Fishers residents experience Hindu festival that takes place every 144 years / P13
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Founded Jan. 25, 2011, at Fishers, IN Vol. XV, No. 9
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Opinions
The views of the columnists in Current in Fishers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the positions of this newspaper.
Meetings focus on rental cap proposal
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Two public meetings on March 10 focused on the City of Fishers’ proposed rental-home registration program, which includes a 10 percent cap on the number of single-family rental homes — but the meetings provided different points of view for the public to consider.
GOVERNMENT
The first was a lunchtime virtual webinar hosted by the City of Fishers. It was led by Chief of Staff Jordin Alexander, who gave a presentation about the proposed ordinance that included much of the same information provided previously during Fishers City Council meetings. Alexander also answered submitted questions from participants.
The second meeting was organized by Fishers resident Jocelyn Vare, a former city councilor, who had asked the city to host an in-person town hall. So far, the city has not scheduled one and Vare organized her own at the Fishers Library. About 25 people attended the evening meeting, which featured a panel of Fishers-based real estate and housing professionals, who expressed concern that the ordinance could affect home values by restricting what owners can do with their property, and lead to increased rental rates that will affect lower-income residents.
Although not a panelist, Chris Pryor from MIBOR Realtor Association, representing central Indiana real estate agents, also attended the town hall meeting. He said the organization had been working with the City of Fishers on the ordinance for the past two years.
“I would like to compliment the city — (It) has been very open about working with us on this and listening to our concerns,” Pryor said. “However, seeing the final proposal, we have determined that we do need to oppose the current proposal.”
Pryor said the ordinance would affect property rights, interfere with the free market, limit housing options and potentially lead to an increase in rental rates for those homes that are available for rent.
Panelist Andrea Davis is executive director of HAND, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing in Hamilton County. She said there are many people who work in Hamilton County and don’t make enough to buy a home or to rent the high-end apartments that many developers are building.
Steve Ladig participate in a panel discussion during a citizen-led town hall meeting about the City of Fishers’ proposed cap on rental homes. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
“Any policy that restricts the supply of rental housing is going to impact affordability at some point, somehow,” she said. “We have an undersupply of rental housing already and so to put artificial restrictions on that could have long term implications.”
Panelist Steve Ladig is a property manager and landlord in Fishers. He said one of the reasons cited for the ordinance is the number of homes owned by institutional investors. Although there was a large number of homes purchased by those investors when prices and mortgage rates were low, Ladig said that has slowed considerably, with only one home purchase by an institutional investor since January 2023. He added that 18 homes owned by those investors were sold to individual homeowners since 2022.
Ladig agreed that institutional investors can be a problem for code enforcement but there are other ways to address that issue.
“There are 583 homes that have been purchased by institutional investors.
Of those, 95 percent of them are three companies,” Ladig said. “We should really be spending our time dealing with those three large companies and holding them accountable. Have strict code enforcement, put liens on those properties, make them mow their lawns. If they’re not, let’s send the city out there and mow it and send them a big bill.”
Some audience members also expressed concern about the proposed ordinance. Norma Johnson, a senior citizen, said increased rental rates affect people like her on a fixed income. She added that some of the rhetoric against renters sounded discriminatory.
“I hear people say they don’t want Fishers to end up like Lawrence. And of course, we know the diversity of Lawrence,” she
said. “To me, that’s a way of saying we don’t want ‘those people’ coming in to our community from Indianapolis. I’m old enough to remember restrictive covenants that they had where Black folks and Jews couldn’t buy homes in certain areas. So, this is just another way of eliminating certain people in their community.”
Vare and the panelists encouraged citizens to contact city officials to express their opinions about the rental cap ordinance. Vare created a website, fishersrentalcap.com, which links to a google drive with information about the proposal.
The city also has created a landing page for information about the program, fishersin.gov/government/administrative/ rental-registration-permitting-program.
The rental registry portion of the ordinance would require all single-family rentals, including townhomes and condominiums, to be registered with the city and have rental permits attached to the home. Those permits would not expire until the home is sold. The city has purchased specialized software to help track rentals in the community.
Rentals that are in existence before Dec. 31, 2025 — the registration deadline — would be grandfathered in. That means the cap would not apply to existing rental properties. After Dec. 31, if someone buys a home with the intention of renting it out, the property would have to be in an area that hasn’t met that 10 percent threshold. Prospective landlords interested in purchasing a property would be able to check if the home is within an area that already reached the cap.
The ordinance includes some exemptions to the cap, such as homeowners who are renting to family members, homeowners who are military members and have been deployed elsewhere, homes that can’t be sold quickly because of death or divorce, etc. Homes that are exempted from the cap also wouldn’t count toward the 10 percent limit in a neighborhood.
Alexander noted that with the registry, it would be easier for the city to enforce code compliance for rental properties, including exterior maintenance. The city’s ordinance would not restrict homeowner associations from having stricter caps on rentals in their neighborhoods.
The council had a first reading of the ordinance in February and is expected to consider the proposal in second reading during its April 21 meeting. A public hearing will take place at that time.
From left, Realtor Meighan wise, HAND Executive Director Andrea Davis, mortgage advisor Janet Pritchett and property manager
New neighborhood planned off 116th Street
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Plans are moving forward for a new subdivision with 61 homes off 116th Street next to the Fishers Town Commons shopping center.
DEVELOPMENT
The Fishers Plat Committee March 5 approved a primary plat for the planned Maple Del Subdivision, proposed by Mithra Development. The new neighborhood would have eight single-family homes and 53 townhomes on a 9.34-acre site.
The property previously had 16 single-family homes, according to an overview of the primary plat petition.
Kevin Martín, assistant planning director, told the committee that the town homes would be concentrated along 116th Street, with the single-family homes to the south of the property.
“The proposed architecture and site plan design have not been approved by the Nickel Plate Review Committee and will be required to undergo that review process,” he said. “With that, this plat is in line with the objectives of the Fishers unified development ordinance and aligns with the future land-use map, which designates the site as regional mixed-use.”
The site will not need to be rezoned before development can begin.
During a public hearing on the proposal, a representative of the neighboring community’s Homeowners Association spoke in favor of the proposed development. He was the only speaker.
The Maple Del subdivision would add 61 homes, off 116th Street next to the Town Commons shopping center. (Image courtesy of the City of Fishers)
Target plans moving forward
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Architecture and site plans for a new Target store at 136th Street near Southeastern Parkway were approved March 5 by the City of Fishers Planned Unit Development Committee, a required step toward building the 148,000-square-foot store on its 15.51-acre lot.
DEVELOPMENT
The new target was announced in early February during Mayor Scott Fadness’ annual State of the City presentation. Construction on the new store is expected to begin this year.
Planning and Zoning Director Ross Hilleary told the PUD Committee that department staff worked with Target officials to include pedestrian connections from 136th Street to the store. The building’s exterior includes a combination of white and gray siding, along with the brand’s signature red with the bullseye logo.
“One of the staff requests was for these (exterior) walls to extend to the top of the parapet,” he said. “The other item that staff
requested, which the developer has agreed to, is to screen all HVAC (equipment) on the roof.”
There was some discussion about whether a proposed wall to help screen delivery trucks was adequate and whether landscaping would help. Hilleary said they can explore that, but the planned building is exposed on all sides and it is difficult to screen tractor-trailers.
The plans were unanimously approved with the condition that Target continue working with city staff on recommended adjustments.
Fishers breaks ground on Nickel Row development
news@currentinfishers.com
City of Fishers officials joined representatives from developer Onyx+East to celebrate the March 5 groundbreaking for the planned Nickel Row development, which will comprise 35 new townhomes on Fishers Pointe Boulevard next to the Nickel Plate Trail.
