be used to expand office space and develop a robust marketing and outreach program to provide more people with HIV testing, linkage to medical care, and counseling and social services. A portion of the grant will be used to hire a grant writer to build additional fundraising capacity. In addition, Brothers United will upgrade hardware and software systems to better track high-risk transient populations and improve financial management capacity. For more information, visit The Health Foundation’s website at www.thfgi.org.
UNITE MAGAZINE | 9
legal
Some of the legal and financial consequences of marriage include:
WE CAN GET MARRIED NOW-BUT SHOULD WE? by Barbara Baird The dust has settled for the time being in Indiana for the freedom to marry for samesex couples. Many of those who did not rush to the courthouse to marry last year are now planning more elaborate weddings while others are giving serious consideration to marriage. In this article, I will address important factors that a couple should evaluate in deciding whether or not to marry. Barbara Baird is an Indianapolis attorney who has focused her practice on issues of importance to the LGBT community, and was co-counsel with the team from Lambda Legal in Baskin v. Bogan, one of the cases that brought marriage equality to Indiana this year.
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Couples in the gay and lesbian community have been “marrying” for decades, whether in their accepting church, or in their backyard ceremony, publicly professing their love and commitment for each other. Fully recognized civil marriage, however, means commitment with a capital “C,” and comes with legal parameters not applicable to couples living together. You may recall that the fight for marriage equality was to access those 1100+ federal marriage
benefits and protections. Indiana law, as well, uses civil marriage to grant rights to, and impose responsibilities upon, couples and families in 614 ways. These far-reaching effects of marriage can include additional benefits as well as additional restrictions, burdens and costs. While any couple considering marriage should carefully weigh the legal and financial pros and cons, those in long-term relationships and those with significant assets (retirement, home, small business) and income have a greater need to cautiously evaluate how marriage will affect their current situation. Couples would be wise to consult with their professional advisors (e.g. accountant, financial advisor, attorney, insurance agent). Other resources include federal and state agency websites and inquiries to your workplace benefits office. Beware, however, that not every advisor will be well-versed in these matters.
• Income Taxes: A couple’s total income tax bill could increase (the “marriage penalty”) or decrease as the result of marriage. Generally, couples most likely to benefit are those with a significant disparity in income. Consult an accountant, or run the figures yourself to see what your tax bill would be as a married couple. • Student Aid: If either member of a couple or the dependent of one of them is receiving or intends to receive needbased student aid, marriage may result in disqualification for aid due to the spouse’s income. • Asset or Income-Based Benefits: Government benefits tied to assets or income may be lost if a couple marries and the assets of both parties are counted. This can include subsidized health care premiums under the ACA, SSI benefits, Medicaid and food stamps. The laws can be confusing and complex, so consultation with an expert is advisable. • Social Security Spousal Benefits: Marriage ordinarily provides a couple with many more options to maximize social security retirement and survivor benefits. However, marriage could result in a loss of benefits if either spouse is collecting spousal benefits based on a deceased spouse or an ex-spouse. • Adoption Tax Credit: The adoptive parent in a second-parent adoption is eligible to receive a tax credit for adoption expenses. This credit is not available to married couples. • Debt and Bankruptcy: If either party has significant debt or is considering bankruptcy, marriage may eliminate eligibility for bankruptcy or render the spouse liable for the other’s debt. Consult a bankruptcy attorney before marrying. • No Separate Property: Indiana law provides that all property owned by either spouse before the marriage, or acquired by either spouse during the marriage, becomes part of the marital estate. In a divorce, the marital estate is divided in a “just and reasonable manner,” with the initial presumption of an equal division of all assets, including retirement accounts and inheritances. • Divorce: Unmarried cohabitants can simply go their separate ways. A married couple must obtain a court order of divorce and division of property.
Megan Hilty
Friday, March 6, 8PM Saturday, March 7, 8PM Sunday, March 8, 3PM Hilbert Circle Theatre Jack Everly, Conductor
A prenuptial agreement can serve to alter some of the consequences of marriage, including property division upon divorce, debt, spousal inheritance rights, etc. Even couples with an existing domestic partnership agreement need to see their attorney before the marriage in order to amend the agreement. Otherwise, the domestic partnership agreement may be considered void after the marriage. While the parties can enter into a postnuptial agreement after the marriage, such agreements are at greater risk of being declared invalid if challenged.
From a Broadway star in Wicked and 9 to 5: The Musical, to roles in numerous television productions and even her first solo album, It Happens All the Time, Megan Hilty is one one of the fastest rising stars in the entertainment world. Don’t miss Megan as she performs Brodway to ballads with the ISO.
Marriage is a civil right, not a requirement. The newfound freedom to marry includes the freedom not to marry and the responsibility to evaluate whether the new legal status will be beneficial for your relationship.
BUY NOW AT 317.639.4300 OR VISIT INDIANAPOLISSYMPHONY.ORG. Title Sponsor:
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community
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES HERITAGE SUPPORT PROGRAM
by Jesse Walker The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is pleased to announce the creation of its new Indiana Heritage Support Program, an initiative funded by a $3.43 million grant from Lilly Endowment Incorporated. During the next five years, IHS will provide $2.5 million in grants to Indiana’s local historical organizations. These will fund a wide variety of projects to help local organiza-
tions meet high-priority needs in areas of capacity building, collections stewardship, innovation and collaboration. The first round of grant applications will be accepted in late 2015, and the first grants will be awarded in the bicentennial year of 2016. IHS will also hire a full-time fundraising educator, who will develop an educational fundraising program that will enhance the capability of organizations to raise money on their own, as well as offer support to local organizations through fundraising education workshops and ongoing grants coaching. “This is one of the IHS’s proudest moments, because we know what these grants will mean to heritage organizations and their communities around the state,” said John A. Herbst, IHS President and CEO. “So many of the caretakers of our
photo courtesy of The Indiana Historical Society
history are starved for resources, and they often labor for the cause with very limited support. At this time, and as Indiana’s bicentennial approaches, it is our pleasure to present this gift to the State of Indiana.” Although IHS and other statewide historical organizations have collected millions of items relating to Indiana’s past, several years of research (funded by multiple Institute of Museum and Library Services grants) reveal that the majority of the state’s heritage is actually in the care of local, county and regional historical societies, museums and historic sites. More than 900 Indiana organizations hold collections that total more than 20 million historical objects and 424,000 linear feet of historical documents. Most of these organizations are private nonprofits that rely on volunteer leadership. Many face challenges that include governance issues, financial instability and lack of longrange planning. “The Indiana Historical Society is poised to provide invaluable support to our state’s local heritage organizations,” said Ace Yakey, Vice President for Community Development at Lilly Endowment. “As these organizations strengthen their operations, they will become even better curators of a precious Indiana resource—our history.” IHS has more than 35 years of experience supporting local historical organizations across Indiana through its Local History Services Department. Building on their commitment to training, workshops and consultations, staff in that division will administer the Indiana Heritage Support Program and coordinate its fundraising education initiative.
