The season can be enjoyed in many ways, but this corner of the Hoosier State puts its own spin on summer magic. We played some John Mellencamp and Tom Petty for inspiration and curated experiences you’ll be reminiscing about fpor years to come.
Adventure Awaits
Large and small destinations packed with fun are within a half-day’s drive of Evansville. Discover what awaits in music-minded Memphis, Tennessee; art-filled Cincinnati, Ohio; relaxing Brown County, Indiana; and eclectic Paducah, Kentucky.
Custom-Made Dreams
Todd Kempf envisioned a home like no other for himself and his wife, Sally — then, he built it himself. Discover the Kempfs’ woodsy paradise with a fortress for a yard, a bedroom tucked into a silo, and room to indulge a passion for classic cars.
10 In Every Issue
From the Editor: Summer’s in session — my way … Zoo standouts, and more things we learned while producing this issue … Conversations with readers … Meet this issue’s contributors … Where in the world is Evansville Living? Subscriber of the Issue Jeanne Ellenstein keeps tabs on the River City … ‘Sack Race With Knives’ enjoys a warm welcome at film festivals
19 The Bend
Nikki and Bob Davis trade city lights for farm fields … Political cartoonist James MacLeod tips his hat to good news … Tag along as Penelope and Darrell Pennington travel the world … What it’s like to take an Indiana Master Naturalist course … Lincoln City tourism gets a boost … The legacy of a ‘30s oil boom bubbles back to the surface … Germania Maennerchor gives a hearty “Prost!” to 125 years … Day School’s Class of ’75 recreates its senior portrait … Cynthia Watson moves emotions with her paintbrush … Who holds the keys to the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science’s permanent collection? … Plus, set your schedule with our events calendar
71 Dwell
How Susan and Patrick Tromley turned their backyard into a shady sanctuary … Standout Downtown Newburgh properties get public praise … This listed home exudes elegant cottage charm … One hundred years on, the Garden Club of Henderson keeps flourishing … Plus, don’t miss the Home of the Issue
83 Savor
Amanda Benson’s vintage Pyrex collection makes the case for “dopamine decor” … That lettuce in your restaurant salad may come from the West Side’s Moonlight Hollow Farm … Dining at Turoni’s Forget-Me-Not Inn comes with a side of magic … Think you can choose from this Owensboro bourbon bar’s 600-plus selections? … Wrap it up with our directory of area restaurants, eateries, bars, and caterers
136 Final Detail
Shucking corn produced sticky hands and a lifetime of memories
19
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5
Editor & Publisher
Kristen K. Tucker
President, Tucker Publishing Group, Inc.
Todd A. Tucker
Editorial
Jodi Keen
Managing Editor
John Martin
Senior Writer
Maggie Valenti Staff Writer
Design
Laura Mathis
Creative Director
Chanda Ramsey Art Director
Sarah Morgason
Senior Graphic Designer
Brodie Curtsinger
Photography Fellow
Advertising
Jessica Hoffman
Senior Account Executive
Jennifer Rhoades
Senior Account Executive
Logen Sitzman
Sales and Marketing Coordinator
Kendyl Brown Advertising Intern
Circulation
Gregg Martin
Distribution and Circulation Manager
Contributors
Zach Evans, Katie Henrichs
Jason Hoffman, Charles Kiesel
Amy Lynch, Michelle Mastro
Penelope and Darrell Pennington
Chuck and Donna Stinnett
Zach Straw, Timothy Weir
Casey and Corey Wilkinson
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions are $18 for one year; $24 for two years; or $30 for three years. To start a new subscription, renew an existing subscription, or to change your address, visit elb.magserv.com; call 812-641-5919 or 818-286-3122 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday; or send an email to elbcs@magserv.com.
CALENDAR ITEMS, COMMUNITY UPDATES, AND DINING GUIDE
Email events@evansvilleliving.com information NO LATER than eight weeks prior to the magazine cover date. Details may be edited or deleted for space.
ADVERTISING
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MISSION STATEMENT
The staff of Evansville Living strives to inform, instruct, amuse, and entertain our readers, helping them get the most out of living in Evansville and the surrounding area. With each issue, we provide a targeted audience of active, well-educated consumers for our advertisers. We look to positively chronicle the many unique aspects of living in Evansville and the Tri-State to benefit our community.
Summer’s in Session — My Way A SEASON OF DISCOVERIES
Summers were always special growing up in our house. With both of my parents being schoolteachers, the season took on a different rhythm — slower mornings, afternoons spent exploring, and a feeling that the world had exhaled just a bit. Without the structure of the school year, our days stretched wide with possibility, filled with impromptu road trips, long visits to the McCollough branch of the then-named Evansville Public Library system, and plenty of time outside. Those carefree summer months, free from bells and lesson plans (though my income from helping grade papers for my schoolteacher parents was lost in the summer), shaped my love for the season. The appeal of free summers was not enough to lead me down the paths chosen by my parents, and in the magazine publishing business, deadlines continue through these three months. But my childhood continues to color how I experience summertime in Evansville — where the days are long, the pace softens, and there is plenty to discover.
That’s the feeling we strived to evoke with the “Summer’s Funner in Southern Indiana” feature story beginning on page 38. (Credit for the catchy coverline goes to the talented Wilkinson Brothers, Evansville natives now living and working in Fishers and Carmel, Indiana, who completed the cover illustration.) You don’t have to have long stretches of free time to enjoy the 18 tips Evansville Living staff dreamed up for a fun Southern Indiana summer. Start by sequestering yourself with this issue on your porch or patio or under that favorite tree!
Of course, summer fun can be had around and outside of the Hoosier State. If you’re looking for a getaway that doesn’t involve boarding a plane, we have you covered with “Hit the Road,” beginning on page 32. Indiana-based writers Amy Lynch and Michelle Mastro take us to four regional destinations worth considering for easy, drivable getaways. My family understood the assignment: Recently, I was surprised with a birthday weekend trip to Brown County, Indiana. (I was especially surprised when my sons, Maxwell, living in Indianapolis, and Jackson, living in Louisville, showed up unexpectedly at the hotel door.) We stayed at the Abe Martin Lodge in the Brown County State Park, enjoyed a great dinner at the Nashville Chop House located in the Hotel Nashville, strolled the charming streets of Nashville and stopped in for a wine tasting at Brown County Winery Tasting Room, and topped off the weekend at Hard Truth Distilling Co. for a special event. The Charred Truth World Food Championships Live Fire Invitational brought together barbecue chefs from across the country for a fiery culinary competition featuring Indiana pork, Hard Truth spirits, tastings of both, and live music from Hard Truth’s On The Rocks stage in a natural amphitheater. Another benefit of summer, at least for me? A June birthday!
As always, I look forward to hearing from you!
Kristen K. Tucker Editor & Publisher
It’s always the perfect time to uncover treasures in our neck of the woods. In this issue, we’re tipping our cap to Berta (page 40), a longtime resident of Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden who, at 58, is the oldest known Bornean gibbon in the world!
The great interest that sprang from a story about eagles in the May/June issue led birder and photographer Charles Kiesel to ask if we’d heard of the 1930s oil “gusher” in Griffin, Indiana (page 23). We hadn’t! Now we know what launched the area’s oil industry.
Talk about valuable commodities: The Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science contains a staggering 45,000plus items in its permanent collection (page 28), with artifact origins dating back to the 1904 World’s Fair in Saint Louis, Missouri. Find an inside scoop on the museum’s next exhibit featuring previously unseen items in Timothy Weir’s story.
At Bob and Nikki Davis’ farm, we met the couple’s bevy of animals, including oneeyed calf Juney. It’s been quite a lifestyle change for the family (page 19), but there’s no turning back: “I am so grateful to be in this place,” Nikki says.
— John Martin
Berta the Bornean gibbon
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p Front row, left to right: Greg Folz, Scott Harris, Audrie Burkett, Zach Martin, Donna Taylor, Susi Racine
Back row, left to right: Sally Fedolfi, Matt Heseman, Evan Beck, Christy Vondersaar, Nate Nord, Chris Jackson, Matt Williams, Susan Bohrnstedt, Brian Myrick
Photo Credit: Redd Photography
“We are so honored to not only be selected as one of Evansville’s Most Beautiful Homes, but to be on the cover! Wow, wow, wow!
Thanks again for a wonderful photo and write up!”
Jake and Janell Bessler, Evansville
Living in Color
May/June 2025
Staff Writer Maggie Valenti dotted every “i” and crossed every “t” exactly the way we explained it — she made it interesting to read. Zach Straw’s photos were even beyond our expectations. Our thanks to Evansville Living for a wonderful experience.
Carmen Mazick and Kathy Small, Evansville
Eagle Eye
May/June 2025
I love birds of prey and loved reading about local areas to look for eagles. My husband and I moved here three years ago from Southeast Michigan, and it’s great to have this resource of local information.
Cindy Jackson, Evansville
Measuring Up
May/June 2025
That is one terrific piece of metric flop artwork! Wow! That just shines enough to make people want to read the article. Thank you!
Anthony Head, San Marcos, Texas
Renaissance Woman
May/June 2025
Erin Lewis is an All Star on every level! So happy to see her featured here. Thank you, Evansville Living
Ange Humphrey, Evansville
On Air
Just saw your interview on WNIN. Bravo! You did a wonderful program. All good wishes for the next 25 years! Thank you for your dedication to covering the arts and culture in our community.
Mary Bower, director emerita, Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science
Learning the Ropes
Thank you for hosting us, showing us your office, and telling us all about the many aspects of publishing!
Shanna Kelly and the North Posey Junior High School spring 2025 yearbook class
On Mission
Thank you for your generous donation to the 2025 Youth First Benefit Auction. As a Youth First volunteer, I see how this life-changing work supports kids and families every day. Your support makes it all possible.
Ben Heppner, Newburgh
Lending a Paw
Thank you so very much for your contribution to our annual auction. You helped make the event a huge success. We appreciate your support.
Vanderburgh Humane Society Auction Committee, Evansville
Brodie Curtsinger
“When I walked into the door of Amanda Benson’s house, I knew I was about to hear a fun story.”
A rising senior at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Brodie Curtsinger has snapped images of farm animals, fine dining establishments, and more during his photography fellowship at Tucker Publishing Group, Inc. Check out his photos of a vintage Pyrex collection on page 83.
Charles Kiesel
“I discovered the oil gusher story after visiting the Griffin Memorial Park. My first interest was in finding a photograph. The gusher was capped within minutes, so no photographs were taken.”
