Map
The Broad Ripple Gazette
Vol. 10 No. 9
Including the Cultural Districts and Midtown: Meridian-Kessler, Butler-Tarkington, and Meridian St.
page 18
In This
ISSUE
Sudoku page 10
May 10 - May 23, 2013
- Ripples 2013 Pg. 12 ‑ Boston experience Pg. 21 ‑ Farmers Market Pg. 23
April BRVA land use committee meeting
Art and hand-made items fill Neat-O in the Huntington Bank building.
Neat-O Art Shop - a hidden gem in Broad Ripple By Mario Morone
mario@broadripplegazette.com Neat-O is a specialty shop dedicated to offering a variety of original art, artisan and contemporary craft pieces to consumers. The store acquires its products through artists on a consignment basis and sells them to the public at affordable prices. Neat-O opened April 12 at 724 Broad Ripple Ave, Suite 2, in the Huntington Bank building and is co-owned by sisters Lee Slagle and Stephanie Shears. Stephanie described some of Neat-O's art: "We have photography, paintings - abstracts and still-life paintings of toys and games like Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots, chess, Monopoly and watercolors. We also have jewelry, some of which is beaded, some made of paper beads, some up-cycled (recycled) cans, soaps, dishcloths, hand woven rugs and purses made of recycled aluminum. Wendell August started a forge business in 1923 located in Grove City, Pennsylvania (Neat-O is an exclusive local seller of August's items). It is the largest and oldest metal forge in the United States, 724 Broad Ripple Ave but each piece is still individually handcrafted in Grove City. Everything Suite 2 [H3 on map] in the store is hand crafted from fine art (317) 257-5735 to dishcloths." "Most of the art here is local. Anything neat-oartshop.com that isn't local has a personal connection to us somehow. It's like an art fair here," Lee mentioned. "We decided to open a store because entrepreneurship runs in our family. Our grandparents owned and operated a grocery store in Bruin, Pennsylvania, where our parents grew up, which is in western Pennsylvania north of Pittsburgh. We have great memories being a kid there getting penny candy from the store. Whenever there was a holiday from school, we would go to Bruin," Stephanie recalled. “The family is very tight knit and Stephanie and I are very close. We've always done things together," Lee mentioned. "We're like twins, even though we're 18 months apart," Stephanie noted. "Our mom is pretty crafty. She is always doing projects, like knitting and sewing. She has done some painting and cross-stitching. A lot of people on her side of the family are pretty creative," Stephanie explained. “The business is very
Neat-O
By Alan Hague
alan@broadripplegazette.com The April meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) Land Use committee was held at Broad Ripple United Methodist Church on April 23. There were about 25 in attendance. Two issues were on the agenda. 1) 6265 Carrollton Avenue [H4 on map] - Petition #2013-DV3-009 is requesting a variance of development standards to provide for a tavern expansion in an existing building with zero parking access (84 spaces required). The petitioner stated that no alcohol permit changes are required for the expansion. The expansion adds the small portion of the north side of the building that would connect the Alley Cat to the store front on Carrollton. The expansion would add eight 4-top tables inside and some tables for outdoor dining on Carrollton. The committee voted to support this petition, with two abstentions. The hearing date before the Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals is May 21. 2) 6349 College Avenue [F3 on map] - Petition #2013-ZON-013 is requesting a rezoning of 1.9 acres from C-2 to C-3 to provide for retail, commercial, and residential uses. This project includes a 32-35k sq.ft. ground floor single-user grocery store, with a four-story apartment structure atop a portion of the ground floor and a parking structure to the north. There would be about 80 apartment units of various sizes. the garage would have about 290 spaces. The committee tabled the vote until more information is received from the Metropolitan Zoning staff. The hearing date before the Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals is May 9. The next meeting of the committee is scheduled for Tuesday, May 28 at 6pm at Broad Ripple United Methodist Church.
A rendering of the retail/residential project planned for the Shell station and adjoining properties.
family oriented. You will run into several family members here.” Their mom, Sue, knits dishcloths, bath mitts and scarves. Lee's daughter, Brittany, paints and draws. (She created Neat-O's custom t-shirts.) Each of their works can be purchased in the store. "Art has always been part of our lives, so you learn to appreciate the craft and skill involved, especially if you can't do them. The creative process is interesting and the possibilities are endless. You're not confined to a box. I like to try and learn everything. I've done sewing, some painting, cross-stitching, crocheting and knitting. I like to do do-it-yourself home projects and would like to do more sewing and quilting projects," Lee said. Stephanie paints as a hobby. Neat-O's mission is to provide customers with more than just an art shopping experience as their shop has a historical connection to the area. “Our goal is to establish a unique setting that shares the artists' story and passion behind their craft
INDEX
Still life paintings are among Neato-O's items available.
photo by Mario Morone
See NEAT-O pg. 3
1 Neat-O
5 From the BRMHS anncmts 10 Where in the Village?
15 Historic Ad
20 Random Rippling dam
1 BRVA zoning
6 Random Rippling ribbon
10 Hidden History/Sudoku
15 Crossword
21 Gettin’ Ripped in Ripple
2 Random Rippling Bright
6 Random Rippling Vets
11 Random Rippling razing
16 Mistakes winner
22 Right in my Own Backyard
3 Calendar
6 Random Rippling Big Red 11 Random Rippling sushi
16 Random Rippling piano
23 BR Farmers Market
4 Buzzing Around Town
7 Local Contacts
16 Frog's Random Rippling
23 Random Rippling Seroma
5 Subsidy controversy
8 Classified Ads/Public Notices 14 Frog's Random Rippling
16 Random Rippling Pangea
23 Random Rippling Johnny's
5 BR Brewpub Quiz
9 Poetic Thoughts
17 Business Directory/Maps
23 Random Rippling Don's
12 Ripples 2013 14 Random Rippling law