Stevi Stoesz is executive director of Indianapolis City Market. (photo by Brandon Knapp)
SHOPPING Indiana Beer Sun King Sun King Brewery’s products are seemingly everywhere — including at the top of the Best of Indy Readers’ Poll for the second consecutive year! From their Downtown tasting room and brewery (135 N. College Ave.) to Victory Field to liquor stores and bars across the city and beyond, Sun King has taken over our hearts and thirsts rather quickly. Among their newest innovations is the canning of two of their flagship beers, Sunlight Cream Ale and Osiris Pale Ale, and you can get your growler filled at their shop Monday through Saturdays. If you go to a bar that doesn’t have their brews — other popular selections include Wee Mac and Bitter Druid ESB — demand their inclusion. Don’t miss their seasonal and special brews, too. 135 N. College Ave., 602-3701, sunkingbrewing.com. 2nd: Upland 3rd: 3 Floyds Indiana Wine Oliver Winery This is the fifth time we’ve polled NUVO readers on what they consider the Best Indiana Wine, and each time Oliver Winery has come out on top. Started in the 1960s by Indiana University law professor William Oliver, this successful winery continues to offer a complete collection of quality wine from grapes grown in Indiana. Take the drive down
*indicates different winner than last year (2011)
to Bloomington and visit in person for the tour and tastings and to shop for a few take home bottles. Most fine wine retailers in the city carry a year-round selection of Oliver wines, all reasonably priced. 8024 N. S.R. 37, Bloomington, 812-876-5800, oliverwinery.com. 2nd: New Day Meadery 3rd: Easley Winery Local Liquor/Wine Retailer Kahn’s Kahn’s on Keystone wins this category again, making it the undisputed best place in Indy to find beer, wine and liquor (including an impressive stock of local products). We recommend that you either know what you want before you walk in, go directly to an employee and ask for a recommendation or set aside a few hours to browse the over 900 beers and 5,000 wines Kahn’s offers. The staff is knowledgeable and the frequent tastings, classes and other events give ample opportunity to take full advantage of the outstanding selection. 5341 N. Keystone Ave., 2519463, kahnsfinewines.com. 2nd: 21st Amendment 3rd: Goose the Market Place to buy locally produced foods *Indianapolis City Market Calling the City Market the place to be in Indy isn’t giving it enough credit. With more than 30 vendors, it’s a
thriving haven of the uniquely local, where you can find everything from fresh cut flowers to pastries hot out of the oven to gourmet crepes, and chow down while you’re taking a tour of the tomblike catacombs. And that’s just the regular business hours — throughout the year you’ll find a huge range of events, workshops and celebrations hosted in this spectacular historic site, and the weekly Indianapolis Farmers’ Market to boot. 222 E. Market St., 6349266, indycm.com. 2nd: Goose the Market 3rd: Broad Ripple Farmers’ Market Local Bakery/Sweets The Flying Cupcake Come to The Flying Cupcake for dreamy treats with names like What’s up Doc? (moist carrot cake packed with coconut and raisins topped with velvety cream cheese), Chocolate Ganache (chocolate cupcake topped with a rich chocolate ganache and white chocolate shavings), The Bee’s Knee’s (light honey pear cupcake scented with ginger and topped with honey buttercream) … we could go on, and on and on. Menu changes daily, if not hourly, which is why we recommend frequent visits. And be prepared to wait in line occasionally. These sweet things are the most popular in the city. 5617 N. Illinois St. and 715 Massachusetts Ave. plus locations on East 82nd
Street and in Carmel, 396-2696, theflyingcupcakebakery.com. 2nd: Long’s Bakery 3rd: Taylor’s Bakery Local Shopping for Books Big Hat Books Big Hat is going to need an awfully big trophy case. This is the sixth consecutive win as Best Local Book Store for Liz Barden and her cozy little shop in Broad Ripple. With a stock so carefully selected, it’s easy to spend a good deal of time perusing the shelves or mining the staff’s informed opinions for a good read. But it’s not just books that make Big Hat a winner. The big-name readings and book signings, mixed with an impressive list of local authors, fill a schedule rounded out with workshops and book clubs. 6510 Cornell Ave., 202-0203, bighatbooks.com. 2nd: Bookmama’s 3rd: Downtown Comics Local Shopping for Music LUNA Music NUVO readers seem to be spending an awful lot of time flipping through the bins of used and new LPs, CDs and a host of groovy books, quirky gifts and T-shirts that quickly become collectors’ items. Why else would it win best music store seven years running? Don’t miss the frequent allages in-store appearances by touring acts passing through Indy, when the joint is typically packed to the gills with every hipster and his/her brother within a 50-mile radius. Even if you hate hipsters, come to LUNA for the groovy
100% RECYCLED PAPER // NUVO // 2012 // best of indy guide
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