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center
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photo courtesy of The Indiana Historical Society
“Indiana’s local history organizations work hard to preserve our heritage,” said Tamara Hemmerlein of IHS Local History Services, who has implemented several IMLS-funded collections stewardship and capacity-building projects at IHS. “The Indiana Heritage Grant Program will enable LHS to respond to major needs that have been identified. We are very excited about this opportunity to help these groups further their missions.”
health
Art + Therapy = Ex
2
by Matthew Grant PsyD, HSPP
their creation home. What’s fun for me is when the patient returns for their next session and has more thoughts about what they created and what it means for them. I think Aristotle says it best when he says, “The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things but their inward significance.” What draws you to art therapy? What I like about art therapy is its ability to provide clarity; verbal communication alone might not be sufficient, especially for those who might have difficulty expressing themselves verbally. The process tends to soften one’s defense mechanisms (e.g., denial, rationalization, repression, etc.), allowing one’s internal experience to be realized. How do you use art therapy in your clinical practice?
The Art Therapy Alliance says that “Art therapy is the deliberate use of art-making to address psychological and emotional needs. Art therapy uses art media and the creative process to help in areas such as, but not limited to: fostering self-expression, enhancing coping skills, managing stress, and strengthening a sense of self.” Art therapy has been around for a very long time and was initially integrated into adult inpatient psychiatric units with nonverbal patients or patients diagnosed with a type of Schizophrenia. About the author: Dr. Grant, Psy.D., HSPP is a clinical psychologist and sole proprietor of NorthStar Psychological + Consultation Services, LLC, located in the heart of downtown, Indianapolis. He is a psychotherapist, entrepreneur, consultant, educator, mentor, blogger, and public speaker.
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Nowadays, art therapy is utilized with a wide variety of patient populations and is found in a variety of treatment settings. To participate in art therapy, you don’t need to have a mental illness. I’d like to think that the formula [Art + Therapy =Ex2] is a powerful way to think about the conceptualization of art therapy and how it’s employed. Art therapy allows for the powerful expression (i.e. Ex2) of one’s internal world that can be even more powerful than words alone.
Take a moment to think if you felt something you had difficulty explaining or expressing. Perhaps something tragic happened to you, and speaking about it created a great deal of anxiety, or even yet, you couldn’t speak or had difficulty speaking. In these instances, Art + Therapy = Ex2 can be life changing. I connected with a friend and colleague, Mr. Ken Cox, a local art therapist in Indianapolis, and asked him a few questions about art therapy. What I found intriguing about art therapy from his perspective is its flexibility and freedom in creating and being. I believe that art therapy allows the patient to suspend, at least for a while, any type of self-imposed boundaries on the therapeutic process. I feel that this gives the therapeutic process a much more authentic experience for the patient and psychotherapist. What I’ve learned in doing art therapy with my own patients is the ability of this format to foster insight and introspection in a way that’s safe while opening the door for reflection. Typically, my patients have responded well and love taking
Art making, no matter what the medium, can allow for the expression of difficult emotions. The artwork itself allows for some distance from the client who created the art to be able to talk about it and its possible meaning(s). Once the client develops some hypotheses as to the art’s meaning, I like to use it as a way to revisit for possible revelations, which could deepen its meaning and provide insight into the client’s internal world and conflicts. Is there a specific art supply you utilize more often with your clients? I tend to utilize fluid mediums such as oil pastels, particularly with adults and teenagers. This material has the fluidity of paint, but is less intimidating. This art form along with the vibrant color allows for safe expressions and regressions of emotional and early childhood
states. I also like utilizing collage; using pre-made symbols to create something new can be empowering, and employs the use of universal symbols within art making for challenging belief systems in therapy. For instance, Carl Jung, a Swiss psychiatrist, believed that there are symbols which are passed down from generation to generation such as that of the Wise Old Owl, the Great Mother, and the Wise Father. There are many symbols in our subconscious that are recognized when we utilize media such as collage (i.e. using images from books or magazines which can be reorganized and put into an art image). This image taps into our subconscious and allows us to reach new levels of understanding about ourselves and our internal conflict(s). What is something profound that you learned either about yourself or your client(s) in doing art therapy? I have learned to always expect the unexpected when using art therapy, especially in the understanding of internal conflicts. This is a journey I am privileged to share with my clients, which is constantly surprising. Does a client need to be creative in order to participate in art therapy? It’s not necessary to have taken art courses to find the benefit in art therapy. Art therapy is about expressing oneself—not creating a Picasso. It’s a process-driven modality that encourages the client to get lost in the process. It’s not about rushing to a finished product. Rather, it’s about finding aspects of oneself that need and deserve a voice. Email Ken Cox at kenarttherapy@yahoo.com for more information on art therapy.
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D photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
You know how much we gays love our girls. How much do you keep your gay followers in mind when you make music, particularly with It’s the Girls!?
I had been in the theatre for a long time, from the time I was a young person, and I’d always known gay people – and they were just, like, gay people! Just ordinary friends. People that you knew and that you never thought twice about. You didn’t think of them as being different, although looking back on my high school years, I think there were a lot of people in my high school – this is so many years ago; this is 50 years ago – who probably were gay and didn’t ever talk about it. As a matter of fact, one of the kids that I went to school with, an enormously popular guy – really funny, really wonderful – who was in my Latin class, wrote me before he passed away from AIDS to tell me that he had been gay and that he had contracted AIDS.
To tell you the truth, it really didn’t cross my mind. The music I chose is music I had a lot of affection for.
So, I mean, what was the moment when I said that it was time to stand up? Oh my god – it never occurred
Midler talked about the anticipated tour she’s about to launch in support of this latest effort – and the truck full of hairpieces she’s schlepping along (“Cher has 55 wigs; why can’t I?!”). She also touched on her early support of the LGBT community, the degradation of the word “diva” and her plan to avenge Mae West for sending her a cease and desist.
ivine
You were welcoming to the gay community at a time when many weren’t. When you look back at your early support for the LGBT community, what do you recall as being the moment that galvanized you to stand up as an ally?
to me not to. These were friends of mine – people that I had worked with, people that I had danced with, people I had broken bread with my whole life – so it never occurred to me not to. You do what you do because there’s nothing else to do. There’s no other option.
zzopardi
Midler would go on to global fame, reaching beyond music to become a celebrated name in film, television and on the stage, winning Grammys, Golden Globes, Emmys and a special Tony Award. And now, the eagerly-awaited return of one of show business’ most versatile performers has arrived with the release of her first album in eight years, It’s the Girls!, a tribute to some of the greatest female harmonies in history.
Some of these songs I’ve known since I was a little girl. I feel like if I have a strong feeling for this music, people will also have a strong feeling for it. The truth is, you cannot pander. You have to go with your gut and your heart, be true to yourself, and hope that people like it. They generally do.