Former social studies and science teacher Charles Kiesel’s photographs of American bald eagles ran in the May/June 2025 issue. Soon after, he shared the tale of an oil well that sprang up in Posey County in the 1930s. He chronicles the Griffin gusher on page 23.
Timothy Weir
“How exciting to get a sneak peek at the museum’s gems, with Kaman Hillenburg as our sparkling guide.”
Retired following a four-decade career in public relations, Timothy Weir is passionate about the arts. His behind-the-scenes look at the permanent collection of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science begins on page 28.
Snapshots
Head of the Class
North Posey Junior High School yearbook students and their instructor, Shanna Kelly, picked up the 25th anniversary issue of Evansville Living during a May 8 visit to Tucker Publishing Group, Inc.
Grand Views
Meghan Stratton, formerly of Newburgh, Indiana, and Maxwell Tucker, formerly of Evansville, took advantage of Aer Lingus’ new air service direct from Indianapolis to Dublin, Ireland, in May. The Indianapolis residents spent a week on the Emerald Isle and brought the March/April issue with them to the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare.
Hang This In The Louvre
Plainfield, Indiana, residents Cindy and Dave Morgason showed off the March/April issue — and the hard work of their daughter, Senior Graphic Designer Sarah Morgason — when visiting Paris, France in April. The couple is pictured in front of the Louvre Pyramid.
The Way Home
A Fehrenbacher family reunion drew more than 50 relatives from the U.S. to Schuttertal, Germany, in September 2024. Among them were Evansville residents Mary K. and Bob Fehrenbacher, Sharon Fehrenbacher Baumgart, Beverly Fehrenbacher Adler, and Joe and Jane Fehrenbacher, who packed the July/August 2024 issue with them on a visit to the family’s original farm in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg.
Hawaiian Hideaway
Owensboro, Kentucky, residents Mark and Laura Mathis visited friends in Hawaii in May. As Creative Director of Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., Laura was heavily involved in the new look of the redesigned March/April issue, which accompanied the couple to Waimānalo Beach on the island of Oahu.
YOU MAY RECOGNIZE Jeanne Ellenstein’s name from when she and late husband Donald owned 16 area jewelry shops under the Ellenstein Stores Inc. umbrella or from one of the theme parties she loved hosting. Perhaps she introduced you to late Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan or late actor Ron Glass, both University of Evansville graduates whom she befriended as a longtime UE supporter. She also made a name for herself as an advocate for civil rights, taking on the Ross Theater when Black residents couldn’t go to movies there.
But no matter how you know Jeanne, one thing is clear: She adores her hometown. Since moving to Austin, Texas, in 2010, Evansville Living has helped her keep tabs on the River City. A recent favorite was the December 2022/ January 2023 cover story of sister publication Evansville Business featuring her late friend John David Lutz, the longtime UE Theatre Department educator.
The Benjamin Bosse High School alumna turns 101 on July 15 and counts her blessings. “It’s been a great life,” Jeanne says, via son Dave Ellenstein and daughter Susan Scarlett. “You can wake up happy or wake up sad, so you might as well wake up happy.”
– John Martin
A Winning Streak
Documentary on local artist receives international film festival accolades
By Maggie Valenti
Since “Sack Race with Knives: The Curious Art of Kevin Titzer” debuted in November 2023, the short documentary has been selected for 22 film festivals internationally and won seven awards. This was not the response director Jordan Barclay imagined.
“I didn’t expect that many official selections. I didn’t expect any wins,” says Barclay, who also served as the film’s cinematographer and producer.
When Evansville Living first wrote about the film in the September/October 2023 issue, Barclay was just starting to roll out the film, which chronicles Titzer’s 2018 quickly assembled sculpture installation at the University of Southern Indiana. The 25-minute film also features the work of editor Thomas Bernadin, musician Ryan Grisham of the indie punk rock band Mock Orange, director of graphics Aaron Tanner, and gaffer and additional cinematographer Mark Fischer.
The film began racking up wins in 2024. For his work on “Sack Race with Knives,” Barclay won Best Documentary Director at both the Atlanta (Georgia) Documentary Film Festival and Bare Bones International Film Festival in Muskogee, Oklahoma, as well as Best First Time Filmmaker at the Beyond the Curve International Film Festival in Paris, France. The film earned Best Documentary Short awards at the Fine Arts Film Festival in Los Angeles, California, Sky Arts Film Festival in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Tennessee International Indie Film Festival in Franklin. At Evansville’s own Victory International Film Festival, it took home the prize for Best Documentary.
Barclay is most proud of being part of the official selection in the Indy Shorts International Film Festival for films that premiered in Indiana, an Academy Awards-qualifying film festival. “Just to be nominated to qualify
for the Oscars is huge,” Barclay says. “My goal is to get into more Oscars-qualifying film festivals.”
REAL MUSIC VARIETY
SILVER SCREEN Jordan Barclay (second from right) celebrates his Best Documentary prize for “Sack Race with Knives: The Curious Art of Kevin Titzer” at the 2024 Victory International Film Festival in Evansville. Since its debut in 2023, the short film has appeared at 22 festivals.
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The Bend
POINT OF VIEW
HOMESTEAD ROOTS
After eight years living in Olde Town’s historic John W. Boehne House, Bob and Nikki Davis are embracing farm life northwest of the city. Inspired by Nikki’s family’s farming background and craving quiet, the Davises (he’s a State Farm insurance agent, she sells real estate with F.C. Tucker Emge) built a new home and are finding peace in their gardens, woods, lake, and their stock of animals, including a special one-eyed calf.
‘Learn as You Go’
Nikki and Bob Davis transition their family from urban to rural living
By John Martin, with Brodie Curtsinger
What led you to make the dramatic lifestyle change of buying nearly 14 acres and establishing a farm?
Due to life and health factors, we felt that moving back out to the West Side and into the country would be beneficial to our family. I have severe migraines and other chronic pain issues, so the goal was to make a change into a more sustainable lifestyle that would allow us time and space to get away from the hustle and bustle of town and to work on improved health, primarily focusing on switching from fewer processed foods to more homegrown and whole foods.
How was that decision influenced by your family history?
My grandfather, J.C. Brettin, and his father, Christoph Wilhelm Johan Brettin, were farmers. My mom said that my great-grandfather had a dairy herd and farmed 260 acres. I was born in Manhattan, Kansas, but when my parents got divorced, my mom moved back to LaPorte, Indiana, to that same farm property, albeit much smaller. My childhood memories were of my grandfather and his cows being moved back and forth. I did not picture myself doing anything like this in my adulthood, but I am so grateful to be in this place. I’ve pretty much turned into my grandparents and my dad since moving out here.
Tell us about your gardening goals.
we have added perennial options, including fruit trees, asparagus, strawberries, and three grapevine rows.
First is our food gardening. Some of our most bountiful plants have been tomatoes, peppers, and lettuces. We also love growing potatoes, which has been a very simple staple to grow. We have implemented multiple different containers over the last two summers to grow them in, including milk crates and dollar store laundry baskets, as well as our new wire “potato tower,” all of which have been extremely successful using a “lasagna method” of layering straw, soil, and farm collected compost. We haven’t been quite as successful at melons, but every summer is a new adventure, and perfecting that and adding other staples like corn, broccoli, and cauliflower on the list to master are on the agenda. In addition to the existing mulberry trees and blackberries,
SWEET HOMECOMING
The Davises’ farm is home to five rescue dogs, one rescue cat, a dozen-plus chickens, three donkeys, and four goats, with two more goats scheduled to join the farm this summer. An addition this spring was a calf with a soft brown coat, a sweet disposition, and only one eye — “she was born that way,” Nikki says. Juney was an early Mother’s Day present from a friend’s farm and has been warmly welcomed by the Davises’ other animals. “She will grow to be 1,000 pounds, and she will never see a slaughterhouse,” Bob says. “She’ll be spoiled for the rest of her life.”
Next is the “farm side” of the property, where I have been trying to create a flower farm. We have thousands of daffodils that come up every spring, and we also have tilled and planted sunflowers and zinnias each summer. I switched over to adding a lot of perennials that I didn’t have to replant year to year, including different varieties of small rose bushes, dahlias, irises, blackeyed Susans, and lilies. Ideally, I would like to set up something more formal on that side of the farm for the flowers, but until we can run water over there, it’s very much a “plant it and give it to God” methodology that relies on good soil composition and well-timed rains to work each summer.
What’s your favorite part of your new lifestyle?
The peace that living out in a mostly rural area brings and the satisfaction of knowing where my food comes from. After investing in a dehydrator, I am looking forward to preserving much more food this year. In 2023, we canned over 200 pounds of tomatoes. In 2024, we canned over 400 pounds of tomatoes to keep as food reserves and to share with friends. So, it all becomes a learning process and about teaching yourself new things. Some things work great, and others need time, attention, and practice to perfect, and you have to be willing to learn as you go!
PHOTOS
Nikki Davis feeds some of her family’s barnyard animals.
Juney was born with only one eye
Nikki’s grandfather J.C. Brettin
AROUND THE WORLD
Life On The Road
Penningtons’ nomadic life suits their new chapter
Darrell and Penelope Pennington made good on their goal to travel the world, as detailed in the July/August 2024 issue. Since listing their home and selling most of their belongings, the couple has visited a dozen countries. In this series, Penelope — who quips she’s “a broad abroad” — shares missives from the road.
“Life is good.” How many times have I thought that lately?
Eight months ago, my husband and I boarded a ship for a one-way voyage to Europe and, after 27 years living in Evansville, embarked on a purposefully nomadic life. Since Oct. 24, we have visited 30-plus cities, walked more than 1.6 million steps, snowmobiled in Norway, hiked hills in Ibiza, and marveled at mosques in Spain.
We planned by deciding how much money we wanted to spend overall, how long we wanted to travel, and what countries and cities fit our budget. A tremendous help has been pet- and house-sitting. There were many established networks of Facebook groups dedicated to that approach to travel; we went with one called TrustedHousesitters. It works similarly to a dating app! Pet- and homeowners put their profiles online. We post our own profile, search by date and location, and then apply for a sit, frequently “interviewing” over a video call. Sitting allows us to stay in someone’s home — taking care of it, their pets, and plants — and, in exchange, our room and board are free.