HOUSING
The project is a joint venture with Meyer Najem and is Onyx+East’s first project in Fishers, according to an announcement from the company. Set on about 3 acres next to Holy Family Episcopal Church, the new neighborhood will feature three-story townhomes available for sale at a starting price in the mid-$500,000 range.
“Located in the fourth-best place to live in America and within the sixth-best school district in Indiana, Nickel Row is steps away from Fishers’ thriving Nickel Plate District,” the announcement stated.
Nickel Row homes will have open-concept interiors and attached two-car garag-
es. Residents can choose from different floor plans that range from 2,190 to 2,317 square feet, three to four bedrooms and 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 bathrooms. Twelve of the homes will have private elevators.
Nickel Row will be Onyx+East’s fourth community in Hamilton County, joining Uptown at WestClay, Mélange and Flora — all located in Carmel.
For more about Onyx+East, visit onyxandeast.com.
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A new Target in Fishers is planned at 136th Street near Southeastern Parkway. (Image courtesy of the City of Fishers)
From left, Tim Russell of Meyer Najem, Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness, Jake Dietrich of Onyx+East and Gary Snyder of Holy Family Episcopal Church. (Photo courtesy of Dittoe Public Relations)
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Colonoscopies don’t just detect cancer – they can prevent it.
Fishers craft beer marketing company changes hands
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Fishers-based Indiana On Tap, a craft beer marketing and events company, recently closed a multimillion-dollar sale of the business to an Indianapolis buyer.
SALE
The web-based business was founded by Justin Knepp, who stressed that Indiana On Tap remains a strong and growing business. He decided it was the right time to sell because he purchased a baseball team in southern Indiana — the Dubois County Bombers — and growing that business was taking up a lot of his time.
“We took over controlling interest of the team 2 1/2 years ago and we just finished, last year, our second full season,” he said. “It has grown just considerably — the interest, the attention, the sales, we’ve more than doubled our fan base. It’s grown so considerably that it’s just required much more of my time and honestly, the fact that I have three young children, there just were not enough hours in the day to give all three of those things the attention they deserve. So, it just felt like a good time to exit from Indiana On Tap.”
community-based, so to be able to keep it (with) someone who’s from Indianapolis is exciting to me and he’s going to grow it. He’s just a perfect fit.”
Knepp said when the company first went up for sale, there were multiple offers within the first week from buyers nationwide.
“I chose to sell it to an Indiana-based buyer,” he said. “I genuinely thought he was the best fit to take over the business. And it wasn’t just because he was from Indiana, but he shared the same vision I did for the future of the company. And so, again, I feel great about that, because everything we do is Indiana-based and
Andrew Cornwell, who previously worked for Meyer Najem in Fishers, is the buyer. He said he saw a lot of opportunities for continued growth with Indiana On Tap, in particular with the ticketing platform, which offers ticketing services for small and medium-sized Hoosier venues.
“There are so many small venues, venues that have a need for ticketing, and there’s a lot of national brands and some mid-tier brands that — there’s just not a lot of customer service,” he said. “With On Tap Tickets … it’s just so darn easy to use that I can’t imagine why a smaller venue, or a medium-sized, venue wouldn’t just jump at the opportunity to work with somebody local.”
The business is fully remote, so the transition should be easy, he said. Knepp said that he would remain on hand for a few months to make sure the shift is smooth.
Knepp added that while he and his family spend a lot of time in Dubois County during the summer, Fishers will continue to be home.
For more, visit indianaontap.com or ontaptickets.com.
DISPATCHES
CAVA opens new Fishers location — The national chain CAVA opened its doors at 11594 Whistle Dr., Fishers, on March 14.
The Mediterranean-style restaurant hosted a “Community Day” celebration March 13, offering limited tickets for people to sample the menu. It also matched donations up to $1000 for to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. For more, visit cava.com.
Christian Science talk planned — Alex Fischer, practitioner of Christian Science healing and international speaker, will present “How spiritual perception brings healing,” set for 3 p.m. March 23 at the Hamilton East Public Library, Fishers branch, 5 Municipal Dr. The talk is sponsored by First Churches of Christ, Scientist, in Carmel and Indianapolis
Knepp
Cornwell
Indiana on Tap has sold to an Indianapolis buyer.
(Photo by courtesy of Indiana on Tap.)
Noblesville junior forward’s improvement leads to honors
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Noblesville High School girls basketball coach Donna Buckley is convinced junior forward CC Quigley deserves all the honors she’s received.
“She had a great year for us,” Buckley said.
“She worked hard to be a really good post option as well as a player who could step out and shoot the 3-pointer. She really improved her shooting range from last season. Her efforts have been rewarded with postseason awards. She was named to the All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference’s first team and Indiana Basketball Coaches Association Large School All-State honorable mention.”
Quigley, whose name is Caroline Cynthia Quigley but has been called CC since she was a baby, averaged 11 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Millers (19-5). She shot 55 percent from the field. She averaged 9.7 ppg and 5.2 rpg as a sophomore. After not taking a 3-pointer as a sopho-
CC QUIGLEY
Favorite TV show: “Gossip Girl.”
Favorite vacation spot: Costa Rica
Favorite athlete: Aja Wilson
Favorite subject: Photography
Favorite musician: Taylor Swift
more, she made 6 of 21 for 29 percent last season.
“I think I improved by creating a post presence for my team and also expanded my range by shooting more 3s,” Quigley said.
The 6-foot-2 forward plays for the Indiana Basketball Club on the 17U 3SSB team.
“My goals for the offseason are to drive to the basket more and work on creating my own shot,” she said.
The Millers will return three starters from this year’s team, which lost to Class
4A No. 1 Hamilton Southeastern in the sectional final.
“I am optimistic for my team next year with us each stepping into new roles,” Quigley said. “I am excited to play with this group and am looking forward to next season.”
Buckley said Quigley is working on being a more vocal leader.
“I’m sure she will be a more vocal leader as a senior,” Buckley said.
Quigley started playing basketball in sixth grade.
“I played travel soccer for five years and also ran track in eighth grade,” she said. However, she found her passion for basketball.
“I love the competitiveness and intensity of the sport and being able to play and work together with my teammates and friends,” she said.
Quigley has NCAA Division I scholarship offers from Kent State University, University of Buffalo, Wright State University and Central Michigan University.
To nominate a high school student for Athlete of the Week, contact mark@ youarecurrent.com.
Noblesville High School junior forward CC Quigley was named to the All-Hoosier Crossroads Conference’s first team. (Photo courtesy of Miller Athletics)
Quigley
Local federal assets potentially on chopping block
news@currentinfishers.com
The federal General Services Administration, which manages federal property nationwide, is exploring whether to sell more than 440 noncore assets, which could include federal property in Marion County, and end leases for office space, including some in Hamilton County.
GOVERNMENT
In a March 4 announcement, GSA stated that noncore assets it identified comprise about 80 million square feet and about $8.3 billion in “recapitalization” needs, which essentially means maintenance financing.
“Decades of funding deficiencies have resulted in many of these buildings becoming functionally obsolete and unsuitable for use by our federal workforce,” the announcement stated.
The announcement included a link to what had been a list of those assets, reported by many news organizations. However, on March 5, the list was no longer available. Instead, the link stated that
the list was “coming soon.” At deadline for publication, the list had not been updated.
“We are identifying buildings and facilities that are not core to government operations, or non-core properties, for disposal,” the link stated on March 5.