But to stand up for people who were seen as pariahs – that was taboo then. Did you experience any backlash for supporting gay people at the time?
c hris A
Before the whole world knew her as “The Divine Miss M,” Bette Milder was ours. In the early ‘70s, bawdy, belt-y Bette was performing for the NYC bathhouse boys, and don’t think she’s forgotten it, either. “I mean, if I had a nickel for everybody that said they saw me at the baths,” says Midler in our recent interview, “I would be Joe Billionaire by now!”
You know, I might have, but I was very well-protected in those days. I actually did not feel it. I remember the first big benefit that anyone had done for gay rights (“A Star Spangled Night for Rights” in 1977). I remember the poster, and it was at the Hollywood Bowl. Lily (Tomlin), Richard Pryor and Tom Waits were on the program, but nobody ever said LGBT then. That didn’t exist.
by
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So that night, Tom Waits sang “Standin’ on the Corner” and then Richard Pryor came out and Richard Pryor started off great. I don’t even know if this is in your history books or anything, but he started off great and then worked himself up into a real frenzy as only he could. He said that the gay community had never supported civil rights and, “Where were you when we were riding and they were kicking us to the curb and we were being fire-hosed?” Then he said, “You all can kiss my rich, black ass!” and he stomped off the stage. And I had to follow him! I mean, I’m just stripping it bare, but imagine what happened. So I went out and said,
' I N T E RV E N T I O N ' UNITE MAGAZINE | 17
feature
down the line. The Honeycombs? Is there a group called The Honeycombs? I personally wanted to cover (The Weather Girls’) “Two Tons o’ Fun” but everyone said, “No, no, you can’t cut that,” so I didn’t. You cover TLC’s ’90s pop hit “Waterfalls,” which famously dealt with HIV/AIDS and safe sex. What significance does that song have for you? The first time I heard it I was really struck by it because it seemed like such an important song. To me, it was one of the saddest songs I’d ever heard on pop radio. So, I wanted to do a stripped-down version of it because I really wanted the story to be clear. I had thought about it for a long time, and when I first heard it, I was so moved by it. I shed a tear myself, and I always use that as a kind of litmus test. If it really moves me, I can bring something to it; I can make it my own. What about the song in particular hit you? Did you know the original song was inspired by the AIDS-stricken and promoted safe sex?
photo courtesy of Warner Brothers Records
“You all can kiss my rich, white ass,” and of course then everything was much better, but it was such a curious evening. I think Stonewall, in the middle ’60s, was the first time (the gay community) fought back, but, you know, in history everyone says, “I was there.” I mean, if I had a nickel for everybody that said they saw me at the baths, I would be Joe Billionaire by now! I would be playing at Madison Square Garden instead of a rickety-tickety little bathhouse on 73rd Street! OK, let’s move on. I really do think that this big fundraiser in the late ’70s was a little shot across the bow too, and then not long after that, in the middle ’80s, AIDS came down and it was so horrible and, even though he knew so many gay people, Ronald Reagan did nothing. Nothing! Right – he wouldn’t even publicly acknowledge it was an issue until years
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later. And hey, Bette, I don’t mean to cut you off, but we’re on a time limit. Oh! I’m sorry. I’m a waxing poetic. Anyway, enough about you; let’s talk about me. If a gay fan approaches you, which of your projects would they most likely mention? You wanna know the truth? Hocus Pocus. Honestly, I cannot believe what happened with Hocus Pocus. I’m just dumbfounded by the number of people who mention Hocus Pocus–and they’re young people! It’s the Girls! celebrates and honors female performers who branded a very particular image. I mean, they definitely were not twerking. Ugh. I don’t know what to tell you. I just saw that Jennifer Lopez video with
Iggy Azalea – “Booty booty booty...” – and oh, girls, please! What can you say? Girls... please. How do you compare the girl groups from the era you’re channeling to what you’re seeing now? It was a really wholesome era in retrospect. It was sexy, but it was not blatant. It was intriguing and it was mysterious because it wasn’t flat out in your face. It was also supremely elegant. You know, I talk about this with my girlfriend Toni Basil, another gay icon: Those voices, the black voices, were not familiar to white ears. They simply never heard those voices singing harmony before. You never really heard those really strong, vibrant black girls singing until The Shirelles, The Crystals, The Chiffons, and then the Motown girls, and the girls who came after: Sister Sledge, The Emotions and
I do remember that, but it was a dance song. It was for the dance halls. It was for the discos, and yet it really is a song about the mother who can’t do anything, who’s completely helpless in the face of this. I felt that, and that’s the way I wanted to interpret it. I think it worked out wonderfully. You’ve been a self-proclaimed diva. In fact, your 1997 HBO special was called Diva Las Vegas, and during your Las Vegas spectacle at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, The Showgirl Must Go On, you said you were the “People’s Diva.” At this point, has the meaning of the word “diva” changed so much that you no longer identify with it? It’s a word that is just so overused that it’s really lost all currency. It no longer has any meaning at all. Any old slob on the Internet can say, “Well, I’m a ‘diva,’” and have some people believing it, but not me. In the old, old, old, old days – you know, during the Civil War when I
was just a child – it meant “the star.” It was an opera term, and it meant a female opera singer who really could carry the whole opera, and it has been so degraded now. It’s a shame because it really was a wonderful word. What does “diva” mean to you now? It means nothing. It has absolutely no meaning at all. “Divine” still has meaning because there’s still a church, but “diva” has absolutely no meaning at all. When you hit the road for your first tour in 10 years, how many wigs are you bringing along with you? Oh my god – I have a truck! I have a whole truck. Well, Cher always does. Cher has 55 wigs; why can’t I? To tell you the truth, I have been wearing wigs since, let’s see, the very, very old days. Since I first started making motion pictures – movies! – I’ve always worn wigs. Always, always, always. It really does spare you. It really is a time-saver, and I really enjoy them. And I love makeup and hair. I just love it, love it, love it! I love becoming somebody that I’m not. As they used to say about Mae West: “A little old lady used to come in onto the set and go into the trailer, and four hours later Mae West would come out.” It’s really kind of like that. A lot of drag queens would agree with you and Mae. What advice do you have for a guy who wants to dress in Bette drag? A good pair of shoes – a really good pair of shoes – because you’ll really hurt yourself. You’ll hurt your joints. And a serious undergarment. And if your panties fall down all around your feet, step out of them and keep on singing. That’s good advice even if you’re not a drag queen. (Laughs) Well, I’ve been accused of (being a drag queen) many times! But I take it with a grain of salt. To me, it’s a supreme compliment. You mentioned Mae West, and it was announced in late 2013 that you were cast as Mae in an upcoming HBO biopic. How’s that project coming along? I’ll tell you something: The script just came in, but I haven’t seen it. I’m waiting for the director, Billy Friedkin (director of The Exorcist), to make his notes, and then he’s gonna hand it off to me and we’ll see what happens. I’m really looking forward to it because I’ve been reading and doing my due diligence. She’s such a fabulous – she’s so fucking nuts! I mean, she was so insane. And you know, when I started my career all those many moons ago, I used to do an impersonation of Mae West, and I did it on The Johnny Carson Show – my very first Johnny Carson Show – and she sent me a letter telling me to cease and desist, which I swear to god I still have. I didn’t understand it at the time. I thought, “What’s wrong with her?” Now that I’ve done all the reading and am of a certain age, I totally get it. She was protecting what she had made. She was protecting her creation. That was practically a trademark and she didn’t want anyone to mishandle her creation. Ultimately, she was right. So I bowed to her wishes; I ceased and desisted. And I think it’s so amusing. (Laughs) After all that, if the script actually comes to the point of doing it, it certainly would be revenge. Take that, Mae! Chris Azzopardi is the editor of Q Syndicate, the international LGBT wire service. Reach him via his website at www.chris-azzopardi.com.