Our daily routines have changed so much since we left the States. Darrell’s duties are taking care of the house and cooking; I tend to the animals and water plants. I am really liking this switch. Retiring five years ago, I had pets, a house, gardening, and cooking, while
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Darrell had an office and a clean home to come to. Now, I get to play with animals (with the occasional hairball) while he vacuums and does the cooking and cleaning. It’s working out great; one January night in Leominster, England, Darrell was cooking Chinese chicken for dinner while I had time to write in my journal and relax. It feels like a vacation that is real life.
We decided to spend Year 1 in Europe, Year 2 in Central and South America, and Year 3 in Asia. Follow our adventure for the next six months evansvilleliving.com and reach out, ask questions, or just say “hi.” See you next time!
Follow the Penningtons on YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook @penelopepennington.
‘A
GREAT DEAL TO CELEBRATE’
Political cartoonist James MacLeod pays tribute to
Evansville Living
A River City resident since 1999, University of Evansville history professor and Scotland native James MacLeod’s political cartoons balance national issues like gun rights and religion with the foibles of daily life. But on Evansville Living’s 25th anniversary in March, he felt compelled to pay tribute to its brand of community journalism.
“As a cartoonist, you should be kind of a critic of the society you live in, but you should also be someone who celebrates and boosts that com-
By Jodi Keen
munity when they do something right,” MacLeod says. “There’s a great deal to celebrate about the city. Month in and month out, it’s great to see how positive Evansville Living is on the city. … It says, ‘Here are the good things.’”
“It’s awesome that this is a rich community with interesting stories and people,” he adds. “As a historian, the ebb and flow of a city’s life resonates with me, and it’s great to have it documented on a monthly basis.”
Ibiza, Spain
Tromso, Norway
Music and Memories
State park’s renovated amphitheatre, national memorial draw visitors to Lincoln City
By John Martin
Three years of venue renovations are amplifying the profile of Lincoln City, Indiana, injecting new energy in an area of the Hoosier State devoted to the 16th U.S. president.
Additions to the 38-year-old Lincoln Amphitheatre have boosted the openair venue’s capacity from 1,500 to 2,200. Lincoln City is almost equidistant from Evansville and Louisville, Kentucky, and Director Marc Steczyk notes the amphitheater offers a fresh-air concert experience different from venues in both cities. Musical offerings run the gamut, and tickets remain for shows this year from country singer Gabby Barrett, former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler, and blues rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd, as well as acts honoring The Eagles and Bob Dylan.
The amphitheater’s calendar includes an Abraham Lincoln-themed concert series — “we will definitely always include that,” Steczyk says — and it joins neighboring attractions in honoring Lincoln’s Hoosier legacy. Indeed, the Spencer County community of Lincoln City is all about the future president’s formative years. He lived in this thick forest from age 7, when his family arrived from Kentucky, through age 21, when he left for Illinois and launched his legendary career in law and politics.
At Lincoln State Park, visitors can hike, boat, and fish, and relax at a campground. Steps away from Lincoln Amphitheatre, visitors can retrace young Abe’s path on Mr. Lincoln’s Neighborhood Walk trail. It encompasses the Little Pigeon Primitive Baptist Church’s cemetery where his sister, Sarah, is laid to rest, as well as the sites of the first school he attended and Gorden Mill where he worked, grinding corn and surviving a kick to the forehead by his horse.
Continue your exploration at the Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, the resting place of the future president’s mother, Nancy Hanks, who died of milk sickness at age 34, when Lincoln was 9.
WHAT MAKES A NATIONAL MONUMENT?
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial was established in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy. According to the National Parks Conservation Association, national monuments are significant lands and waters that can be set aside for permanent protection. While Congress can create any kind of national park site by passing legislation, presidents can create national monuments using authority granted to them by Congress in the Antiquities Act of 1906.
The semi-circular Memorial Visitor Center (also free to enter) dates to 1943 and features a film, memorial halls, and artifacts. About 130,000 people visit annually. Lining its exterior are five sculpture panels depicting stages of Lincoln’s life. Hike a little more than a mile across the Thomas Lincoln Farm, named for the president’s father — whose handcrafted bowfront bureau built for neighbors was featured in Evansville Living in 2024 — and check out a primitive cabin and pioneer setting from the early 1800s, brought to life by reenactors. Peek inside the ramshackle cabin and marvel at how the Lincolns likely lived – three sisters in one bed, parents in another bed, and Abraham and his two brothers upstairs. Erin Hilligoss-Volkmann, the memorial’s director of education and resource management, says the reproduction “is based on Lincoln’s own writings.”
Like Lincoln City’s other attractions, the memorial honors Lincoln’s 14 formative years in Southern Indiana and invites visitors to “walk the same ground where Lincoln worked, played, learned, and grew,” Hilligoss-Volkmann says. nps.gov
Lincoln Amphitheatre
Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial
Lincoln Family Cabin
ENCYCLOPEDIA EVANSVILLIA
More Than a Choir
Germania Maennerchor marks 125 years of heralding its heritage
By Maggie Valenti
Germania Maennerchor knows how to have a good time. After all, it’s rolled out the Gemülichkeit since 1900. “People came here originally to get a feel for the homeland because they left it. Now, of course, we’re the generations after that,” says President Mike Kuhn.
At its height, the singing and social club dedicated to preserving German traditions packed 400 members into its brick and limestone, Frank Schlotter-designed headquarters at 916 N. Fulton Ave. Since 1913, concerts, dances, and theater performances have been held in the large upstairs hall. Women joined the Maennerchor (German for “men’s choir”) with the addition of the Ladies Auxiliary in 1910 and the Damenchor (women’s choir) in 1915.
R atskeller Band and Rhein Valley Brass play traditional polka anthems at fish fries, beer tastings, and a Christ-
kindlmarkt. Still, the club is most known for its annual Volksfest. The three-day festival “for the people” debuted in 1934 and draws thousands of lederhosen- and dirndl-bedecked visitors for its German cuisine, brews on tap, and live music. This year’s Volksfest — slated for July 31-Aug. 2 — marks the club’s quasquicentennial with four live German bands plus a performance from local rock band Haywire, a 5K rebranded as The Wurst Race, an expanded kids’ day, and a selection of eight German beers.
“ The first Volksfest was scheduled for early August as a harvest celebration and just a few thousand people attended to eat pig’s knuckles, bratwurst, kraut, mashed potatoes, and German potato salad,” Kuhn says. “It was held outdoors, so people listened to German bands and danced to familiar tunes being played by brass bands that reminded people of the old country.”
“I actually met my husband (Jim) at Volksfest,” says Becky Harl, who joined in 1995 and is president of the Ladies Auxiliary. Her husband, Jim, joined in 1991. “It’s a lot of work, but I’m putting my free time toward something good for the community.”
Only nine club members are fluent speakers, though the choirs still perform in German. The Germania Maennerchor Foundation, Inc. invests in that education by awarding scholarships to high school seniors who plan to study German in college.
Harl says her favorite aspects of being a member include “the history of the club. The history of the building. The beautiful murals. … I enjoy my friends here for sure.”
“I just like the camaraderie, the people that you know by name as they all come in,” Kuhn says. “There’s a love of peace and harmony that we try to promote through singing.”
Interested in joining? Membership fees for the Ladies Auxiliary are $25 per year. Membership in the Men’s Auxiliary costs $40 annually. evvgermanclub.com
AN INDIANA OIL RUSH
Gibson and Posey counties saw a 1930s boom after a lucrative discovery
By Charles Kiesel
Nearly 90 years ago, Southwestern Indiana experienced its own oil rush. A “gusher” made itself known Dec. 14, 1938, when a newly tapped well shot oil 25 feet above the top of a 90-foot derrick just 4.5 miles north of Griffin, near the Old Red Covered Bridge in Southwestern Gibson County.
Thus began a regional oil boom, and surrounding towns reaped the economic benefits. The gusher produced an estimated 1,000 barrels per day, so storage tanks were installed to hold it until it could be transported. By 1942, 120 area oil wells were in production.
Oil field workers were paid 80 cents an hour, almost twice what workers in other industries made. For laborers, that was a good reason to rush to the new Indiana oil field. One worker in the Griffin area brought home almost $2,000 in a year, slightly more than the national average.
The lucrative nature of the industry brought workers from as far as Oklahoma. They settled in towns like Princeton and New Harmony, but the area’s largely rural nature made finding housing difficult, so some rented apartments in Princeton, while others had to live in old barns or even chicken coops.
By 2003, the Griffin Oil Field — comprising 25 square miles in Gibson and Posey counties — produced 84,412,739 barrels of oil a year. Many of those wells are still active. As for the site that started it all, the Griffin Gusher well was capped in 2018. All that remains is an open field.
PHOTO BY CHARLES KIESEL
HOOSIER FACT
PHOTO PROVIDED BY BECKY HARL
Becky and Jim Harl
Art From the Heart
Cynthia Watson’s philosophy is colorful and knows no limits
By Zach Evans
Don’t put Cynthia Watson in a box.
“You can’t even tell these are mine,” she says, gesturing to paintings and pieces in her gallery: still lifes, landscapes, portraits, and abstracts, all featuring different techniques, colors, and styles. There is a through-line, though: a frenetic energy expressed through her brushstrokes and color.
Watson grew up in Indianapolis, where her grandmother would buy her paper and markers, and she later studied at Indiana University’s Herron School of Art and Design. Since 1983, she has lived in the Evansville area, where she raised three children. She works out of her studio and classroom in Welborn Plaza, a second-floor space filled with her paintings and works-in-progress, reference art books, and tubs and smatterings of art supplies.
“I like to show the feelings. I like to get emotion out of people or to show how I’m feeling by color.”
Cynthia Watson, artist
Before opening her studio, she left her mark as a sign painter and muralist. She painted an exterior sign (now obscured by ivy) at Gerst Bavarian Haus and most recently rendered a mural of the old Sterling Brewery inside Sterling United Federal Credit Union on West Franklin Street. The bank was where brewery employees would cash their paychecks, Watson says. The brewery at Fulton Avenue and Division Street was razed in 1998.
While she does like to capture real moments in time in her landscapes and portraits, she doesn’t adhere to hyperrealism. “I like to show the feelings,” Watson says. “I like to get emotion out of people or to show how I’m feeling by color.”
That philosophy is the core of her art classes, Art From the Heart. In her studio, she teaches weekly courses for children and adults. Her young students exhibit at Haynie’s Corner First Friday events, in Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana’s annual “Young at Art”
installation, and at her studio. She gives lessons on several mediums — “everything but pastels,” she explains — but the main lesson is on individual expression and experimenting. “Kids are not scared,” she says. “Adults are scared. Everyone’s going to make a mistake, but the kids could not care less.”