Previous news stories noted that the now-deleted list included Lawrence-based Emmett J. Bean Federal Center, which is home to the U.S. Department of Defense Finance and Accounting Service; and the downtown Indianapolis Minton-Capehart Federal Building, which houses Indianapolis offices for the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, the Internal Revenue Service and the Social Security administration, along with an immigration court.
Leased space on the now-deleted list included Federal Energy Regulatory Commission space in Carmel and a Centers for Disease Control space at an office park in Fishers, according to several earlier news reports.
To see the full GSA statement, visit gsa. gov and scroll down to “News.”
Hamilton County Tourism names new CEO, president
news@currentnoblesville.com
The Hamilton County Tourism Board of Directors has appointed Karen Radcliff as its new president and chief executive officer.
EMPLOYMENT
Gabby Blauert, communications manager for Hamilton County Tourism, said Radcliff will replace David West, who decided to step away from his role to prioritize his family and other professional aspirations.
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County and (her) proven leadership make her the perfect candidate to fill this role,” Scott Spillman, Hamilton County Tourism board chair, stated.
Over the past 30 years, Radcliff has served in various roles within Hamilton County Tourism, most recently leading the organization as its vice president and chief strategy officer.
“Karen’s vast knowledge of the tourism industry, her dedication to Hamilton
Radcliff began her tenure at Hamilton County Tourism in 1995 as a communications specialist. Her accomplishments include leading the organization through a 10year strategic planning process and developing the partnerships and research that led to building the Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield.
“It’s been incredible to witness the evolution of Hamilton County throughout the years and I am honored for the opportunity to lead Hamilton County Tourism during this stage of our destination’s growth and development,” Radcliff stated. For more, visit visithamiltoncounty.com.
OBITUARY
Raymond Ross Marconi was born in Gary, Indiana, August 21, 1938. He was the 3rd son of John Adamo Marconi and Anna Eugenia Nepsha (both deceased). He passed away Friday, February 21, 2025, at home in Carmel, Indiana. Ray had been in hospice at home for 10 weeks and his heart finally gave out. A big heart that always has been understanding, kind, and generous to all he met.
When he was in Hobart, IN elementary school, he was young enough to participate in the very first year of Little League in Hobart, Indiana. When he was 12, he entered the Soap Box Derby and came in 2nd in the world. He won a new car. He was also elected the 8th grade president.
In high school, he participated in Football and Boxing. He won the CYO Golden Gloves in Chicago. Boxing would stay with him for the rest of his life. He was a boxing inspector for the state of Indiana, manager, mentor, coach for pros & amateurs (Golden Gloves). Also taught an executive boxing class for 3 years in Indianapolis, IN.
Golf was his favorite his whole life.
He was in the Marines for 2 years. Also participated on the USMC Boxing Team during that time. When he returned to Hobart, Indiana, he married Judy Kay Mohrs (deceased). They are both survived by 3 sons, Michael Marconi (Greta), Jo-
seph Marconi (Tina), and Daniel Marconi (Cyndi), 4 grandchildren & 3 step-grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren & 6 step great-grandchildren. Ray is survived by his sister, Ruth Bell Marconi, her family, and his brothers, Robert Marconi & Richard Marconi (both brothers deceased) and their extended families.
Ray is also survived by his 2nd wife of 30 years, Vickki Marconi, and his 2 step-children he helped to raise, Jaclyn John Hanson (David) & Nicholas R. John (Megan). He also has 4 step-grandchildren. What a wonderful influence he was on all he met. He was loved and adored to the end. He will be sorely missed by all.
Ray wanted a Celebration of Life Party. It will be held on Sunday March 23, 2025, between 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM at: “502 East Event Center” at 502 E Carmel Drive, Carmel, IN 46032 ph: 317-843-1234
No flowers please... if you choose to make a donation in Ray’s name, please email “Tunnel to Towers Foundation”. T2t.com All but 1% of donations goes to homes and services for military, police, and fireman families.
Dress is casual as Ray has requested. If you have a funny story about Ray, please bring it to share with the group. I hope to see everyone there to celebrate his life.
Radcliff
Ale Emporium sweeps wings, pizza, bar food categories
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
Ale Emporium, with multiple locations in central Indiana, won three categories in the 2025 Current Best Of Suburban North Indy contest — best bar food, best chicken wings and best pizza.
Co-owner Tony Kwiatkowski said the business is honored to be recognized.
“Winning best wings and best pizza, and then winning best bar is a true compliment based on how many really nice and great bars there are in Hamilton County,” he said, noting that the business offers a sports-bar atmosphere with live music in addition to its signature menu. “The combination of our menu, our service and then the sports environment — and then on top of that, you do live music on the weekends — there’s a lot going on there that makes us pretty popular.”
Ale Emporium’s original bar opened in 1982 in the Castleton area, 8617 Allisonville Rd. Kwiatkowski said they expanded first to Fishers in 2018, 11501 Geist Pavilion Dr., and in 2019 opened a Greenwood location, 997 E. County Line Rd. B. They plan to open a fourth location in Avon this summer.
“(We’ve) been around a long time but our growth has really just come in the last seven years or so,” Kwiatkowski said. “We’re kind of famous for our wings and our wing sauces — our famous sauce is called Hermanaki.”
Hermanaki sauce, which is teriyaki-inspired, is one of the “Herman” series
developed by Herman Perryman, who joined the team in the late 1980s.
“Those main sauces are our most popular sauces,” Kwiatkowski said. “There are multiple contests throughout the year that we get submitted for best wings — a lot of it’s based on the Hermanaki sauce, which we win a lot of awards for, but … all those Herman sauces kind of put us on the map as far as wings.”
He said they refer to their pizza as “honest,” because they don’t skimp on the toppings.
Kwiatkowski said part of the Ale Emporium’s appeal is that it’s a local, family-owned business — started by Marc Luros and now co-owned by Luros’ son-in-law, Scott Baun and Kwiatkowski. While the Castleton business is 21-andover, the Fishers and Greenwood locations are family friendly.
Kwiatkowski added that the business helps raise funds for many area nonprofits, especially youth sports programs, and customers appreciate their community support.
For more, visit aleemporium.securetree.com.
Ale Emporium in Fishers is one of three locations owned by the Indianapolis-based business. (Photo courtesy of Ale Emporium)
Sara H., patient
Service makes the difference for Khamis Fine Jewelers
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
For Mary Khamis-Rowe, it’s the service that has kept her business going strong for three decades.
Khamis Fine Jewelers, which was named Best Jewelery Store in the 2025 Current Best Of Suburban North Indy contest, is celebrating its 30th year in business, having opened in November 1995.
Khamis-Rowe said two jewelers do the repairs and custom pieces. Khamis-Rowe performs appraisals. She is a certified gemologist and a certified appraiser of personal property.
Khamis-Rowe
“We were really excited to get the (award) and we appreciate all our customers voting for us,” Khamis-Rowe said of her store at 9763 Fall Creek Rd. in Indianapolis. “We enjoy helping people enjoy important milestones in their life by helping them pick the right piece of jewelry. We’ve become part of the neighborhood and the Indianapolis area — Carmel, Fishers and the surrounding area. We try to give the best service that we can.”
Khamis-Rowe said custom jewelry is an important part of the business.
“It’s a family piece that was handed down to you, which happens a lot these days, and it’s just not your style but you want to do something with the stones,” she said. “We can create a new piece where the customer would wear it and enjoy it.”
“I not only have training in the gemology aspect of it but also on the appraising aspect of it,” Khamis-Rowe said. “There are only two or three of us in the state that have that designation. I do a lot of appraisals for attorneys, for banks, for the FBI and for insurance.”