UNITE MAGAZINE | 19
feature
Katherine E. Flood
LGBT ATTORNEYS
OF INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis family law attorney Katherine E. (Kate) Flood is a distinguished G. Kent Frandsen scholar and a cum laude graduate of the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law. She is a recognized and accomplished local attorney, having received the Bar Association’s 2014 Nod to Professionalism award and has been featured in The Indiana Lawyer and The McKinney Lawyer. Flood and her team at Flood Family Law, LLC have concentrated their practice on divorce, adoption, legal separation, child support and custody, paternity, parenting time/ visitation, spousal maintenance/alimony, wills, prenuptial and cohabitation agreements and guardianships, for LGBT and non-LGBT clients alike. Flood has a breadth of litigation experience, which includes representing clients at evidentiary hearings and trials before courts in counties throughout central Indiana. She also has experience with alternative dispute resolution, both as counsel representing clients involved in the mediation process and as a civil mediator. A zealous advocate for the LGBT community, Flood handled Indiana’s first same-sex divorce, and represents a number of LGBT individuals in cases involving same-sex, second-parent adoptions, cohabitation and partnership agreements, custody and child support matters, protective orders, and more. Her involvement in the community extends to her sponsorship of the annual Harvey Milk Dinner at IUPUI and the Freedom Indiana campaign, as well as serving on the Board of Directors for IndyPride and on the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Committee of the Indiana State Bar Association.
Barbara baird Barbara Baird, who was recently honored with NUVO’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Award for Best Local Attorney, has been a staunch defender of rights for Indiana’s LGBT legal community for more than two decades. Baird was privileged to serve as counsel with a brilliant team of attorneys from Lambda Legal in Baskin v. Bogan, 2014’s lead case challenging the constitutionality of Indiana’s ban on same-sex marriage. The case progressed to the U.S. Supreme Court in less than seven months, which resulted in legalized same-sex marriage throughout Indiana. Baird built her Indianapolis law practice to serve the unique legal needs of Indiana’s LGBT couples, individuals, and small business owners. In addition to protecting her clients with wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, she helps surviving partners navigate the sometimes dangerous waters of probate in the face of hostile family members. She also assists couples with family formation and protection through second parent, foster child, and international adoptions. One of Baird’s adoption cases made new law in Indiana by allowing a lesbian couple to adopt a foster child jointly. Although the presiding county judge wanted to take the child away from the unmarried couple, the Indiana Court of Appeals allowed the adoption to stand, thus setting precedent that two same-sex parents could be considered in the child’s best interest. Baird began volunteering in the early 90’s with the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard and an early LGBT business group. It was then she noticed that legal resources for LGBT Hoosiers were scarce or invisible, with attorneys often believing it dangerous to openly serve LGBT clients. This prompted her decision to “come out” as a lawyer focused on the needs of LGBT clients. Baird continues to dedicate time to LGBT rights, and holds leadership roles in the Indianapolis Rainbow Chamber of Commerce and Lambda Legal.
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UNITE MAGAZINE | 21
lesa duvall
kathleen sweeney After thirteen years as a federal prosecutor, Kathleen Sweeney decided her calling was to defend the rights of both the people and small businesses. She now applies the investigative techniques and courtroom skills she developed over the years to litigation of business disputes, criminal defense, torts, whistle blowers, personal injury, employment discrimination and civil rights claims. She specializes in LGBT issues, both work-related and personal. Sweeney has been a leader in the fight to legalize gay marriage in Indiana and recently celebrated her own wedding to her partner of 20 years, Bettye Dobkins. Sweeney’s compassionate, holistic approach to her practice takes into account the fact that her clients are not the only ones affected by legal woes, and assists with counseling, locating financial resources and a variety of other services that her clients’ family members may need.
Attorney Lesa Duvall is known for being a tough litigator and business/real estate lawyer who can get a deal closed. She is the Managing Partner of Duvall Bloomer & Caldwell, P.C.. Duvall was an elementary school music teacher for Indianapolis Public Schools from 1984 through 1989. As part of the teacher’s union, Duvall became interested in contract law and advocating for the rights of others, which inspired her to enroll in law school. Duvall graduated from Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law, magna cum laude, as the Outstanding Woman Law Graduate of 1992. With over twenty years of experience as an attorney, she has concentrated her practice on business and real estate transactions, business litigation, and domestic law. This includes divorce, child custody, domestic partnership dissolutions, and LGBT issues. Duvall is a highly-qualified, assertive, well-informed attorney who provides personal and detailed attention and consideration to each of her clients. On November 1, 2013, one of Lesa’s cases had the front page headline in the Indianapolis Star.
She has been named an “Indiana Super Lawyer,” by her peers, an honor given to only 5% of Indiana lawyers, and has also been named one of the “Best Lawyers in America” in the fields of civil rights and criminal defense.
In the case, A.C. vs. N.J. (Ind. Ct. App. 2013), the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Duvall’s client, A.C., holding that a same-sex domestic partner who was not the biological parent of a child born during the domestic relationship has standing to seek visitation with the child after the relationship has ended.
Along with her partner Charles Hayes, Sweeney works tirelessly to ensure that “No One Stands Alone.”
Duvall and her wife, Anita, were legally married in New York in January of 2013. They each have two children and now together have three granddaughters.
grant helms Grant Helms is a Zionsville native. He attended the American University in Washington, D.C., studying political science and French where he graduated magna cum laude in 2008. Helms had the wonderful opportunity to study abroad for a semester in Lille, France, at the Institut d’Études Politiques. While in D.C., Helms was an active member in the arts community where he spent time with American University’s theater department, D.C. community theater, and eventually became the Director of American University’s improv troupe Mission: Improv-able. Helms returned to Indianapolis to attend law school at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law. He graduated cum laude in 2011. He was a member of the Indiana International and Comparative Law Review through which his law review Note was selected for publication. That law review Note also received the 2010 Blackwell Award for Most Outstanding Student-authored Note, given by the Indiana State Bar
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Association’s International Division. During law school he was president of the Lambda Law Society, an organization dedicated to promoting the interests of LGBT law students and connecting law students with the legal profession. Helms clerked with the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana and the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. Following graduation and passing the bar, he took a position in the Civil Litigation section of the Indiana Attorney General’s Office. As a Deputy Attorney General, Grant engaged in trial work defending the State against lawsuits, with an emphasis on civil rights suits and constitutional law. The work there was varied and interesting, providing significant exposure to trial litigation and high-profile cases. Helms continued his expertise in civil rights laws when in May 2014 he began to work as an attorney for Indiana Protection and Advocacy Services, a state agency promoting civil rights and protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.