Watson’s art explores emotions and also connects interior lives with nature. Through a recommendation from Jessica Inman, co-owner of Inman’s Picture Framing + Fine Art, Julianna Clark commissioned Watson to create artwork for her Newburgh, Indiana, home.
Watson completed a trio of watercolors capturing the tranquility along the banks of the nearby Ohio River. Since then, Clark has added seven pieces by Watson to her collection.
“I’m drawn to Cynthia because she brings the outside in,” Clark says.
S ee Watson’s art, along with pieces by painter Joey Luzar, at “Emotive Virtuoso,” a free exhibit of the Ohio Valley Art League on display Sept. 29-Jan. 9 at Henderson, Kentucky’s Gallery 101. Call Watson at 812-484-9459 for commissions and classes.
COLOR ME CAPTIVATED Cynthia Watson’s oeuvre captures emotions through landscapes, portraits, abstracts, and still lifes. Her work features both in public spaces — like a nod to the old Sterling Brewery inside Sterling United Federal Credit Union’s West Side branch — and private residences. Julianna Clark’s collection of paintings by Watson includes this trio depicting the Newburgh riverfront.
PHOTO OF CYNTHIA WATSON BY BRODIE CURTSINGER.
IMAGES OF ARTWORK PROVIDED BY JULIANNA CLARK
The ’70s Are Calling
Evansville Day School Class of ’75 recreates its senior photo
By Maggie Valenti
Susan Watson-Spiller has fond memories of graduating from Evansville Day School’s Class of 1975. The group’s half-century reunion in May culminated in a special moment: recreating their senior photo.
“Day School has had several reunions over the years, and I’ve attended each one. This time … I was determined to locate and personally reach out to every member of our class,” says Watson-Spiller, a former Chicago paralegal and a Spanish teacher at Henderson County schools.
She began planning the celebration a year in advance, and the itinerary included two days of tours and meet-ups, followed by recreating the senior photo and celebrating with dinner and a dance at Bally’s Riverfront Event Center. “As soon as I mentioned the recreation of the senior class photo … it seemed I lit a spark. That was the event most were extremely excited about.”
Twenty-seven students graduated in 1975 — three have since passed — and 15 attended to recreate the class photo, this time captured by photographer Debbie Bridwell Scott. Previous classes typically had taken their senior class photos in Evansville. Watson-Spiller doesn’t remember why her class chose John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky, for the shoot, but having been raised in Evansville’s Southern neighbor city, she was thrilled with the location then and now.
“It was pretty unanimous that the highlight was the replication of the class photo. …We were all finally reconnected … with bonds stronger than ever and a determination to stay in touch from this point forward,” Watson-Spiller says. “We agreed that this was just the beginning of many more future gatherings.”
Evansville Day School
of 1975
Watson-
Garrett Gardner, Debbie Harned Blackshear, and Victoria Hust BOTTOM: Yolanda LaGrone Clemons, Jim Kluger, Evelyn Fay Leinbach, Bruce Simon, Dave Trockman, Jeff Sater, Tom Martin, Edd Frisse, Guy Slaughter, and Jim Butterfield
THE GREAT OUTDOORS
TRADING A STEEL JUNGLE FOR THE LOCAL FOREST
It’s an adventure learning to be an Indiana Master Naturalist By Jason Hoffman
My daily landscape is a factory where stainless-steel tanks stand like trees and pipes weave through the air like industrial vines. It makes me crave the complete opposite: dirt under my fingernails, the crunch of leaves under my feet, and the pop of bright flowers in my yard.
Taking the Indiana Master Naturalist course at Wesselman Woods this spring was a joy — 10 weekly classes, each around three hours, peeling back the layers of our natural world. We delved into the fascinating lives of birds, learned to identify trees, got acquainted with mammals (at least their bones!), explored the slithery, scaly, and shell-covered wonders of herpetology, and more. Instructors included local science professors and regional agriculture and conservation specialists, each harboring an encyclopedic passion and knowledge.
Outside Wesselman Woods, we explored a rock outcrop at the University of Southern Indiana, wandered the vibrant ecosystems of Howell Wetlands, and learned the incredible negative impact of invasive species at Indian Hill Overlook Park in Newburgh
From teenagers to retirees, everyone clicked and connected over a shared love of nature. “You see (students) getting much more social with each other,” says Derek Walsh, Wesselman Woods’ director of natural resources and research. “It’s a cool place to form that camaraderie.”
Interested in becoming a certified Indiana Master Naturalist? In addition to completing this course, an exam and 24 volunteer service hours are required. IMN classes at Wesselman Woods are held each spring and cost $140 for members and $150 for non-members. Wesselman also offers one-off classes to explore.
wesselmanwoods.org/imn
Dubois County native Jason Hoffman is a process engineer at Mead Johnson Nutrition.
RECREATION PHOTO: TOP: Paul Wyatt, Susan
Spiller,
Class
A recent Indiana Master Naturalist class conducted by Wesselman Woods
5
$1,275,000
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1:30pm and 3:30pm at
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Sam Bush - November 8, 2025
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Season
Everything Under the Sun
Kaman Hillenburg holds the key to curating the Evansville Museum’s permanent inventory
By Timothy Weir
Hypervigilant.” That word is emblazoned on a laminated card displayed above Kaman Hillenburg’s computer like a badge of honor. Not only for herself – the first Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science Collections Manager – but for the entire institution. It originated when the Alliance of American Museums (AAM) cited collections management in awarding the museum’s accreditation in 2022. “The Museum’s staff and Collections Manager are hypervigilant with regard to risk management of the collection while on exhibition
and in storage,” the AAM report said. “That gives me a little boost every time I see it,” Hillenburg says.
Caring for the museum’s artworks and objects, breathtaking or quirky, is a complex task. “To simplify it for field-trip students, I tell them I’m the one who gets to touch everything that we say they can’t,” Hillenburg says. “That’s always followed with a response of ‘woah!’”
Hillenburg’s colleagues appreciate the fire behind her meticulous approach. “Kaman is the consummate museum professional,” says Tom Lonnberg, Chief
GODS, GRAPHITE, AND GOTHIC ART Collections
Manager Kaman Hillenburg uses a paintbrush to carefully clean a 9-foot, 6-inch figure of Vulcan, the ancient Roman god of fire, at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science. More than 45,000 artifacts in the museum’s permanent collection are under Hillenburg’s care.
Curator & Curator of History. “She is passionate about the care, in all facets of the word, of our collection.”
At 45,000 objects, it is a lot to manage.
“The museum’s collection is rich with artworks, historic artifacts, and objects in fields of science,” says Jennifer Evans Corn, the museum’s John Streetman Executive Director.
The collection’s origins can be traced to artifacts purchased from the 1904 Saint Louis World’s Fair by Evansville residents interested in starting a museum here. Today, some hitherto-unseen surprises for visitors remain boxed in storage, awaiting future endeavors.
Siegfried Weng, the executive director from 1950 to 1969, led a flurry of collection growth. “His friends from around the country donated objects to us, and that’s how Picasso’s ‘Seated Woman in Red Hat’ arrived,” Director Emerita Mary Bower says.
“Over the past century, we have collected pretty much everything under the sun,” Hillenburg says. “In the museum field, it is what we call a ‘general collection.’” Its broad array of art includes several gems, from Käthe Kollwitz prints to Gino Miles’ spherical, stainless-steel sculpture greeting visitors. History is equally important, with Lonnberg citing the 9,000 World War II-era photographs of landing ship-tank production at the Evansville Shipyard. The U.S. Navy donated them in 1948. Another mainstay is its purchase of Mid-States exhibition art over six decades. These 500 works trace the progress of contemporary regional art, with a selection on display in the Mid-States gallery.
Hillenburg, who was born in Hong Kong and grew up in northern California, found her passion for museums at an early age. “My middle-school teacher, Cassandra English, propelled my museum career,” she says. “She inspired me to volunteer at Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, and I fell in love with it.”
She got her foot in the door at the Evansville Museum while earning dual
“She is passionate about the care, in all facets of the word, of our collection.”
Tom Lonnberg, Chief Curator & Curator of History
bachelor’s degrees in archaeology and art history from the University of Evansville. “Kaman knew she wanted to work at a museum, and we were thrilled to have her,” Bower says. “We just kept giving her more responsibility.” After working the front desk and helping stage exhibitions, Hillenburg pinch-hit when the registrar was on leave. That data and logistics work lit a fire for her.
When the museum established its collections manager role in 2017, Hillenburg had already shown she could manage the permanent collections’ art and artifacts, logistics, data, inventory, insurance, and storage. “She was ideal, really, and has done a tremendous job,” Bower, her hiring manager, says. “She’s organized, detail-oriented, and very tidy. She explains to staff her expectations for moving objects and maintaining order and cleanliness in the gallery, collection, and work areas. In the kindest way, mind you, but they know she means business.”
That discipline extends to the collections database. “Data entry is my jam,” Hillenburg says. That’s a good thing, since inventory management takes a village. She routinely leads and mentors university interns through the process, taking inventory of everything in storage
KEY TO THE COLLECTION Hillenburg coordinates the inspection, cleaning, and storage of everything from paintings, drawings, and sculptures to woven baskets, ancient tools, animal skeletons, and rare books. The key to keeping track of it all? “Data entry is my jam,” she says.
and on display. The effort pays dividends in supporting the curatorial team. “In addition to making our collections more accessible, she produces big results by focusing on the details, minute or enormous,” says Cheyenne E. Miller, Virginia G. Schroeder Curator of Art. “She juggles endless tasks, switching between them seamlessly.”
That ability goes beyond her work. In her spare time, she formed and led the Southwestern Indiana Collection Connection Association from 2014 to 2023. It enabled her to develop best practices with 100 peers from area museums and historical societies. She is now secretary and board member for the Association of Midwest Museums. “I’m also a true-crime fan and wanted to be a detective when I was growing up,” she says, laughing. “Museum work matches some of those skills without risking injury.”