The service the store provides allows Khamis-Rowe to have more of a personal relationship with her customers.
“I get invited to weddings,” she said. “A lot of customers have become friends of mine. I’ve got customers texting me at 10 o’clock at night. Pretty much any jewelry store can sell anything or make anything, but it’s the service you give the customer that is going to bring them back to the store. That’s what I always tell my employees. We just need the best service and that’s what we strive for.”
Khamis-Rowe, a Geist-area resident, has been in the jewelry business for 47 years.
Khamis Fine Jewelers has four employeea. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.
For more, visit khamisjewelers.com.
Khamis Fine Jewelers received Best Jewelers in the 2025 Current Best Of Suburban North Indy contest. (Photo courtesy of Mary Khamis-Rowe)
Rejoicing Vine celebrates wine, sustainability
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
A family-owned north Indianapolis business that specializes in sparkling wines won top honors for Best Winery in the Current Best Of North Indy 2025 competition, only two years after opening.
Rejoicing Vine owners Brent and Frances Kumfer met in Connecticut. As they got to know each other, they toured local wineries in that state and talked about opening their own winery someday. After relocating to Carmel — and when their kids were old enough to be in school — they looked into how they could make that dream come true.
Brent Kumfer had left his corporate job to stay home with the kids. His former career focused on launching products, so he had a business background that complimented his more earthy interests of wine making and gardening. They said it took two years of searching before they found the right location at 8440 W. 82nd St., just south of Zionsville.
“It used to be one of the biggest orchid farms between the coasts, but it had closed down about a decade before we ended up coming here,” Frances Kumfer said. “Everything was overgrown — like, we had our son out in the field and the grasses were higher than his head.”
She said their Realtor was more than a little surprised when they decided to buy the spot, but it had everything they wanted — a building, a greenhouse and plenty of space. It just needed work — about two years’ worth of work, to be precise. They did a lot of the interior demolition themselves and cleared the field for grapes.
“It’s just a really kind of serene property,” Frances Kumfer said of the site, which is close to Eagle Creek Park. “It feels like you’re out in rural Indiana, but really, you’re only 20 minutes from downtown. It’s right off of 465 and 65, so it’s easy access to get to. We kind of really lucked out in finding this property.”
Brent Kumfer, who is at the winery pretty much every day, said customers seem to appreciate the hands-on, personal nature of the business.
“Customers have direct access to the
Award-Winning Catering!
owner, to the winemaker, and I think they find that exciting and love to learn about the stories,” he said, adding that they like to stress the importance of sustainability. “I felt like this was a calling from God to help the community. I kind of call wine our Trojan horse. So, we get people in the door and we talk about sustainability, we talk about our faith and things that people normally wouldn’t just openly discuss.”
To promote sustainability, they keg many of their wines rather than bottling them, which significantly reduces their carbon footprint. They also donate to local charities that help people get better access to fresh produce and they promote other small businesses through partnerships with local florists, cheesemongers, coffee roasters and bakers, among others. They also use a regenerative farming technique, which promotes natural diversity to improve the health of their crops — which leads to better tasting wine.
Grapes that do best in Indiana’s climate work well for sparkling wine, which is why Rejoicing Vine primarily offers the bubbly stuff. Unlike most wineries that have many still wines and just one or two sparkling varieties, Rejoicing Vine has about seven bubbly selections, with just one nonsparkling wine on the menu. For more, visit rejoicingvine.com.
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I’m honored to be chosen the Gold Winner in Travel Services for Suburban North Indy! I truly cherish helping families create Magical Vacation Memories. If you’re planning a Disney Vacation, I’d love to assist — let’s make your dream trip a reality! Danielle Ott danielle@hihovacations.com 317-750-0450 /totheparksandbeyond www.hihovacations.com Thank you for your votes!
As we mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of IU Health North Hospital, we celebrate the team members, providers and volunteers who have dedicated their lives to serving others. From broken bones to broken hearts, from miracles born to miracles made through innovation and medical advancement, we’re proud to care for our neighbors and call Hamilton County home. We look forward to continuing to serve with skill and
Frances and Brent Kumfer of Carmel are the owners and operators of Rejoicing Vine in northwest Indianapolis. (Photo by Leila Kheiry)
8
March 18, 2025
Food quality, customer service top priorities at Joe’s Butcher Shop
By Ann Marie Shambaugh AnnMarie@youarecurrent.com
It’s been nearly 20 years since Joe and Kathy Lazzara launched Joe’s Butcher Shop at 111 W. Main St. Since then, it’s become a destination for both hungry diners in search of a fresh sandwich and those seeking premier ingredients to cook at home.
Joe Lazzara answered the following questions from Current about the business and its long-term success in the Arts & Design District. Learn more at JoesButcherShop.com.
Why did you decide to open Joe’s Butcher Shop?
I traveled quite a bit with my previous career and made a hobby out of visiting James Beard-nominated restaurants. I learned that what made many of the restaurants and chefs great was sourcing clean, sustainably raised, fresh proteins. We felt there was a gap in the Carmel market for a butcher shop and fish market that provided higher quality proteins
for the home chef.
How would you describe the shop to someone who hasn’t been before?
A local butcher shop and fish market committed to customer service that serves the finest, most sustainable proteins they can source. We sell products from over 20 truly local providers and serve up what many believe are the best tasting sandwiches in central Indiana.
The staff is friendly and the butchers knowledgeable. Both care about serving your needs and keeping your business. What makes the shop unique?
The first is the quality of the beef and the expert way it’s cut for the customers’ needs. When it comes to fresh fish, it would be difficult to find somewhere that cares more about marine stewardship while providing a superior product. Our deli and sandwich area has a full kitchen where we craft our sides and sandwiches from over 140 unique fromscratch recipes.
What is your favorite item and why?
Wow, I have so many favorites! I can start with our incredible fresh reserve Salmon and move through our beef case from our vacio/flap steak to our reserve filet mignon. On the grocery side, it’s got to be Heidi Ho’s Chocolate Chip Shortbread Cookies. They are wickedly sinful. Sandwich-wise, it’s tough to beat our Evan’s IPA Braised Beef Sandwich, incredible. We dry-age our own beef and pork, and lately I’ve become obsessed with our double thick cut 14-day dry aged pork chop. It eats more like a great beef steak
than a pork chop. It’s just outstanding. What do you enjoy about operating in downtown Carmel?
We took a risk establishing a store downtown when the Art & Design District was in its infancy. Downtown Carmel has become a hub of great events and a true community place to gather. We’ve had a front seat to what might be the most beautiful, successful growth experience of any city in the U.S. over the last 20 years. What’s not to enjoy?
What do you most want people to know about the shop?
That we are committed and focused on serving our customers to provide the best quality proteins and experience possible. That we love serving our community not just through our work, in and outside of Joe’s, but in how we take care of our 18 full-time and 32 part-time employees.
Anything else you want to share?
How honestly humble and amazed we are every day that our customers and community have made the choice for nearly 20 years to support our employees and what we do.