YOU ARE
THERE
THAT
AYRES LOOK MARCH 14, 2015
THROUGH
AUG. 6, 2016
PRESENTED BY
AYRES FOUNDATION, INC. AND NANCY AYRES SUPPORTED BY
NICHOLAS H. NOYES, JR., MEMORIAL FOUNDATION, INC.
www.indianahistory.org | ( 317 ) 232-1882 EUGENE AND MARILYN GLICK INDIANA HISTORY CENTER D O W N TO W N O N T H E C A N A L | I N D I A N A P O L I S
A&E
On the Aisle
WITH TOM ALVAREZ
Fundraiser Helps Donors Find WHAT MAKES THEIR HEARTS SING
Palladium
Since last October, Diane Syrcle has served as Vice President of Development for the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
legal in 2013. Recently, UNITE sat down with Syrcle in the Founder’s Room at the Center’s Palladium for a brief chat.
Syrcle came to Indianapolis from the Oregon Symphony where she served as Executive Vice President for Development. She also served as Executive Director for Oregon Ballet Theater for two years, Executive Director of the Portland Youth Philharmonic, and the Director of Education at Portland Opera following a career as a professional opera singer. Syrcle holds an MBA from Marylhurst University, a Master’s of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor’s of Music/Music Education from West Texas A&M University.
How did you first hear about the Center for the Performing Arts?
Syrcle and her spouse Susan Leo were married in a church in 1998. Their marriage became
The Center had a job posting on a website called Opera America. I was just scanning sites and had no intention of moving. I was very happily-ensconced in Oregon, and I read about this very unique center where the city government had invested in a source of economic development, which interested me very much. I did more reading about the city of Carmel and was very intrigued with the process and the building. I then talked to President and CEO Tania Castroverde Moskahlenko. She is amazing, and from that first conversation I knew I wanted to come and work for her.
Was the fact that you have such varied experience in the performing arts and that the Center is a presenter have appeal for you as well? It certainly did. I worked in singular art forms. I ran an opera company, a ballet company, a youth orchestra, and worked for a symphony. Some people really love classical, some people love country, while others are omnivores that simply love it all. Finding the common ground that makes people’s hearts sing is appealing. What does your position entail? Development relates to creating relationships. We are developing relationships for both the present and future while cultivating a sense of identity for the Center for the Performing Arts. We look at everyone who comes through our door as a friend. Our goal is to create a sense of belonging and acceptance to all of our friends. We are creating an environment that keeps our friends coming back to enjoy everything we have to offer. I imagine you must also speak with passion about the performing arts in general.
Diane Syrcle with spouse Susan Leo
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photo by Mark A. Lee of Great Exposures
I am a weird combination of an opera singer that also plays
photo courtesy of The Center for the Performing Arts
banjo. I grew up near the panhandle of Texas listening to gospel and country music. Having a diverse interest in music myself and considering the world-class artists that we feature, it is very easy to do so. As a high level professional who happens to be a lesbian, how do you feel about being a role model? One of the greatest honors we have as we age is being able to serve as a mentor and presence for others. I have always been blessed to have strong people who gave me a hand up and said, “You can do this. I believe in you. Be strong.” Have you encountered any pushback from anyone while doing your job? Susan tends to be at most of the performances with me, and I introduce her as my spouse. I’ve experienced nothing but warm welcomes and warm feelings. People are curious and do ask questions, and that is wonderful because we get to tell our story and be a witness in that way.
Hungry for a culinary adventure? Take an Indie Indy Foodie Tour!
How long have you been out? I came out when I was seventeen growing up in Texas, which was conservative in the 80’s. I lived in Oregon for nineteen years, and beginning in graduate school through the mid-90’s it was a choice to affirm, “This is who I am, and I need to bring all of who I am with me.” It’s not an in-your-face kind of thing. Their journey is not my own, and they do not have to weigh in on mine for me to feel good about myself. Most of the people we meet in Indiana are very concerned about whether we are being welcomed, and I think Indiana can feel confident that its “Hoosier Hospitality” extends to everybody who comes here. I certainly have experienced it firsthand. For tickets and information about the 2014-2015 season for the Center for the Performing Arts call (317) 843-3800 or visit www.thecenterfortheperformingarts.org.
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D DINING
Dining Review
BY KAREN KENNEDY
Oakley's Bistro
Oakley’s Bistro
Grilled Vegetable Wellington photo by Karen Kennedy
Indy’s restaurant scene continues to explode with new, trendy, hipster spots, and the epicenter of the dining scene evolves ever further south and east. We all jump to be first in line and don’t think twice about waiting an hour in the cold for the newest take on poutine, doughnuts, or food-laden cocktails. It might well be time to take a fresh look at the tried and true, and pay our respects to one of the chefs who pioneered the culinary renaissance in Indianapolis and showed us that dining in central Indiana could be, and should be, more than just meat and potatoes. Tucked away in a strip mall at 86th Street and Ditch Road, Oakley’s Bistro has been leading the way in fine, progressive dining for the last thirteen years. Unlike many namesake restaurants, chef and owner Steven Oakley still presides over the hot line in the open kitchen nearly every night. His hands touch every artfully arranged plate that leaves the kitchen,
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1464 W. 86th Street, Indianapolis (317) 824-1231 | www.oakleysbistro.com lunch and dinner:Tuesday - Saturday. and his watchful eye sees everything that happens in the dining room. Together with long-time general manager Chris Hopkins, who opened Oakley’s Bistro with him in 2002 and worked with him prior to that at Something Different, they continue to set the bar high for quietly-unassuming but spectacular food and service. Settling into a plush, chocolate brown booth in the elegant but cozy dining room on a recent visit, we opened simple, well-worn, blue school folders which gave little portent of the culinary masterpieces to come. Cocktails first. One whiskey, one gin, both divine. The Vieux Carre is a whiskey lover’s dream—a riff on a Manhattan with a twist of herbaceous Gentiane Quina aperitif. For those who prefer gin, The Aviation Cocktail is a refreshing blend of dry gin with a touch of maraschino liqueur and crème de violette.
Next, we warmed our bones as well as our palates with a lush, intricate butternut squash and maple soup, garnished with a squash relish and clove-peppercorn cream, poured tableside and served piping hot.