What is next for Hillenburg and the museum? On the heels of last year’s Picasso unveiling, the museum has another surprise up its sleeve: sculpture. It will open a new gallery for that work later this year. Included will be “The Caryatids” by Abbott Pattison. He sculpted its female figures from Greek mythology in 8,000 pounds of Tuscan Carrara marble. His children donated this, his final work, following his death in 1999. Wrapped in storage for 15 years, these women soon will receive their due, under Hillenburg’s careful coordination. emuseum.org
THE
Scene
Ellis Park Racetrack Racing Season
▪ JULY 3-AUG. 25
Place your bets or simply relax and enjoy the excitement of live horse racing — in person and via simulcast wagering — along the banks of the Ohio River.
Ellis Park Racing & Gaming, 3300 Hwy. 41 N., Henderson, Kentucky, ellisparkowensborogaming.com/ racing
78th International Jugglers’ Festival
▪ JULY 14-20
World-class acts compete, while attendees can participate in workshops, games, raffles, and more. Various locations throughout Evansville, festival.juggle.org
A Fresh Perspective
▪ THROUGH AUG. 17
Browse 57 works by 40 regional artists in this 33rd annual juried
exhibition sponsored by the Ohio Valley Art League.
John James Audubon State Park Museum, 3100 U.S. 41 N., Henderson Kentucky
Please Touch the Art: Texture and Visual Art Reception
▪ JULY 19
It’s OK, Mom — they said we can touch it! Multimedia works by regional artists are on display and waiting to be explored at this interactive exhibition.
Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, 212 Main St., artswin.org
WNIN Jazz Fest
▪ JULY 19
Back for its third year, the fest offers a family-friendly night out featuring headliners Monte Skelton’s All Star Band, plus three more groovy bands. Bring lawn chairs
points to qualify for the U.S. Open draw, making this a great opportunity to see rising talent.
Wesselman Park Tennis Center, 551 N. Boeke Road, itftennis.com
Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival
▪ JULY 23-26
Named for a late, beloved Henderson County government official, the fest features four nights of intimate, acoustic performances by Nashville, Tennessee, singer-songwriters. Locations in Downtown Henderson, Kentucky, sandyleesongfest.com
Twinderella: The Musical
▪ July 24-25
The culmination of a two-week children’s camp at the Evansville African American Museum, “Twinderella” introduces Cinderella’s long-lost twin brother, who came from the same wicked stepfamily. Benjamin Bosse High School Auditorium, 1300 Washington Ave., evvaam.org
Music in the Park
▪ JULY 24; AUG. 7 AND 21
and grab dinner from a food truck while listening to music under the summer sky.
WNIN, Two Main St., wnin.org/jazzfest
On the Roof
▪ JULY 19 AND AUG. 23
Music with a view — what’s not to love? This concert series offers sweeping views of Downtown Evansville, and each night features three musical acts. Shows are free and open to all ages, and a cash bar is available courtesy of neighboring Patsy Hartigan’s Irish Pub. Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana, 212 Main St., artswin.org
Vanderburgh County Fair
▪ JULY 21-26
What’s an Indiana summer without a county fair? Food and nightly entertainment await at Vanderburgh County’s fair, which dates to 1920 and offers livestock, produce, and baked goods contests, tractor pulls, demolition derby, pageants, carnival rides, and more. Vanderburgh County 4-H Center, 201 E. Boonville New Harmony Road, vanderburghcountyfair.com
The Women’s Hospital Classic
▪ JULY 21-27
Pro tennis players vie for $100,000 in prize money at this annual tournament, now in its 26th year. Competitors can accumulate
The Evansville Parks Foundation’s free event concert series shines a spotlight on the city’s parks. Come for the fresh air, stay for tunes by regional musical talent. Various city parks throughout Evansville, evansvilleparksfoundation.org/ music-in-the-park
Volksfest
▪ JULY 31-AUG. 2
Raise a stein of frothy beer to Evansville’s German heritage at the 63rd annual celebration offering authentic kraut balls, fried bologna, and pig knuckles for dinner, plus a brat-throwing contest, brass bands playing polka tunes, and more. Evansville Germania Maennerchor, 916 N. Fulton Ave., evvgermanclub.com
WOMEN’S HOSPITAL
PHOTO BY KIM POYNTER
D. R. Bridges at On the Roof
The Women’s Hospital Classic
First Friday
▪ AUG. 1, SEPT. 5
Food trucks, musical entertainers, and vendors selling unique art and crafts create a vibrant summer scene in the Arts District the first Friday of each month through October.
Haynie’s Corner Arts District, Southeast Second Street and Adams Avenue, hayniescorner.com
▪ AUG. 2
This one-day, round-robin tournament for players of 2.5 skill level or higher benefits the Dream Center Evansville, which provides a wide range of services to youth in the Jacobsville neighborhood. Registration ends July 27. 3rd Shot Pickleball, 2800 Kotter Ave., dreamcenterevansville.org/pickleball
Annual Book Sale
▪ AUG. 2-3
Browse hundreds of books, movies, CDs, and more at this public library system fundraiser where each sale is a bargain.
Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library Central Branch, 200 S.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., evpl.org/connect/foundation
National Night Out
▪ AUG. 5
Meet the people in uniform who make up local law enforcement teams and stop by booths for community organizations. Enjoy food, games and activities, and giveaways.
C.K. Newsome Community Center, 100 E. Walnut St. Ste. 1, facebook. com/NNOEvansville
Night Market
▪ AUG. 8
Shop after work and browse booths for independent regional artisans, growers, and small business owners. Northwest Sixth Street from Sycamore to Locust streets, downtownevansville.com
Two Noble Kinsmen
▪ AUG. 8-10
“Men are mad things?” Evansville Shakespeare Players test that theory during an outdoor stage production of The Bard’s tragicomedy.
Willard Public Library lawn, 21 N. First Ave., Evansville Shakespeare Players on Facebook
Saint Philip Summer Social
▪ AUG. 9-10
Spin that wheel! Enter a world of chicken dinners, raffles, and old-fashioned family fun at this parish summer social.
St. Philip Catholic Church, 3500 St. Philip Road S., Mount Vernon, Indiana, facebook.com/st.philipsocial
Urban Hikes
▪ AUG. 9 AND 23
Lace up your sneakers and stomp the sidewalk as you traverse urban walking trails. Aug. 9’s hike treks around Garvin Park, while the late-August walk covers the new trails around the North Side’s Deaconess Sports Park. Check with Evansville Trails Coalition for specific meeting sites, walkbikeevv. org/activities
Men Who Wear Hats
▪ AUG. 16
The gentlemen of the Southern Indiana Mentoring Academy don’t sacrifice style when they tip their hats to community changemakers. Dress in your best Sunday attire and enjoy the music of Tennessee-based cover band Entice, with songs ranging from the ’60s to today, at this year’s celebration. The Crescent Room, 621 S. Cullen Ave., sima100.com
Lunch on the Lawn
▪ AUG. 22
Enjoy a leisurely lunch from food trucks in the shadow of the stately Beaux Arts courthouse that has stood watch over Downtown Evansville since 1890. Old Vanderburgh County Courthouse, 201 N.W. Fourth St., facebook.com/ OldVanderburghCountyCourthouse
Frog Follies
▪ AUG. 22-24
It’s the golden anniversary of the E’ville Iron Street Rod’s summer-closing fest. Marvel at more than a thousand colorful pre-1949 vehicles and meet gearheads from all over the country. Vanderburgh 4-H Center, 201 E. Boonville New Harmony Road, frogfollies.org
Geek Con
▪ AUG. 23
Perfect for fandom enthusiasts as well as first-timers, this annual convention celebrates the art, science, and history of geek culture with panels and presentations, hands-on activities, board games, a vendor room, and a cosplay contest.
Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, 411 S.E. Riverside Drive, emuseum.org
Third Annual Bellemeade Park Wiffleball Bash
▪ AUG. 23
Hit a home run with ease at this friendly summer sports tournament benefitting the Boys & Girls Club of
Evansville. Batter up! Bellemeade Park, 750 Bellemeade Ave., one.bidpal.net/wiffleballevv25
Women’s Equality Day Luncheon
▪ AUG. 27
Retired American Water Works, Inc. CEO Susan Hardwick gives the keynote address at the annual celebration by YWCA Evansville, the 114-year-old chapter of the national nonprofit that empowers women.
Bally’s Evansville Casino & Hotel Riverfront Event Center, 421 N.W. Riverside Drive, ywcaevansville.org
Front Porch Fest
▪ SEPT. 6
Since 2014, fall has been ushered in by the strains of nearly 50 musicians performing from porches through the Riverside Historic District and Haynie’s Corner neighborhoods. Enjoy free admission, food truck fare, and a next-day hours-long after-party.
Haynie’s Corner Arts District, Southeast Second Street and Adams Avenue, frontporchfestevv.com
Men Who Wear Hats
Annual Book Sale
Frog Follies
HIT the ROAD
YOUR PTO WAS APPROVED, your desk is clear, and your outof-office message is set. You’re ready to fill your suitcases to the brim, pack your family in the car, and head out on a summer vacation. Where to? We have a few ideas that won’t take you far from home.
Discover a relaxed pace and a respite from city life in Brown County, Indiana; delightfully diverse riverfront attractions in Cincinnati, Ohio; the story behind Memphis, Tennessee’s modern music industry prowess — including a surprise connection to Evansville; and why Paducah, Kentucky’s vibrant arts culture is catching global attention.
and National Quilt Museum, Paducah , Kentucky.
Clockwise from Top: Taft Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio; 1857 Hotel, Paducah, Kentucky; Misty landscape, Brown County, Indiana; Peabody Duck March; Memphis, Tennessee; Story Inn dining, Brown County, Indiana;
Little Big Town
Quilts and culture hint at deep creativity in this Ohio River town
By Amy Lynch
FOR A TOWN with just shy of 27,000 residents — about the size of our Ohio River sister city, Henderson — Paducah, Kentucky, packs a big punch of creative culture. In fact, Quilt City USA’s reputation as a fiber arts capital has earned it a UNESCO Creative City designation, one of just nine such locations in the nation.
Sitting at the confluence of the Tennessee and Ohio rivers, Paducah calls to mind a smaller Savannah, Georgia, or perhaps a scaled-down Charleston, South Carolina, with a charming, walkable Downtown that boasts 19th-century brick buildings, tempting restaurants, shops, and arts venues.