Joe’s Butcher Shop sells products from more than 20 local providers. (Photo courtesy of Joe’s Butcher Shop)
BAKERY
Taylors Bakery
taylorsbakery.bakesmart.com 317-596-2253
Le Petit Gateau lpgbakery.com 317-408-5500
BAR
Ale Emporium aleemporium.securetree.com
317-288-7394
3UP
3uprooftop.com
317-740-0930
BBQ
Big Hoffas Smokehouse bighoffas.com 317-867-0077
City Barbeque citybbq.com 317-660-8369
BREAKFAST
Rosies Place rosiesplace.net 317-688-7350
Cafe Patachou cafepatachou.com 317-569-0965
BREWERY
Sun King sunkingbrewing.com 317-843-6250
Bier Brewery bierbrewery.com 317-444-8500
BURGER
Gold
BRU Burger Bar bruburgerbar.com 317-975-0033
Roots Burger Bar rootsburgerbar.com 463-273-2004
CATERING
Zing Cafe zingcafecarmel.com 463-248-6340
City Barbeque citybbq.com 317-660-8369
GOLD AND SILVER WINNERS
CHICKEN WINGS
Ale Emporium aleemporium.securetree.com 317-288-7394
The Friendly Tavern friendlytavernzionsville.com 317-873-5772
CHINESE FOOD
China Wok 161chinawok.com 317-896-8786
Kings Garden carmelkingsgarden.com 317-573-9999
COFFEE SHOP
RIVET Coffee Bar and Roastery rivetcoffee.com 317-763-0007
The Cake Bake Shop by Gwendolyn Rogers thecakebakeshop.com 317-257-2253
Graeters Ice Cream graeters.com 317-810-1673
DISTILLERY West Fork Whiskey Co. westforkwhiskey.com 317-763-5400
Four Finger Distillery North fourfingerdistillery.com 317-804-5675
DONUTS
Titus Bakery and Deli titusbakery.com 317-763-1700
Pana Donut
Coffee & Boba Tea panadonut.com 317-757-3933
FINE DINING RESTAURANT
Anthonys Chophouse anthonyschophouse.com
317-740-0900
Harry & Izzys harryandizzys.com
317-915-8045
GREEK / MEDITERRANEAN RESTAURANT
ATHENS ON 86th athenson86th.com
317-879-8644
Canal Bistro canal-bistro.com
317-254-8700
The Great Greek Mediterranean thegreatgreekgrill.com/ carmel-in-medical-dr 463-273-1311
HAPPY HOUR
Gold 1933 Lounge by St. Elmo 1933lounge.com
317-758-1933
Kona Grill konagrill.com 317-566-1400
INDIAN RESTAURANT
Amber Indian Restaurant indianindy.com/amber-carmel 317-580-0828
The Monks monkscarmel.com
317-564-8266
ITALIAN RESTAURANT
The Italian House italianhousedining.com
317-804-5619
Capri Italian Restaurant capriindianapolis.com
317-259-4122
JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Nori Japanese Steakhouse noriwestfield.com
317-763-9903
Sakura indysakuraexpress.com
317-259-4171
COME BY OUR SHOWROOM
Restore Your Core Physical Therapy aims to individualize care
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
In Current’s inaugural Best Of Suburban North Indy contest, which recognizes businesses that make local communities thrive, Restore Your Core Physical Therapy won the top honor for physical therapy provider. Restore Your Core Physical Therapy, which has locations in Carmel, Zionsville and Greenwood, offers pelvic floor physical therapy, such as birth preparation, dry needling and cupping, among other services.
ligaments and joints to improve musculoskeletal function and reduce pain, sets it apart from other physical therapy facilities in the area.
“We employ many different treatment techniques and provide individualized exercise programs,” Robinson said. “A lot of the times when you go to physical therapy, they give you exercises to do, and then you come back and do those same exercises. We don’t do that. We check the exercises, but then we give clients new ones. So, everything is very individualized.”
Dr. Amy Robinson, a physical therapist who opened Restore Your Core Physical Therapy in 2016, said it is an out-of-network practice, which means it provides services outside of a health insurance plan’s network.
“I chose to be an out-of-network practice because we get to spend more time with our clients 1-on-1,” Robison said. “We can work our clients through an entire plan of care versus in the insurance-based world, where you can only get patients good enough, and then they make you cut them free. In our business, we see patients until they are better and build some resiliency within their system so (that) their symptoms don’t return.”
Robinson said the practice’s manual therapy, a hands-on treatment that involves manipulation of muscles, tendons,
Robinson said Restore Your Core Physical Therapy staff are specialized in pelvic floor therapy.
“We look at the pelvic floor in a very functional manner,” Robinson said. “When you go to physical therapy school, you’re lucky to get an hour lecture in the field of public health, and you have to go back after physical therapy school to get that education. At our clinic, two of us have nearly 30 years of practice, and we don’t just look at our patients lying on a table. That’s not functional.”
Robinson said the goal is to show patients that Restore Your Core Physical Therapy cares about them as individuals.
“My business has personally grown more from word-of-mouth referrals and less from marketing,” Robinson said. “It feels good that our patients see that we are different from other similar places.”
For more, visit restoreyourcorept.com.
Robinson
LATE NIGHT EATS
The Mill Tavern barwestfield.com 317-399-6972
Melt N Dip meltndip.com 317-827-2120
MEXICAN RESTAURANT
La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant lahaciendaindianapolis.com 317-577-2689
Los Agaves losagavesgrill.com 317-804-9240
PIZZA
Ale Emporium aleemporium.securetree.com 317-288-7394
Bazbeaux Pizza bazbeaux.com 317-848-4488
SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
Monterey Cuisine montereycuisine.com 317-853-2280
noah grants grill house & oyster bar noahgrants.com 317-732-2233
The Shooting Academy, formerly Tim’s Shooting Academy, is more than just a shooting range and licensed firearms dealer.
Located just south of Grand Park in Westfield, The Shooting Academy is a destination for those who shoot and those who are looking to learn.
With the recent rebrand to The Shooting Academy comes a larger selection of firearms and accessories and expanded training course offerings. The indoor range includes 15 total lanes — five dedicated for rifles and 10 for handguns.
In addition to shooting practice, The Shooting Academy offers a number of training courses, including one-on-one training with certified instructors. One of the more popular classes is a ladies-only basic pistol training course.
The main focus at The Shooting Academy is safety — providing proper training on weapons so patrons learn not just how to shoot, but how to be comfortable around their weapons.
Typical customers bring their own guns to the range and purchase ammunition and a target on-site, or they can rent a gun for use within the facility. People who want to purchase or are considering purchasing a weapon can rent one of 50plus guns to try it out on the range and see what feels most comfortable.
The Shooting Academy is open to the public and offers a variety of memberships, ranging from $29 to $65 per
The Shooting Academy has 15 total lanes, with five dedicated for rifles and 10 for handguns. (Photo courtesy of The Shooting Academy)
month. Lanes can be rented for 30- or 60-minute sessions.
The number one benefit of The Shooting Academy over other shooting ranges — the Westfield location is indoors. That means people can participate in practice or training year-round.
The Shooting Academy is at 17777 Commerce Dr. in Westfield. The range is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. The range is closed on Mondays.
The business also considers itself an entertainment destination. Families, including children 12 and older who are accompanied by an adult, are welcome on the range to practice.
While the facility is undergoing rebranding to The Shooting Academy, information is available on the website under its former name, timsshootingacademy.com.
March 18, 2025
Best of Suburban North Indy youarecurrent.com/BestOf2025
GOLD AND SILVER WINNERS
Winners were picked by readers at youarecurrent.com from Jan. 29-Feb. 11 with
GYM/FITNESS CENTER
Roundtripper
Sports Academy roundtripper.com
317-896-2900 studio fitnez studiofitnez.com 317-225-1301
We’re beyond grateful to be voted #1 Yoga/Pilates Studio in Suburban North Indy! Your support means everything, and we’re honored to share our space with you.
At Fire & Flow Yoga, every breath, every movement, and every shared moment weaves us together. Here, you’re not just practicing — you’re part of something bigger.
As a thank you, text, email, or call us — tell us you saw this ad, and you AND a friend get one free class! See you on the mat, where we rise together!