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An impressive list of items referred to as “starters” could easily make a meal, and each of these dishes is as carefully thought out as the entrées. The Crispy Oyster Lettuce Wraps are heavenly, accompanied by a tangy cauliflower kimchee. The Lobster Waffle is not to be missed; a garlic-scented waffle laden with bits of lobster, zucchini, crispy leeks and a mustard cream. Stalwarts of classic French cuisine will be delighted to find both Escargot (properly served with maître d’ butter and toast) and Foie Gras rounding out the selections. Under the Salad section, the Toad in the Hole is a stand-out; a piece of toasted brioche with a baked egg in the center, surrounded by a harmonious pastiche of asparagus, prosciutto, poached pears, brussel sprouts, brie and a truffle mushroom purée. And no trip to Oakley’s would be complete without at least one of his signature Shrimp Corndogs, served on a wooden pedestal and finished with a bistro honey mustard. If you make it to the entrées (and you really must try,) there is no better place in the city to have duck, and the Shrimp and Wild Boar is a remarkably-decadent, giant bowl of butter-poached shrimp alongside a ragu of wild boar nestled on a bed of rigatoni finished with a delicate smoked onion cream. There’s always a stunning vegetarian entrée as well, and the Grilled Vegetable Wellington was our favorite dish of the night. With so many takes on so many marvelous winter vegetables, it could warrant a story all its own. Even a diehard carnivore could be content with such a plate. Many restaurants that succeed in the savory fail in the sweet. Happily, that is not the case here, nor are the servings outrageously over-proportioned. They fall in line with the rest of the menu; carefully thought-out and arranged; every drizzle of sauce and bit of garnish is on the plate for a reason. The Chocolate Dome is a celebration of all things chocolate, banana and marshmallow, and is the perfect ending to your meal, along with a really fabulous cup of coffee. The servers work as a team at Oakley’s, so don’t be surprised to find yourself surrounded by a staff of many. In a harkening back to the old-school style of service, plates are often presented simultaneously (although without the flourish of silver plate covers.) Feel free to ask anyone for anything. Unlike the new trend in chef-centric restaurants, if you need something special or a little different than what’s on the menu, the answer is rarely no. And if you want to feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of the action, request table fifty-one, the elevated, circular booth with a view of the kitchen. Chef Oakley himself will check on you as you dine.
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D
Hotel Tango
photo by Albert Winks
Sun King Brewing Company photo by Albert Winks
DINING
shares with the Lilly lunch crowd. Chilly Water is also frequented by cyclists from as far away as Carmel who traverse the Monon Trail before hopping on the Cultural Trail to bring them to Fletcher Place. Two Deep Brewing Company photo by Albert Winks
The Indy Brew by Albert Winks I recently had the opportunity to visit Two Deep, Chilly Water, Hotel Tango, Sun King and Fountain Square. There was so much to discover and try that I found myself feeling like a tourist experiencing facets of our city that I never even know existed. I found more than enough to quench both my curiosity and thirst! I quickly recognized that each stop along my journey had something unique to offer. Maybe it was location. Whether it was an old building that was gloriously restored
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(Hotel Tango), a brand new building (Chilly Water), a neighborhood staple (Fountain Square), or a brewery, doing so well, they are expanding to a second, thirteen-acre, location (Sun King), it was clear that each had a strong vision. My first stop was Two Deep Brewing Company. As mentioned in my “Downtown Living” article in UNITE’s last issue, Two Deep has done a terrific job reaching out to their neighbors. This young brewery has quickly become the “Cheers” of their area. Two Deep distinguishes itself by featuring local food trucks to create unique and different experiences for its guests. This trending hotspot also gives back to the community by hosting multiple events each week. Aside from featuring great local bands, Chilly Water prides itself on offering a great menu that it frequently
Across the street from Chilly Water, Hotel Tango is the first disabled veteran-owned distillery in Indiana. Housed in a historic building, the operation’s focus is to provide a personal, one-of-a-kind experience to each guest. The ambience is visually stunning while the coziness of the massive, wood-burning fireplace wraps itself around you like a warm hug. It’s easy to understand why so many are talking about Hotel Tango.
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Sun King, a growing craft beer icon within the 465 loop, is branching out to Fishers to open its second location. The main location recently opened its tasting room to sell pints and flights. The perfect blend of sight, smell, and sound captures guests as they walk through Sun King’s retail store and into the tasting area. Stacked beer cans and glistening equipment create a fun and unique environment for guests to taste Sun King’s assortment of blends. Unlike their products, the passion for quality, healthy competition, attention to detail, customer service, and good ol’ neighborhood values of each establishment simply cannot be bottled. These are your neighbors. Some want to be huge and hold a global foothold. Others want to be a staple of their community. Either way, they are all doing a great job and are excited to share their story with their guests.
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feature
Ty Herndon
SHAKES UP COUNTRY MUSIC by Joey Amato
Being a gay man in Nashville can be difficult at times. Being a gay country star is even more challenging. Ty Herndon has always been all about the ties that bind. You feel it when he’s singing deeply moving number one hits like “What Mattered Most” and “Living in a Moment.” You get it just as much when he’s goofing around with the audience between songs in concert making every attendee laugh. Even in a genre that already prides itself on relatability, he might be the king of connecting. Now, with the release of Lies I Told Myself, his first country album in seven years, he’s bonding with fans in a new way. Herndon invited folks to be direct participants in the album launch via a well-publicized Kickstarter campaign that made fans investors in the record. Financially and, more critically, emotionally, his fans came through by more than doubling the goal laid out at the outset. The love that goes both ways here, between performer and audience? It’s no lie. Herndon also wanted to use this moment to reveal to the world and especially Music Row, that he was a gay man. “I’ve received nothing but support from everyone in Nashville and around the country,” Herndon tells UNITE. “I was out shopping the other day and people would just come up to me and hug me and tell me how proud they were. I still get teary eyed.” Nobody knew exactly how fans or industry folks would react and many questioned his motives but Herndon hopes that his courageous announcement will help others to be proud of who they are and even better, prevent them from doing something even more tragic. According to The Trevor Project, suicide is the second leading cause of death among young
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people ages 10 to 24 and LGB youth are 4 times more likely, and questioning youth are 3 times more likely, to attempt suicide as their straight peers. Lies I Told Myself stays true to the styles that made Herndon one of the top new artists of the mid and late 90s. There are some wrinkles and updates, as you’d hope. “I’m staying true to who I am and what I’m about as a singer,” says Herndon, “but also reinventing a little bit with sounds in the studio being current with what’s relevant on the radio today.” Some may feel there’s a gap in the growth they’ve been able to see with Herndon, since Lies I Told Myself is his first country album in seven years and only the second album of all-new country material he’s released since 1999. There was an assumption that he might have crossed over into the contemporary Christian market
when he released the highly-lauded Journey On in 2010, which garnered a Grammy nomination and Dove award win. These accolades put an exclamation point on a story of personal redemption that once seemed unlikely, given the well-known addiction issues that played havoc with his career from the mid-90s on up through a successful stint in rehab in 2004. Herndon’s experiences affect his interpretation of the title song “Lies I Told Myself ” — which is also the album’s first single — even though the lyrics aren’t specific to substance abuse. According to Herndon, addiction has cost him a lot in his life. “Because of addiction, I told myself a lot of things that weren’t true. In recovery, I have seen absolutely the light of the truth. But I don’t know that I really consider this song a recovery song. I just consider it a song of truth.”
photos courtesy of Ty Herndon
“I’ve had to deal with getting my life together,” he adds, “so that I can be the artist that I am today.” Herndon is getting ready to hit the road with fellow country
singers Andy Griggs and Jamie O’Neal in what he calls “120 minutes of all hits.” The nonstop performance features all three singers on stage at the same time.
culture
Art & Soul 2015
at The Indianapolis Artsgarden:
Art & Soul Celebrates
INDIANA'S AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTS by Joey Amato
Located above the intersection of Washington and Illinois Streets. Events are free and open to the public.