“By centering Paducah as an arts city, we’re able to provide opportunities for artists to create and exhibit their work both here and abroad, while also making sure our local culture is preserved for future generations,” says Liz Hammonds, Marketing and Communications Director for the Paducah Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Start at the National Quilt Museum, a mind-blowing must-see and a vibrant celebration of both traditional covers and striking modern masterpieces created by a global roster of artists. Feeling inspired? Pay a visit to one of Paducah’s 10-plus quilt/fabric shops for patterns, materials, and DIY instructions. One block to the northeast, the Wall to Wall Floodwall Murals by Robert Dafford offer a fascinating glimpse into Paducah’s colorful past and most significant moments on the protective barrier built after the Ohio River flood of 1937 devastated the area. If you work up an appetite strolling the floodwall’s three blocks, venture over to fifth-generation family-owned Kirchhoff’s
Bakery and Deli around lunchtime for a lineup of delicious sandwiches and cute cookies, or sample the signature hickory-smoked pulled pork on a sandwich with cole slaw at Starne’s Bar-B-Q
The city’s oldest neighborhood, the Lowertown Arts District, is just southwest of Downtown and is home to a deep collection of galleries, artisan maker shops, and studios situated in live/work properties thanks to an innovative artist relocation program launched in 2000. Another beloved landmark, the revitalized Art Deco Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, now is a buzzy multi-use development encompassing a brewery, a coffee shop, a pizzeria, and a yoga studio. Take dinner at Freight House, set in a former railroad depot where 2025 James Beard-nominated “Top Chef ” runner-up Sara Bradley cooks up elevated Southern-style fare like deviled eggs, butter bean hummus, and Asian carp.
For overnight stays, the sleek loftstyle 1857 Hotel feels like something dropped out of Midtown Manhattan, with an excellent cocktail bar for bourbon tasting. In a restored 1908 building, Hotel Metropolitan has hosted an impressive roster of African American athletes and entertainers through the years, and the Italianate-style Belle Louise Historic Guest House accommodates visitors with five luxury suites and plenty of gracious Southern hospitality.
“One of the many great things about Paducah is accessibility,” Hammond says. “Where else can you spend a day visiting a restored Green Book hotel, a state-ofthe-art performing arts center, a national arts museum, and a James Beard finalist chef’s restaurant without having to visit a major city?”
paducah.travel
Muppin’s Sewing Emporium
Hotel Metropolitan
Wall to Wall Floodwall Murals
Relaxation, Recreation, and Romance
Rustic charm awaits just east of Bloomington
By Amy Lynch
FUN-FILLED FAMILY adventures, a relaxing getaway with girlfriends, or a romantic weekend for two — Brown County, Indiana, fits the bill for all with inns, Airbnbs, and cabins set against a rustic hilly backdrop.
“People come to Brown County to slow down and catch their breath,” says Cristina Villani, Marketing Director of the Nashville/ Brown County Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s the kind of place where you can trade busy city life for quiet trails, cozy shops, and relaxing moments on a porch swing.”
County seat Nashville brims with art galleries, down-home eateries, and shops full of country-style décor for a little dose of civilization. But let’s be real. Visitors come here to slow down, by spending time in the great outdoors and appreciating the natural beauty of this unspoiled south-central Indiana haven. With nearly 16,000 acres to explore on foot, horse, or mountain bike, Brown County State Park is the region’s centerpiece, especially when the vibrant seasonal foliage peaks each fall. Scale the 90-foot fire tower for a spectacular bird’s-eye view of the rolling topography below. ATV tours are another fun way to get the lay of the land at the sprawling Hard Truth Distillery campus, followed by a sampling of spirits produced by Evansville-native master distiller Bryan Smith. Music buffs should keep an eye on show schedules at the contemporary Brown County Music Center and the more intimate Brown County Playhouse.
With all this fresh air and activity, working up an appetite is a given. Start the day with old-fashioned biscuits and gravy at Hob Nob Corner or delectable hot apple dumplings at the Nashville General Store to accompany a hot or cold coffee from the Daily Grind. Pints of house-brewed craft beer are the perfect way to wash down slices of Big Woods Pizza, and some of Brown County’s most winding country roads lead
to fine-dining rewards at the 1850s Story Inn, a quaint relic of the once-booming village of Story.
There’s also no shortage of shopping in Nashville. With fragrant salts, soaps, and scrubs, Bathology carries everything needed for bespoke bathing. Browse the whimsical sock inventory at For Bare Feet and find treats for four-legged friends at Bone Appetit Bakery. Chocolates and licorice make sweet souvenirs at the Candy Emporium
“Brown County is one of those places where you can feel how much people care. Whether it’s an artist, a shopkeeper, or someone pouring your coffee — everything’s done with heart. The hospitality here is real,” Villani says.
If you have kids along, book a room at the Abe Martin Lodge — or better yet, a family cabin — at the Brown County State Park. (Access to the indoor aquatic center is a bonus.) In Downtown Nashville, the elegant Artists Colony Inn maintains cozy accommodations with Shaker-style furnishings and private balconies. Among a dizzying selection of cabins, you’ll find pops of character at the 1891 Schoolhouse Inn and the uber-modern Plāhaus, built in a shipping container.
On the way, hidden treasures await within the vast confines of the Brown County Antique Mall on S.R. 46.
browncounty.com
Hard Truth Distillery
Plāhaus
River Blues
Glamour and grit effortlessly mix in the birthplace of rock ‘n’ roll By
Amy Lynch
IF SOUND IS THE BACKBONE of a city, Memphis, Tennessee, is all about the blues, greeting visitors with a Southern spirit that’s gritty yet genteel.
“Memphis is a city that’s constantly evolving. We’re a city for everyone with a lot of heart and authenticity,” says Lauren Berry, PR Director at Memphis Tourism. Sept. 16 marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the “Beale Street Blues Boy.” B.B. King started as a disc jockey, later shifting into live performances and a Sun Studio recording career, although Stax Records is more often credited with creating the soulful “Memphis sound.” Both sites are open for tours. Another legendary Memphis king, the lasting allure of Elvis Presley still inspires pilgrimages to Graceland and Elvis
Presley’s Memphis, where admirers — perhaps some of the 13,500 fans who saw The King in concert at Roberts Municipal Stadium on Oct. 24, 1976 — can view his classic cars, airplanes, gold records, and gold lamé jumpsuits at and around his former home and gravesite. Since its launch in 1991, more than one million visitors from around the world have paid their respects at the National Civil Rights Museum built around the historic Lorraine Motel where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated April 4, 1968.
You’ll smell Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous before you see it. Spicy-sweet smoke wafts through the alley the landmark restaurant calls home, luring hungry guests for mouthwatering racks of dry-rubbed
ribs. If crispy white and dark meat are more your jam, beeline to Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, and be prepared to wait in line. Open 24/7, Gibson’s Donuts satisfies sugar cravings with its signature glazed confections, while nostalgia-tinged Arcade Restaurant honors Elvis by keeping his favorite fried-peanut-butter-and-banana sandwich on the menu and preserving a diner booth in his memory.
With luxurious trappings and National Register of Historic Places status, the Peabody Memphis Downtown isn’t called the “South’s Grand Hotel” for nothing. Even if you’re not an overnight guest, don’t miss the twice-daily March of the Ducks, a charming spectacle that ushers five resident Mallards from their rooftop roost to the majestic main lobby fountain and back again. The wilderness-themed Big Cypress Lodge fits right into its soaring, pyramid-shaped Bass Pro Shop confines on the Mississippi River, where rustic-chic accommodations include a treehouse, duck cabin, and fly-fishing lodge options. Sports fans will remember the pyramid as the former home court for the University of Memphis’ men’s basketball team and the NBA’s Grizzlies; it also hosted the Memphis Pharaohs of the Arena Football League in 1995-96 before they relocated to Oregon the following year.
To underscore the way Memphis continues to surprise, Berry draws a link to songwriter and Evansville native Philip Lawrence’s handiwork: “Ever heard of Bruno Mars’ ‘Uptown Funk’? That was recorded at Royal Studios,” she says. “You can come here to reflect on our legendary music history … but you can also learn and experience the new Memphis sound of hip hop and R&B that’s also making waves and putting Memphis on the map.”
memphistravel.com
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous Pork Barbecue
Beale Street
Crowning the Queen City
Riverfront attractions, art, and oddities make for an unforgettable visit By Michelle
Mastro
ROUGHLY THE SAME population as Saint Louis, Missouri, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Cincinnati, Ohio, is a Midwestern hidden gem of the architectural marvels, culinary delights, culture, and vibrancy that come with an urban setting. Start immediately after crossing into Ohio via the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge by exploring the 45-acre Smale Riverfront Park, which offers family-fun elements like a carousel and several playground areas, plus giant swings perched over the riverfront, walking paths, sculptural monuments, and the Black Music Walk of Fame. Just north is the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, devoted to telling the story of slavery in America and well worth a visit. Flanking the museum to the west is Paul Brown Stadium, home of the NFL’s Bengals; to the east is Great American Ball Park, home of the Cincinnati Reds, Major League Baseball’s first pro team.
A 17-minute walk from the park, the Taft Museum of Art is housed in a 200-year-old Federal-style wooden mansion — a piece of art itself. Inside, visitors can see Rembrandts and Turners, Italian majolica painted pottery, and Chinese porcelains, a rare and coveted collection. Stop by the café for afternoon tea or the garden with occasional flow yoga classes. When you
work up an appetite, indulge in the city’s unique spin on chili — served over a bed of spaghetti — at Skyline Chili, or tuck into a towering strawberry shortcake sundae at Graeter’s, both with locations nearby and across the city.
For more greenery in the heart of the city, Eden Park is home to countless meandering trails, water features like Mirror Lake, a reflecting pool that features a huge fountain in the center and paved walking paths surrounding the lake frequented by walkers and runners. Krohn Conservatory, an indoor botanical garden within Eden, is designed in the Art Deco style. Inside the conservatory are 3,500 plants from across the globe, including bonsai, cacti, carniv-
orous pitcher plants, and rare orchids. The Krohn includes a live butterfly component during summer. Eden also boasts the Cincinnati Art Museum with its rich collection of nearly 70,000 pieces of artwork. It’s one of the oldest art museums in the country and has a significant number of Middle Eastern and ancient Roman works.
Wind down your visit at Over-theRhine, a hip neighborhood near Downtown full of restaurants, breweries, and shopping opportunities. Findlay Market, a collection of vendors, and Jungle Jim’s, a massive store selling grocery items and oddities from all over the world, will end your Cincinnati trip on a high note. visitcincy.com
Krohn Conservatory
Smale Riverfront Park
KROHN CONSERVATORY PHOTO BY GARY KESSLER.