- Greg & Cindi Odle
March 18, 2025
Current Best of Suburban North Indy youarecurrent.com/BestOf2025
Be Well Family Care offers unique patient experience
By Jessica Todd jessica@youarecurrent.com
your vote!
Moms at Sea Travel is honored to be acknowledged as a family cruise resource by our Indianapolis area customers. We thank you for your support and look forward to helping you plan a lifetime of vacations.
Be Well Family Care, a medical clinic at 12430 N Clark St. in Carmel, won top honors for Best Doctor in Current’s inaugural Best Of North Indy 2025 competition.
The facility offers primary care services, such as physicals and pap smears, and introduces patients to community partners such as restaurants, chefs, health coaches and martial arts instructors as resources for healthy lifestyle changes.
The clinic opened in 2017, and Dr. Swathi Rao is owner and medical director. She said her dream was to create a practice dedicated to partnering with patients on their medical journeys.
• Royal Caribbean Partner of the Year
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WE ARE ALSO PROUD TO BE RECOGNIZED AS ROYAL CARIBBEAN’S CENTRAL PARTNER OF THE YEAR
“Oftentimes, you’ll go to family practices when you’re sick or once a year for a physical, but we are striving to find risk factors and treat them before disease happens,” Rao said. “We have much longer office visits with our patients and spend a lot of time getting to know them when they’re healthy, so they don’t get sick.”
The practice’s motto is to “Eat, sleep, move and cook well to be well.” The facility has a kitchen and offers cooking classes, yoga, discussions and a variety of events.
“We do group visits where we cook with our patients and have move-well visits with them,” Rao said. “We bring in local community partners that offer different ways to exercise, eat healthy and de-stress, and we do those classes
with our patients during the day or in the evening as group visits. For our patients, we bill those to insurance, but we invite nonpatients to come and join us in those classes as well.”
Rao said making the relationship between staff at Be Well Family Care into a partnership sets them apart from other area facilities.
“I think a lot of doctors are very authoritative, and we really try to meet patients where they are,” Rao said. “I feel like I only have a limited amount of time with patients to tell them how to improve their life and if I can use that time to help them understand what they need to change in their life, whether it be sleeping, stressing, eating or moving, then that impacts what we’re doing here. It motivates them to make changes, and they understand why they need to make those changes.”
For more, visit bewellfamilycare.com.
The teaching kitchen at Be Well Family Care. (Photo courtesy of Be Well Family Care)
CUSTOM HOME BUILDER
Old Town
Design Group
oldtowndesigngroup.com 317-816-3151
Wedgewood Building Company wedgewoodbc.com 317-669-6300
The Dink House thedinkhouse.com 317-564-0303 The Picklr thepicklr.com 317-936-3465
SHOOTING RANGE
The Shooting Academy formerly Tims ShootingAcademy timsshootingacademy.com 317-399-7918
Atlanta Conservation Club atlantaconservationclub.com SPA Woodhouse Spa carmel.woodhousespas.com 317-706-1300
Carmel Salt Caves carmelsaltcaves.com 317-533-1485
Midwestern bagel chain expands to Fishers
By Lavanya Narayanan news@currentinfishers.com
When Noblesville residents Bret and Heather Couturier opened Indiana’s first Barry Bagels in Carmel’s Clay Terrace nearly a year ago, they planned for it to be the start of something bigger.
FOOD
“We always wanted to expand to another location on the north side and when the Fishers spot became available, we fell in love with the charm of the historic building, complete with the iconic ‘Greetings from Fishers’ mural,” Bret Couturier said.
The new store at 8684 E. 116th St. is in the ever-expanding downtown Nickel Plate District, which Heather Couturier said provides the perfect spot for customers to take a morning walk with a breakfast bagel in hand or to swing by for lunch during a break from work.
With a free parking garage directly behind the storefront, along with a rear entrance, the location was everything the couple was looking for and more.
Opening in Fishers is the start of their overall expansion plan.
“We’d love to expand to Noblesville, should the right location become available,” Bret Couturier said.
The menu includes breakfast sandwiches like the “Eggel,” sides such as macaroni and potato salads, cookies, muffins and 17 different kinds of bagels, including a seasonal flavor and special menu items.
On March 17, for example, they will have a St. Patrick’s Day special corned beef sandwich, along with the brand’s signature St. Patrick’s Day “green bagel.”
Heather Couturier recommends her
Heather and Bret Couturier recently opened their second Barry’s Bagel’s restaurant in downtown Fishers.
(Photo courtesy of Bret Couturier)
favorite menu item — a turkey pastrami sandwich on a cheddar jalapeño bagel, topped with scallion cream cheese and plenty of veggies.
Customers can round out a meal with a dessert bagel. The Couturiers recommend their kids’ favorite — a vanilla cinnamon bagel with brown sugar cream cheese — or the current seasonal offering of a white chocolate caramel bagel.
“Barry Bagels has been family-owned and operated ever since Barry Greenblatt opened the original location in Sylvania, Ohio, where Bret grew up, over 50 years ago,” Heather Couturier said. “All we hope to do is exactly what Barry was known for — supporting the local community and bringing quality food to his neighboring residents.”
To maintain that quality, the bagels are made in small batches throughout the day at the Carmel location.
“Our bagels have no preservatives, and we boil and bake them fresh every day,”
Heather Couturier said.
Barry Bagels is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more, visit barrybagels.com.
Hamilton County athletes help youth hockey teams
By Les Morris news@currentinfishers.com
Two youth hockey teams with strong Hamilton County ties grabbed state hockey championships in February.
ACHIEVEMENT
The Indiana Youth Hockey Association’s 12U Jr. Fuel Black team and the 14U Jr. Fuel Black team took home the hardware with dramatic victories in contests played at the Fuel Tank at Fishers on Feb. 2.
The 12U team earned a 2-1 shootout win over the Columbus Flames in the championship match. The Junior Fuel scored first, and goalie Ian Gatton of Noblesville prevented Columbus from scoring a goal.
“He’s a different level of hockey player,” coach Joe Dillon said of Gatton, citing his poise and athleticism as keys to his netminding abilities.
Dillon is a Fishers resident who is in his fifth year of coaching in the IYHA. He “double-dipped” with ties to both championship teams — his son Brooks plays on the 12U squad, and his son Blake is on the 14U team.
The 12U team began playing in September 2024 and started slowly. Dillon said it wasn’t until the beginning of January that things started to turn around.
“It takes a little time to adjust to the speed and style of play,” he said. “We play a physical style, and we want them to take the body. We want to separate the puck from the body.”
Dillon said that up until this point players are used to keeping their eyes on the puck but that needs to change with the increasing physical demands of the game.
Hockey’s physical nature was even more pronounced for the 14U team as this level is the first to incorporate checking or body hits into the game. This was also a very young and inexperienced group — only five of the 17 players had played in this age division the year before with checking in place.
“It’s a totally different game,” 14U coach Ken Boone said. “You have to be aggressive, but you have to absorb aggression and take hits and make plays on the tail end while you’re getting hit. It’s a hard thing. It’s been a learning process.”
His 14U team also bested the Columbus Flames in a shootout, 3-2, for the state title, after tying the game in regulation on a goal with 20 seconds left to play.
The Indiana Youth Hockey Association 14U Jr. Fuel Black team celebrates its title win. (Photos courtesy of Joe Dillon)
The Indiana Youth Hockey Association 12U Jr. Fuel Black team celebrates its title win.