Wednesday, February 4 (12:15 p.m.)
Deborah Asante and Act a Foo Improv Crew – Spoken word from the African Motherland
Thursday, February 5 (12:15 p.m.)
Mathew Davis and Friends – Spoken word from the Afro-Latino culture (featured Literary Artist, Mathew Davis)
Friday, February 6 (12:15 p.m.)
Devon Ginn and Friends – Spoken word from the Afro-Asian culture
The Arts Council of Indianapolis is pleased to partner with Asante Children’s Theatre, Freetown Village, Latino Youth Collective, Madame Walker Theatre Center, and Honorary Chair Amos Brown to present Art & Soul 2015: A Celebration of African American Art & Artists in Indiana at the Indianapolis Artsgarden. Since its inception in 1996 and through continued generous support from Lilly Endowment Inc., Art & Soul has become a highly anticipated annual tradition celebrating Black History Month.
Saturday, February 7 (12:15 p.m.)
Ben Rose and Lonnie Lester – Spoken word and Soul, Pop, and R&B
Wednesday, February 11 (12:15 p.m.) DANCE l Partners – Afro-Brazilian dance
So we made it one. The Grand Marriage Equality Wedding Event Presented by The Indy Rainbow Chamber & Hosted by Indiana Grand Racing and Casino Sunday, April 12, 2015 | 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. 4300 N. Michigan Rd., Shelbyville, Indiana 46176 (Just off I-74) Meet premier wedding professionals Get married or renew your vows on-site (prior registration required) Enjoy free dance lessons & more! Learn more at MarriageEqualityWeddingEvent.com!
Thursday, February 12 (12:15 p.m.)
Throughout the month of February, the Arts Council will commemorate the impact of the African Diaspora on Indiana arts and culture with free performances, featured artists, and a group exhibition at the Indianapolis Artsgarden. The diaspora are migration waves of communities throughout the world that are descended from the historic movement of peoples from Africa, predominately to North and South America, as well as the Middle East.
Epiphany Dance Collective – African dance (featured Dance Artist, Ronne Stone)
Friday, February 13 (12:15 p.m.) North Star Capoeira – Afro-Brazilian dance
Saturday, February 14 (12:15 p.m.)
Iibada Dance Company – Historical African American dance
“This February, we will celebrate how Africa and African culture has impacted people around the world for centuries, and how that cultural wave continues to impact Indiana today,” said Director of Grant Services Ernest Disney-Britton.
Wednesday, February 18 (12:15 p.m.)
Starting with a kickoff celebration on January 31 at 12:15 pm, the month will feature weeklong journeys through a variety of geographies and art forms including vocal and instrumental music, dance, spoken word, visual arts, featured artists, and a juried group exhibition at the Indianapolis Artsgarden.
Friday, February 20 (12:15 p.m.)
In addition to the event’s powerful artistic performances and artwork, audiences will have the opportunity to donate to black cultural programs throughout the year at indyarts.org/power2give. These projects celebrate the vitality and diversity of program offerings across the city year-round.
Wednesday, February 25 (12:15 p.m.)
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Tying the knot should be an event.
Bashiri Asad – Gospel, R&B, and Folk
Thursday, February 19 (12:15 p.m.)
Freetown Village – Traditional Folk songs and Negro spirituals
Zakk Knight – Acoustic Blues (featured Music Artist, Zakk Knight)
Saturday, February 21 (12:15 p.m.)
Sweet Poison Victim – Global and original Afro-beat sound
Rob Dixon Trio – Living the history of jazz on Indiana Avenue
Featured Artists: Mathew Davis (upper left), Zakk Knight (upper right), Kassim Norris (bottom left), and Ronne Stone (bottom right). Photos by Paul D. Best.
Sunday, March 1 (3:15 p.m.)
Closing celebration with special guest City-County Council President Maggie Lewis and performances by Asante Children’s Theatre
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BUSINESS room – or you aren’t sure you want to “be” the folks around you, you better do something about it.
Year to create a new beginning for your life, get busy with these 5 simple steps.
Step 2. De-Clutter – Let Go of the Rest
Here’s what works for me:
Once you’ve set your priorities around your passions and strengths – it’s time to de-clutter. Reorganize your world so you’re ready for the new journey you’re beginning. Our personalities evolve throughout our lives as life experiences – the good, the bad and the ugly – change how we see the world. These also change how the world sees us. Step 3. Commit to Learning As part of building a focus around your passion and strengths, examine the types of skills and competencies that are consistent with your strengths and learn a new skill in that domain. Learning a new skill will boost your self-confidence. It will open up a whole new adventurous world filled with interesting people to meet. Skill development forces you out of your comfort zone – it helps you develop an “edge” about yourself. The right new skills can also further differentiate you from the crowd. Step 4. Get Busy and Make Meaning
POWERING YOUR MOJO BUILDING PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS IN 2015 by Dr. Michael Burcham What differentiates truly successful people from everyone else? In my view, it’s a relatively simple answer: Successful people spend a large part of their time engaging in activities that simultaneously provide meaning and are at the core of their strengths. They are driven from a deep level of internal passion, which motivates them to work while others are playing. In other words, truly successful people have Mojo. mo.jo: a power that may seem magical and that allows someone to be very effective, successful, etc. My favorite “mojo” definition comes from business-thinker extraordinaire, Marshall Goldsmith. He says mojo is “that positive spirit toward what we are doing now that starts from the inside and radiates outside.” The reason I relate to Goldsmith is that our mojo is our inward driver – our source of motivation. It’s a deep feeling of optimism about ourselves and about our life. It creates an internal
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feeling of confidence that radiates to the outside, impacting our work and all those around us. It causes other people to want to be around us. It causes us to commit ourselves to causes, to create, to persevere. The only person who can define meaning and build motivation for you is you. So as you begin the New Year, here are some things I’ve used to constantly keep myself fully charged and engaged: Step 1. Examine Who You Are Becoming It doesn’t matter if you’re 20 years old or 50 years old; we are all evolving and becoming. None of us are static. I fundamentally believe we become the five people with whom we spend most of our time. So look around and take a good look at your future. What are the topics your inner circle of friends are talking about? Where are they going? How are they improving and evolving? If you find yourself the smartest person in the
Get a plan for your day, your week, and your life. Start by waking up at the same time every day, get out of bed, and get going. I love to start my day at the gym. Some enjoy starting their day with meditation and coffee.