Make an Experience Out of Going to the Movies
Ready
to own summer, but don’t know where to start? Evansville Living’s staff has some thoughts, and they dig deep into Southwestern Indiana culture. Why just go to the movies when you can fill up on chili dogs and take in a double feature at the drive-in? Why settle for store-bought produce when Hoosier-grown sweet corn and watermelon are ripe for the picking? Living in this corner of Indiana, every summer day can feel like a John Mellencamp song. Here are some of our favorite ways to make your Indiana summer the best one yet.
By Evansville Living Staff
In Southwestern Indiana, we don’t just go to the movies — we treat ourselves to an open-air feature at the six-screen Holiday Drive-In about 30 miles east of town in Spencer County. And because we’re Hoosiers, we celebrate an Indiana summer by first swinging by the TF Ice Cream in Boonville. Order a foot-long chili cheese hot dog with a walking taco, pair it with a cherry malt (or a float featuring Derr’s soda, another Boonville landmark), then head for the night’s first shows at the Holiday; films typically begin between 8 and 9 p.m., but the exact start time aligns with when the sun dips below the horizon. Open nightly through July and offering a double feature Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, it’s a quintessential step back in time. On the drive home, take it a step further: Roll down your car windows and crank up the volume to John Mellencamp’s 1982 classic “Jack & Diane.” Cliche? Sure, but also timeless to anyone who appreciates Indiana culture.
Illustrations by The Wilkinson Brothers
Don a Faux Sumo Costume for a Sparring Contest
Who says Otters games are solely about baseball? Sure, there are nine innings of ballplaying, but the fan contests between innings offer classic games that have become synonymous with minor league matches. On your next outing to see the boys of summer face a Frontier League foe at Bosse Field, sign up to slip into an inflatable suit and live out your deepest sumo wrestler dreams, or spin yourself dizzy around a bat, forehead down, before — and we can’t stress this enough — attempting to dash off to a nearby finish line. Think foot races are too easy? Think again when you’re balancing a bobble head of F.J. Reitz while sprinting all but blindly from third to first base. Is it silly? Of course. But that’s part of the fun! And what better way to work off those peanuts and Cracker Jack?
Place Your Bet at the Racetrack — and Not Just on a Horse
Catch Up on Your Summer Reading List
We’re not going to tell you what to read — we hear the latest issue of Evansville Living is a great place to start — but we’ll share our secret to finding the focus to make a dent in your summer reading list. First, grab a book: Find one penned by a local author at Your Brother’s Bookstore, try a blind date with a novel sporting a camouflaged cover from Bluestocking Social, or pick up a new release at Barnes & Noble. Then, throw out a blanket underneath a tree at the Evansville State Hospital Park, but don’t pick any ol’ canopy. Spread out beneath the 100-foot canopy of the 220-year-old cherrybark oak, proudly the state champion for its species. Toss some eclectic goodies into your basket, such as Bungeo–ppang or plantain chips from Aihua International Market, or Dorilocos (a Doritos-pork rinds match made in heaven) from Helados Ice Cream, Antojitos, and Snacks.
Riders up! You’ll find the Bluegrass State’s passion for thoroughbred racing starting in July at Ellis Park Racing & Gaming (which may be on the north side of the Ohio River, but it’s still across the Kentucky state line). Its annual live horse racing meet runs through Aug. 24, allowing fans to see “The Sport of Kings” up close and place bets on national and international contests. Since its centennial season in 2022, the racetrack has sat under the umbrella of the owner of Louisville’s Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Ellis Park’s calendar isn’t limited to just horse racing. Special events include contests starring dachshunds and corgis hoofing it across the dirt track. This year’s canine competitors take the track July 19 for qualifying races, and then the fur flies Aug. 16 when the top six of each breed face off in the finals. If you’re hungry before, during, or after the races, visit Dade Park Grill, a nod to the facility’s original name from the ’20s. After Ellis’ season ends in late summer, horseracing slot machines are open to gamers 365 days a year.
Sumo wreslting at an Otters baseball game
Kendyl Brown enjoys a book and a breeze under Indiana’s champion cherrybark oak tree at Evansville State Hospital grounds.
Catch a wiffleball game — or join in!
Wiffleball is a perfect summer sport for the simple reason that it’s both fun and forgiving if you’re not an MLB All Star. Can’t haul it around the bases? That’s OK — the distance of your hit determines what base you get, anyway. Don’t have a power swing? Just roll with it. Don’t have a team? No worries. You can form one, sub in, or cheer on your favorites at Haynie’s Corner Wiffleball League games on Monday and Tuesday evenings at the Doug Annakin Memorial Field next to the Alhambra Theatre. Relaxed bouts of ball — with a hot dog chaser, of course — take the edge off the early workweek and culminate with the playoffs and championship in early autumn. August’s Bellemeade Park Wiffleball Bash adds a philanthropic element to the casual sport by making its round-robin style play double as a benefit for the Boys & Girls Club of Evansville. Games start Aug. 23 and feature a single elimination bracket and a home run derby between games. Marking the end of the season is the River City Wiffleball Classic, a fundraiser for homeless nonprofit Aurora that’s held at the decidedly not-casual Bosse Field. This year’s tournament is Sept. 27.
The giraffes at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden
Haynie’s Corner Wiffleball League
counties, by a 2022 USDA count — yields thousands of bushels of fresh food each harvest, from backyard cucumbers and heirloom beefsteak tomatoes to crunchy bell peppers and juicy peaches and nectarines. Even the well-drained, sandy loam soils along the Wabash River are perfect grounds to grow seeded cantaloupe and red amber and sugar baby watermelon — in fact, the dual-state Illiana Watermelon Association triangulates most of its annual melon crop to a 50-mile corridor running along U.S. 41 in Posey, Gibson, and Knox counties. Summer wraps up with harvests of apples, corn, zucchini, and those aforementioned varietals of corn. Did your family gather each year to handle crop yields themselves? You may share some sticky summer memories with Managing Editor Jodi Keen; read more on page 136.
Commit to Having Pocket Change
It’s the season of neighborhood lemonade stands run by budding young entrepreneurs, and you don’t want to disappoint them by having only a card to pay for a cup of that fresh-squeezed goodness. Before leaving the house for a walk with your dog or an energizing bike ride, slip a few small bills and quarters into your pocket so you’re not caught unarmed when placing an order at tabletop homemade drink stations — or pop-up stands selling everything from friendship bracelets to impromptu glitter portraits — that don’t accept Venmo. For kids, cash is king!
The Voyage roller coaster at Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari
Paige Musgrove, Eleanor Daywalt and Ethan Hills at the 29th annual LemonAid Stand for Easterseals fundraiser on June 26, 2025.
Evah Straw enjoying a Posey County watermelon
There’s nothing quite like the sounds of summer, and plenty of music-centric events headlined this year by mixes weekly live music in a food truckFront Porch Fest in Haynie’s closes out summer with sets by more than 50 acts like punk rockers Atlas of The Dogs, strewn across the front lawns of the neighborhood’s historic Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters held mid-July in Henderson, Kentucky, and drawing Nashville, Tennessee-based singer-songwriters to share their talent and tips.
Pick Your Own Adventure
This isn’t life advice, just practical advice. Get out of the grocery store by picking your own produce at area farms, including peaches at Evansville Countryside Orchard. You also can find fresh, from-the-farm produce at Mayse Farm Market, where you also can pet the farm’s miniature donkeys. If your path calls for flowers, Timberview Flower Farm offers U-pick opportunities on select summer dates on its 20-acre farm, or schedule a private visit to make your own bouquet. Sunflower lovers stop by The Red Barn Farm off Libbert and Oak Grove Roads in Newburgh not just for a clutch of the yellow-petal plants but also to grab a photo among the fields.
Make Your Meal Alfresco
Several restaurants have porches or patios for outdoor dining, but those aren’t the only ways to take your meal outside this summer. Food trucks are out in force at seasonal events like the Old Courthouse’s Lunch on the Lawn. For some of the biggest burgers in town, cruise into Zesto’s locations on Riverside Drive or West Franklin Street, or Big Top on Maryland Street, and pair double-stacked patties with a butterscotch dipped ice cream cone. Speaking of burgers and ice cream, how’s this for a summer scenario: Drive through one of Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream’s seven locations for a tower of soft-serve sweet scoops in 20 flavors. How about an old-fashioned picnic in Garvin Park or Wesselman Park? Or a pie-eating contest at the Vanderburgh County Fair? As long as there’s food and summer, the possibilities are endless — and delicious.
Lindsey Williams performs at Farm 57
Kristi and Tim Schulz of Evansville Countryside Orchard
LINDSEY
Attend Church Summer Socials
Food and fellowship are the top — but not the only — draws at the outdoor socials held by Catholic parishes, with crafts, carnival rides, and car shows all part of the fun. At St. Wendel just west of the Posey County line, more than 100 goodie-stuffed baskets are raffled off; some top $150 in value. The lawn around St. Bernard in Rockport, Indiana, is covered in cool autos for a classic car show each summer. Find big-ticket items (like a Big Green Egg grill) at St. Philip in Mount Vernon, Indiana, and don’t miss the half-pot raffle: Last year’s winner took home $2,284! Then, there’s the food. St. Bernard goes through 600 gallons of turtle soup (made today with pork instead of reptile meat), and St. James in Haubstadt, Indiana, dishes out bowls and to-go tubs of burgoo meat stew. Fried chicken dinners are on most parish menus, too.
Go For a Hole-in-One
You don’t have to be a pro to enjoy a game of golf. A mere 18 holes isn’t enough at Walther’s Golf & Fun, which offers two miniature golf courses where casual fans can play outside or dodge the heat in the comfort of an air-conditioned indoor course. Add laser tag to the mix — a 15-minute game can accommodate up to 25 players. If you prefer discs to golf balls, connect with the Ace Eagle Disc Golf Club for a game of disc golf. The nonprofit provides clinics for the public and supports a number of competitions and special events in the summer and year-round. Those who crave a traditional game of golf can hit the links at a trio of municipal courses — Helfrich, Fendrich, and the nine-hole McDonald — plus The Farm (formerly Thunderbolt Pass), now managed by former PGA Tour golfer Dylan Meyer. Swing not ready for the public? Make a game of practicing on the simulators at Club 18 at Mister B’s or Birdies.
Claire Koester and Kyndal Williams putting around at Walther’s Golf & Fun
HOLY ROSARY SUMMER SOCIAL PHOTO BY BRODIE CURTSINGER. WALTHER’S GOLF PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW.