ONCE IN A LIFETIME
Fishers residents experience Hindu festival that takes place every 144 years
By Leila Kheiry leila@youarecurrent.com
The Hindu Kumbh Mela festival takes place every few years on the banks of holy rivers in four Indian cities, during which worshippers bathe in nearby rivers to wash away sins in hopes of attaining salvation.
But there are different Kumbh Mela festivals, depending on the alignment of Jupiter, the sun and Earth’s moon. And the festival this year, which took place mid-January through the end of February, happens only once every 144 years. Knowing this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Fishers residents Indumathi and Mani Subramaniam decided to join millions of Hindus who traveled to Prayagraj, a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, to celebrate.
Mani Subramaniam said they flew into Delhi Feb. 12 and then took a train to Prayagraj, which is the only city where this special Kumbh Mela is celebrated.
“It was expected that there would be around 400 to 450 million people attending this,” he said. “So, we had to book a tent — there is something called a tent city. The whole place was divided into about 25 sectors with about roughly around 25 tents in each sector.”
That was in addition to other tent areas and all the hotels, which were booked throughout the roughly six-week festival. Like the Subramaniams, many visitors stayed only a few days, although some stayed the entire time. Mani Subramaniam said it was very busy and crowded, and the car ride from the train station to the tent city — about 16 miles — took more than three hours.
Indumathi Subramaniam, who goes by Indu, said the most important part of the festival is taking a dip in the Triveni Sangam, a confluence of three sacred rivers.
“Taking that is supposed to be one of the most purifying, as well as supposed to be contributing to a more spiritual … growth of a person,” she said. “Having this, what they call the bath, or the snan, or the holy dip, is actually the highlight of what we do. We were lucky that we spent three days there and all three days we were able to go down, take a boat, go down and have
a bath.”
Because of the crowds, many boats that take people to the bathing spot are booked, which can limit how often people can go.
Mani Subramaniam said despite the millions of people converging on this one spot, the government did a good job managing the crowds. He said major universities in the United States sent teams in to
observe the crowd-management efforts, which included building tent cities and temporary roads in areas that are dry beds now but will fill with water after snow starts melting in the Himalayas and the annual monsoon season begins.
“The rain starts pouring in and at that time, the river stretches to about four times its width,” he said. “They had a narrow window after the water dries to
prepare this and they had done a very good job.”
Tent city reservations included meals in a central dining area, which also offered evening concerts each night.
Besides bathing in the river, the Subramaniams saw some of the holy people — sadhus — who have renounced the material world but venture into populated areas during holy festivals. There also were temples nearby, but the couple stayed away from those because of the crowds. Despite the abundance of people, Indu Subramaniam said it was a relaxing trip.
Indu Subramaniam explained the importance of the Kumbh Mela festivals for Hindus. She said Jupiter plays a crucial role in determining the timing and significance of the festival.
“It takes approximately 12 years for Jupiter to orbit the sun, which forms the foundation for the Maha Kumbh Mela’s occurrence,” she said. “Jupiter enters specific zodiac signs and aligns with the sun and moon in a particular set of astrological positions, making it the holiest period in Hinduism.”
The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela marks the completion of 12 Kumbh Mela cycles,
which take 144 years. The Kumbh Mela festival rotates between the cities of Prayagraj, Haridwar, Nashik and Ujjain — some years the festival is held in all four cities — but the 144-year festival takes place only in Prayagraj.
Those cities are important because of an ancient Hindu story.
“The origin is based on the duel between the Devas — gods — and Asuras — opposite of the gods — for the nectar of immortality,” Subramaniam said. “Four drops of the nectar of immortality fell in these four cities and therefore they gained great spiritual significance.”
“We came for a (spiritual) purpose — we wanted to do that wholeheartedly,” she said. “We didn’t do anything in a very rushed fashion or anything like that. We took our time. We would go at the appropriate time to have a bath … come back, kind of relax, reflect. That was all we did in those three days that we were there.”
THE MAHA KUMBH MELA
ON THE COVER: From left, Indumathi and Mani Subramaniam, in the river at the Triveni Sangam, a confluence of sacred rivers, where Hindu worshippers celebrate the Maha Kumbh Mela festival. (Photo courtesy of Mani Subramaniam)
Indumathi and Mani Subramaniam at the tent city in Prayagraj, a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. The tent city was built for worshippers traveling to celebrate the Hindu Maha Kumbh Mela festival. (Photos courtesy of Mani Subramaniam)
Mani and Indumathi Subramaniam take a boat to the site where Hindu worshippers celebrate the Maha Kumbh Mela.
Drummer Palmer brings music of ELP to the Palladium
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
Emerson, Lake & Palmer is considered a pioneer of progressive rock.
The English supergroup formed in 1970 with keyboardist Keith Emerson, guitarist-vocalist Greg Lake and drummer Carl Palmer.
Emerson and Lake died in 2016, but Palmer is making sure the music lives on with the “An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer” tour, which stops at 8 p.m. March 21 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel.
Palmer, who turns 75 March 20, plays drums with actual footage of his late bandmates on screens.
“It’s all in perfect sync. It’s something we’ve been working on for a long time,” he said. “We’ve played some classic songs like ‘Lucky Man,’ ‘From the Beginning,’ Welcome Back My Friends’ and ‘Paper Blood.’ It’s a great thrill playing with Keith and Greg again.”
The footage is from a DVD recording of a 1992 concert at Royal Albert Hall in London.
“We just removed the drums,” Palmer said. “The audio tracks were recorded separately, completely separately to the visuals, which meant I could edit all the visuals to get me out of the frame. Then I could replace the drums, which means, technically, (the concert) is being mixed live in every hall.”
Simon Fitzpatrick on bass and Chapman Stick and Paul Bielatowicz on guitar provide live support.
“It’s quite an immersive experience,” Palmer said. “It’s very new and no one else is really doing it in this capacity. I’m playing about six pieces with Keith and Greg. That part runs about 50 minutes. Simon plays ‘Pictures at an Exhibition.’ It’s quite an interesting show.”
Palmer plays “Tarkus” with Fitzpatrick and Bielatowicz. There are guitar and
Chapman Stick solos. There are three screens.
“We can take one of the screens and we can show some vintage footage of that time period,” Palmer said.
Palmer said one of the more time-consuming parts was removing himself from all the footage on the DVD. It took eight to 10 weeks of editing, two to four days each week.
“The first three weeks were a little difficult because seeing these guys on my computer was a little strange,” Palmer said. “It was emotional. But I didn’t want to use a hologram. I wanted to use these guys at their best and this is Keith Emerson and Greg Lake at their best. I think it’s the way they would have wanted it, which is even more important.”
Palmer said he ran the whole project by the families of Emerson and Lake to get their blessing, which he received.
“They love it,” Palmer said of the concerts, which began in late 2022.
“It’s got a quality to it. It’s genuine. It’s real. We’re getting a cross demographic. We’re getting some people in their late 20s. (Maybe) grandfather was a fan to start off with. I’m really enjoying it and
it’s great having Simon and Paul out there and playing the rest of the catalog with them.”
Palmer said he found a couple of other pieces he could add to the show but wants to check with the families first.
“We’re improving it all the time. It’s an ongoing project,” he said.
Palmer said he uses AI to clean up some of the graininess on the footage and get it in sync.
“Technology has been on my side,” Palmer said. “This is laying down a blueprint. I’m sure there will be other people if they are fortunate enough to have the material, the videos, the audio lines, other people might follow this way.”
Palmer was a member of Atomic Rooster and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown before ELP formed. He later became a founding member of Asia in 1981. ELP reunited in 1991 and recorded two more albums and toured between 1992 and 1998. The group’s final performance was in 2010 to mark its 40th anniversary.