1. Each year, I set a major goal that is consistent with my passions and skills, and follow a path toward that goal with milestones. I try to always finish what I start – it helps me think more carefully when I say “yes.” 2. I figure out what I need to let go of to make time for the new thing. I can’t just crowd more onto a busy calendar. That’s just insanity. I re-prioritize how I’m spending my time and focus time with others of similar interests as my own. It makes the line between work and personal life a bit blurred, but it also provide me lots of renewed energy. 3. I’m always learning; I find learning opportunities in just about every situation. I try to increase my knowledge of subjects that inspire me. 4. I build a calendar that moves me toward my goals and commit myself to executing my plan. 5. Finally, I love to help aspiring entrepreneurs with their journey. This giving back to my community keeps my batteries charged. No matter how young or old you are, your time is limited. Don’t waste your time living someone else’s life. Follow your heart and your intuition and build on your strengths and natural talent. Everything else is secondary.
Once you’re up, keep your mind and body focused so you do not have time to fixate on the negative. Plan your calendar. Schedule a lunch. Do some research on a topic of interest. The early bird not only get the worm, but also the opportunities. Success collides with those who are out seeking it. Understand that the role “from here to there” is not a straight line. There will be hills to climb, rivers to cross. Success requires resilience. It requires us to both survive today and continuously plan for tomorrow. Your journey to success is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a distance game. Commit yourself, get busy and make meaning. Step 5. Start paying it forward One of the most powerful ways to build your character and fuel your batteries is to give some of your time and talent to others. As you share your skills and strengths with others – you will find you, as the teacher, walk away learning more than the student. Helping others will also help you put your own life into perspective. Final Thoughts motivation = the value of outcome x my expectation of achievement. Motivation is the desire to achieve a goal, combined with the energy to work towards that goal. If you want to use this New
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1941 Chrysler Thunderbolt (facing page, top), 1954 Firebird I (facing page, bottom left), 1942 L’Oeuf électrique (facing page, bottom right) and 1936 Stout Scarab (left). Photos courtesy of IMA.
Indy's Next Motor Spectacle by Joey Amato
As racing fans migrate to Indianapolis this spring, a new type of motor spectacle will also be rolling into the city. Dream Cars: Innovative Design, Visionary Ideas opens May 3 at the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) and promises to awe spectators with its unprecedented collection of rare concept cars dating from the 30’s to the 21st century. Dream Cars features some of the most unique and imaginative vehicles ever created by top names in the automotive field, including General Motors, Chrysler, BMW, Cadillac, Ferrari and Ford. American and European “dream cars” were drawn from public and private collections around the world for the exhibition, which will make its only US appearance of 2015 at the IMA. Along with conceptual drawings and scale models, Dream Cars explores the evolution of innovative automobile design that shaped the future of the industry. In 1953, General Motors coined the term “dream car” as a reference to concept cars— experimental vehicles that challenged the status quo with their revolutionary designs.
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design. Designed in 1936, William Stout’s Scarab boasts progressive features for the time— a large passenger compartment with a folding side table and movable seats, a rear-mounted engine, and wheels located at the corners of the vehicle. Stout drew on his extensive aeronautical background when designing the Scarab, and he believed that lightweight aircraft construction techniques would result in faster and more economical automobile. bine-powered automobile ever built and tested in the United States. It was created strictly to determine the feasibility of the gas turbine for use in future GM vehicles. The 1956 Buick Centurion XP-301 omitted rearview mirrors in favor of a TV screen on the dash and a rear-mounted back-up camera. Commonplace today, this was a radical feature in the mid-20th century.
egg-shaped electric car designed for Arzens’ personal use in German-occupied Paris in 1942. This automobile not only challenged the norm with its radical design, but it defied the odds—it was created with Plexiglas and aluminum, both valuable materials in a war-oppressed era. Arzens’ bubble car gained him notoriety in wartime Paris, and preceded the postwar mini-car trend by several years.
Dream Cars will also showcase more modern creations, such as Christopher Bangle’s 2011 BMW GINA Light Visionary Model, featuring a fabric exterior skin of polyurethane-coated Spandex that can morph elements of its shape according to exterior conditions and speed, or at the driver’s demand.
Also featured in the exhibition is Paul Arzens’ L’Oeuf électrique, an
The contemporary minivan is also a product of concept car
Dream Cars will be on display at the IMA through Aug. 23, 2015. For ticket information or to learn more, visit imamuseum.org.
The exhibit will also include historic video footage, images and a Car Design Studio where visitors can explore the process of automobile design through engaging, hands-on activities. An iPad app will also accompany the exhibition and include information about the cars’ hidden features and interiors, historic footage and interviews with leading automobile designers.
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Concept cars give automakers and designers an opportunity to experiment with technology and explore cutting-edge styling and design aesthetics. Typically never intended for mass production, concept cars offer a glimpse into the future possibilities of automotive design. The historic dream cars on display at the IMA were ahead of their time, boasting groundbreaking features that are commonplace today. For example, Ralph Roberts’ and Alex Tremulis’
Chrysler Thunderbolt was touted by Chrysler as “The Car of the Future” in 1941 and was the first American car to feature an electrically operated retractable hardtop and disappearing headlamps. As with other concept cars, the vehicle was not intended for mass production and only five copies were built—four survive today. General Motors’ 1953 Firebird I XP-21 was another platform for innovation. Resembling a wingless jet plane, it was the first gas tur-
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Culture Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT) will bring Lois Lowry’s Newbery Award-winning children’s novel, The Giver, to its Upperstage. This cross-generational story engages both adults who grew up reading the novel and children who are reading it for the first time.
IRT HOSTS
LOIS LOWRY'S THE GIVER by Jesse Walker
In this play, adapted by Eric Coble and directed by IRT’s Associate Artistic Director Courtney Sale, audiences experience a utopian society where citizens have eliminated human characteristics in exchange for a safe and a sanitized existence. What at first appears to be an idyllic society, quickly unfolds into dystopia when Jonas (played by Grayson Molin) discovers his ability to see beyond the world of grey that has been created by his citizenry. As his unique abilities emerge, he and The Giver (played by David Allen Anderson) who is charged with transferring memories of love, beauty, sadness, war, music and more, devise a plan which allows Jonas to escape to “elsewhere,” freeing the society from the opaque lens from which they perceive life’s limited depth and beauty. “The production works beautifully because it allows audiences to experience a great narrative that takes a look at becoming an adult, understanding manipulative culture and determining how young adults image courtesy of IRT
Why climb it alone?
choose to do something about it,” said Sale. “This is a story of enormous awakening; it’s about a brave young man who challenges the space of disobedience.”
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The Giver, endlessly thought-provoking and daring, challenges audiences to question the dangers of conformity and the power of truth. The show runs through February 21 and is one hour and thirty minutes with no intermission. For information on show times and to buy tickets, visit www.irtlive.com.
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