For more, visit carlpalmer.com. For tickets, visit elptickets.com and thecenterpresents.org.
‘JERSEY BOYS’
“Jersey Boys” runs through April 13 at Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit beefandboards.com.
CIVIC THEATRE
Civic Theatre presents “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” through March 29 at the Studio Theater at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit civictheatre. org.
FEINSTEIN’S CABARET
“I Want My 80s: A Totally Tubular Party” is set for March 20, followed by “Indy Nights with Ryan Ahlwardt and Friends” March 21 at Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel. Both performances are at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit feinsteinshc.com.
‘BOOKSTORE’
The Cat presents “Bookstore” from March 21 to 30 at The Cat, 254 Veterans Way, Carmel. For more, visit thecat.biz.
TEGE HOLT
Carmel High School junior Tege Holt will hold an official album release party and performance at 7 p.m. March 20 at The Tarkington at the Allied Solutions Center. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org.
GRUPO NICHE
Grupo Niche, a Colombian salsa orchestra, will perform at 8 p.m. March 22 at the Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center. For more, visit carmelsymphony.org.
INDY OPERA
Indianapolis Opera’s 50th Anniversary gala concert is set for 7:30 p.m. March 22 at Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis. For more, visit indyopera.org.
DISPATCH
Marx to headline Center Celebration gala — Singer-songwriter Richard Marx will deliver a solo performance as headliner for the Sept. 20 Center Celebration 2025 presented by Ice Miller, the annual gala fundraiser for Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. For more, visit thecenterpresents.org
Drummer Carl Palmer will perform An Evening with Emerson, Lake & Palmer concert March 21 at the Palladium in Carmel. (Photo courtesy of Carl Palmer)
Singer true to the blues
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
ZZ Ward was born into the blues.
“My dad did a deep dive into the blues with his garage cover band, discovering Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton and Son House,” she said. “I was daddy’s girl and impressionable. He and my mom would listen to blues records around the house and it’s what I grew up with. My dad would always encourage me to sing in front of people.”
By age 12, she was performing on stage with him.
Ward, 38, will perform as part of her “Dirty Sun” tour at 8 p.m. March 25 at The Tobias Theater inside Newfields in Indianapolis.
Her fourth album, “Liberation,” was due to be released March 14 by her label Dirty Shine and Sun Records. “Liberation” is a mix of covers and original songs. Dirty Shine has become a name for her fan base.
“It’s something that means being your
ZZ Ward will perform March 25 at The Tobias Theater at Newfields in Indianapolis (Photo courtesy of Charlie Ward)
authentic self, even if you don’t quite fit in,” Ward said. “Even if it’s dirty or rough around the edge, it means shining and being yourself.”
Ward, whose first name is Zsuzsanna, was familiar with Sun Records’ history.
“I knew a lot of the artists on Sun Records -- Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Howlin’ Wolf and the legacy of Sun Records,” she said. “I made the album independently before a call from Sun Records was interested. It made perfect sense for the place I am in my music career.”
For more, visit tobiastheater.com.
‘Bagrock’ lands in Carmel
By Mark Ambrogi mark@youarecurrent.com
It’s billed as bagpipes with an attitude.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are bringing their unique brand of “bagrock” to The Tarkington at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel for a concert at 7 p.m. March 23.
PERFORMANCE
The band mixes bagpipes with the covers of popular songs from all genres.
The band is known for performing reimagined classics like “Amazing Grace” and “The Hills of Argyll” or rocked-up anthems such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and AC/ DC’s “Thunderstruck.”
Willie Armstrong co-founded the Scotland band in 2002. The group’s popularity took off after winning the BBC talent show, “When Will I be Famous?” in 2007.
The nine-piece group features bagpipes, guitars, keyboards and drums. It recently released its ninth album, “Back to Roots,” which gives a nod to its original bagpipe roots with an added rock element. Armstrong said the group performs more than 200 shows annually.
Willie Armstrong is a cofounder of Red Hot Chilli Pipers. (Photo courtesy of Kerr Armstrong)
“We remain on tour constantly in America in this time period,” Armstrong said. “Nowadays, you can’t rely on your royalties and making money from your recorded albums because of the Spotify influence.
Armstrong said the group invites feedback from the audience on what songs they enjoyed the most.
“The show is always evolving and making sure the audience is getting looked after (is important) because they’re the ones that spent the money on the tickets and spent the time to travel to see the band,” he said.
For more, visit rhcp.scot. For tickets, visit thecenterpresents.org.
Blueprint for Improvement: Zionsville master bath transformation
Commentary by Larry Greene
Built on 3 acres in Hunt Country Preserve, this home by Brad Bowman of Homes by Design needed a primary bathroom update to match its grandeur. Through a thoughtful renovation blending modern elegance with timeless charm, the result is a stunning space that enhances both aesthetics and functionality. The transformation has created a luxurious and inviting retreat, providing the homeowners with a serene sanctuary that elevates their daily experience.
THE BLUEPRINT
• The once dark and dated bathroom now boasts a sophisticated, airy design.
• Rich wood cabinetry was swapped for light oak, enhancing the soft, metallic plaster walls and adding depth as they shift in color with the light.
• The addition of gold accents, sleek mirrors and elegant lighting brings warmth and luxury.
• A refined quartzite backsplash and spacious double vanity create a spa-like retreat.
• Every detail was thoughtfully curated, turning this space into a timeless sanctuary.
Larry Greene is the owner of Worthington Design & Remodeling (formerly Case). You may email him at lgreene@worthingtonindy.com or visit worthingtonindy.com for more remodeling inspiration and advice.
Prejudice 5. Butler frat letter 10. Ind., for one 14. Civil rights org. 15. Sophia of “Two Women” 16. Geist Reservoir marker
17. Hoosier Park jockey’s control
18. In debt
19. Ready, willing and ___
20. Two-time Masters champ
23. Celtics, on a Pacers scoreboard
24. Sales pitch
25. Caribbean island
27. Indiana State Fair woolly beast
31. Slowly, in music 34. Letters before QIA+
Poses
Sow’s sound
40. ___ de cologne
41. “It’d be my pleasure”
43. Old AT&T rival
44. Set securely
46. Mideast title
47. ZCHS transcript stats
48. Nonconformists
50. The “)” in :-)
52. Similar
54. Tarkington play place
58. Caribou’s kin
60. Name on frozen ground beef patties at Meijer
64. Meaningless
66. Sierra ___
67. Deserve
68. Pressing need
69. Danish currency
70. PNC Bank machines
71. Fishers HS mid-term exam, e.g.
72. Guitar attachment
73. “___ we forget”
1. Zingers
2. Freeze over
3. Suspect’s defense
4. Snowbird’s destination
5. Road sign
6. Big Ten university
7. Pluck
8. High-IQ set
9. Kind of wool
10. Pacers’ first org.
11. Seafood chain inspired by a Hanks film
Tie type
Shapiro’s loaves
100 percent 22. Gentle push
26. Noblesville’s Silver Dollar, e.g.
28. Syst. with hand gestures
29. 1,760 yards
30. Physics units
32. Ancient Peruvian
33. Big name in elevators
34. Creepy look
35. Colts event
36. New burrito place on East 82nd Street
38. Do laps at the Carmel Waterpark
41. Go off script
42. X-ray alternative
45. White River snaky fish
47. “You can’t be serious!”
49. Moves stealthily
51. Baton Rouge sch.
53. “Your Movie Sucks” author
55. Precious stone
56. Lysol target
57. ___ & Young (accounting firm)
58. Give off
59. Traditional tales
61. Uncultured one
62. Palindromic girl’s name
Horn sound
Explosive letters Answers on Page 19
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