Rayelle Milan tries for a win at the Holy Rosary Summer Social held on May 31, 2025
Summers can get pretty hot and humid around here. To beat the heat, make a splash which boasts Olympic, family, and kids’ pools as well as two slides and a Deaconess Aquatic Center trio of municipal pools. No time to don your swimsuit and jump in the deep end? Stop by a seasonal pop-up shaved ice stand — Roy Boy Shaved Ice Rivertown Ice Cream.
Take a Spin on Two Wheels
Want to feel like a kid again? Get some fresh air atop that old summer standby: the bicycle. Instead of cruising to your friend’s house to see if they can come out and play, try taking in the summer scenery on a rural stretch of road. The villages of Saint Philip and Saint Wendel west of town, plus the North Side communities of McCutchanville and Darmstadt, offer picturesque routes and challenging hills — you won’t soon forget the incline on Little Schaefer Road as you pump your pedals toward Koring Road. Looking for something in town? Rent a pair of wheels from Evansville Trails Coalition’s Upgrade Bikeshare program at nine locations in Evansville and one in Henderson, and traverse an urban bike trail, like the High-Rail Trail running parallel to U.S. 41, around the lake at Garvin Park, or on the newly paved paths circling Deaconess Sports Park. If you want company, turn to the Evansville Bicycle Club, whose members are interested in everything from punishing treks to leisurely rides. Don’t forget about a different kind of wheels: Levy electric scooter rentals are especially popular with Downtown visitors. No matter your two-wheeled adventure, please don’t forget to wear a helmet.
A cyclist on the Pigeon Creek Greenway Passage on the riverfront
Race an Amphibian at Frog Follies
Engines aren’t the only things revving at the E’ville Iron Street Rods’ three-day celebration each August. Introduced as a gimmick to make the first festival stand out in 1975, frogs have become the event’s mascot, and Saturday’s bullfrog race offers a break from browsing 3,000 pre-1949 street rods on the grounds of the Vanderburgh 4H Center. Maneuvering on their hands and knees, human racers can use only a feather to tickle their amphibian sidekick and encourage them (we’ve also witnessed some begging and pleading) to move off the starting line and closer to the finish about 12 feet away. The winner takes home a plaque and bragging rights — sorry, not their froggy friend. Worried you won’t be in sync with your amphibian partner? Former WKDQ-99.5 FM radio personality Ryan O’Bryan scored back-to-back firstplace finishes in the 2022 and ‘23 celebrity frog races and shares his top tips:
Dial up the noise: “Once they say ‘go,’ I start smacking my hands on the concrete behind my frog and yelling. It’s just noise and chaos — anything to get them to move.”
Wield that feather: “I put the feather in my teeth. If the frog veers off course, cut it off with a flick of the feather. Basically, scare it a little so it jumps.”
Invest in creative distractions: “If it’s a tight finish — like in 2022 against (Channel 25 WEHT meteorologist) Wayne Hart — just raise your arms and yell like you won, and hope that somebody didn’t see it another way. I’m not saying that I didn’t win in 2022, but I bet mine won by a toenail … if frogs have toenails.”
New Har
Take a page from the residents of this former Utopian town — which offers such a relaxed atmosphere that you can expect a golf cart to cross your path — and slow , explore the charming, small-town architecture
offers 45-minute tram tours giving an overview of historic sites and which serves as a hub for creativity of all to check out its museum, library, and archive. Say’s that honors Indiana’s
Evansville Living’s Top 10 Songs For an Indiana Summer Playlist
The quintessential
“Jack & Diane” John Mellencamp
“Goin’ Back To Indiana” The Jackson 5
They
“Paradise City” Guns N’ Roses, with Lafayette, Indiana, born and raised front man Axl Rose
“Indiana” Jon McLaughlin
“Can’t Fight This Feeling” REO Speedwagon
“Back to Indiana” The Elms
“Hot in Herre” Nelly
but
“Mary Jane’s Last Dance” Tom Petty
“Cool Jam” Houndmouth
“Small Town” John Mellencamp
Must sing this at the top of your lungs
FROG
Harmonist Labyrinth in New Harmony, Indiana
E’ville Iron Street Rods volunteer with two-time winner, Ryan O’Bryan
Hoosier song for a lazy summer day
meant the village in Warrick County, right?
Saint Louis-based,
it definitely applies to Hoosier heat
The New Albany band slows it down with a song about fading love
just for kids
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Enjoy summer fun for the whole family! This Just For Kids special section is dedicated to helping you find entertainment for all ages that’ll give your little ones a season to remember!
Walther’s Golf & Fun
2301 N. First Ave.
812-464-4472 • golfnfun.com
Locally owned and operated for 29 years, Walther’s Golf & Fun is the area’s go-to spot for kids and adults of all ages. Attractions include indoor and outdoor miniature golf courses, mini-bowling, action-packed laser tag, an expansive arcade with virtual reality, and made-to-order food from Coconut Cafe. And just next door, visit Evansville’s premier golf driving range. Come and check out what’s going on at Walther’s Golf & Fun. Whether you’re looking to host a birthday bash or enjoy a fun day out, go wild at Walther’s!
Supreme Athletics
2716 Kotter Ave.
812-303-9030 • saroyalty.com
Supreme Athletics is your premier destination for recreational tumbling and competitive cheerleading. But Supreme is more than just a cheer and tumbling facility. It’s also a family. At Supreme, our program will emphasize life lessons of teamwork, commitment, accountability, determination, work ethic, goal setting, and much, much more! We value our families and are committed to providing quality instruction and exceptional customer service.
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation
812-435-8453 • evscschools.com
At the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, we know that when we join with our families, staff, and community, we can provide outstanding opportunities that students need to be successful. From state-championship sports teams to honors music programs to rigorous course options and innovative programs, students have the tools to not only succeed but also find their passion in life. Couple that with our highly trained, caring teachers, and we are truly Bringing Learning to Life!
H&H
Music 1313 Washington Ave. 812-477-5339 • handhmusic.net
Serving the Tri-State for 70 years, H & H Music is your complete music store. Our staff of professional musicians are ready to help you with instruments, accessories, sheet music, repairs, and lessons. Visit us in-store and experience old-school customer service.
• Pianos, Digital Pianos, Synthesizers, Keyboards
• Band, Orchestra
• Guitars, Basses, Mandolins, Ukuleles
• Drums, Percussion
• Sheet Music, Accessories
• Lessons
• Professional Repair
Get ready for the ultimate sleepover with The Slumberville! We bring magical slumber party setups right to your home with cool themes like “Magical Dreams,” “Posh N Pink,” and “Hoosiers.” Each setup includes cozy tents, soft bedding, twinkling lights, and fun décor. It’s perfect for birthdays or special nights with friends — and we even handle all the cleanup, so parents can relax too!
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The Road to Henderson, Kentucky
Henderson, Kentucky, basks in a rich personality all its own. Since the 18th century, the seat of Henderson County has made its mark as a destination for quality food, music, and the Great Outdoors. Just last year, the city earned accolades as one of Southern Living magazine’s “Top 20 Friendliest Towns in the South.”
Get a taste of locally sourced food and some of Kentucky’s best barbecue while savoring a variety of flavors from Southern fare to Mexican and Asian cuisine. Partake in regional staples like bourbon and whiskey, and don’t miss locally brewed craft beer and coffee.
Be enter tained by the many renowned annual music events –– the long-running W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival is one of the largest free music festivals in the nation –– celebrating rock, bluegrass, blues, jazz, and country. Regional musicians take center stage each June along picturesque Main Street during Henderson’s annual PorchFest.
Mar vel at Western Kentucky’s rugged nature by hiking or birdwatching at John James Audubon State Park and learn more about its namesake naturalist. Stroll along the Ohio Riverfront and visit one of five parks along its shores, plus many more throughout the city. Find charm in Downtown Henderson’s locally owned small businesses and along its historic streets and neighborhoods.
W hatever your tastes, there’s an opportunity to find something new in Henderson.
NORTH MAIN STREET NEAR DOWNTOWN
HOMER’S BARBECUE
Going For Growth
County is enjoying an economic development boom
BY CHUCK STINNETT
The past five years have seen extraordinary success in Henderson’s economic development. Since 2021, the local economic development agency reports the creation of 842 jobs, $612 million in capital investments, and personal visits to 187 existing industries to assess their needs and growth prospects. Much success can be tied to the recruitment of the 360-employee, $500-million Pratt Paper recycling and corrugated box complex on the south side of the city, which Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear in 2021 called “the largest jobs announcement, we believe, in Western Kentucky in 25 years.”
In June, Tyson Foods also announced plans to expand and modernize its 30-year-old facility in Robards, Kentucky with a nearly $23.5 million investment aimed at supporting retention of more than 1,100 jobs.
A key to Henderson County’s future could be the Sandy Lee Watkins Industrial Site in the 4 Star Industrial Park off Interstate 69 near Robards. The tract, across the road from a large Columbia Sportswear distribution center, “has been there for 25 years” without buildout, Henderson Economic Development Executive Director Missy Vanderpool says. “When we have site visits (from consultants or prospective industries), we ask, ‘What do you see? What’s wrong?’”
That’s critical to understand, she explains, because in early stages, economic development “is about site elimination, not selection.” The tract’s natural rolling terrain would have taken eight months to grade, which repeatedly caused the site to be eliminated from consideration. Now, with the help of a state infrastructure fund, a $1.4-million, 1-million-square-foot building pad — expandable up to 1.4 million square feet — has been engineered and graded there and is the largest Build Ready-certified site in the state. An adjacent 150,000-squarefoot pad sits onsite.
The Watkins Industrial Site is designated as a Bronze Certified CSX Select Site and sits within a 30-minute drive of a workforce of 329,000 people. It enjoys trucking proximity to the Henderson County Riverport — which could be crucial for a company requiring steel shipments — and has immediate access to five megawatts of electrical capacity, which would be sufficient for a distribution center or to power construction of a manufacturing plant while power supplier Kenergy constructs a substation to provide additional power.
HED promotes the Sandy Lee Watkins Industrial Site for logistics (sitting within a day’s drive to two-thirds of the U.S. population as well as having rail service), metalworking companies (with access to aluminum from nearby Century Aluminum, Hydro Aluminum, and Audubon Metals), and automotive suppliers. “It’s the best thing we have going for us,” Vanderpool says.
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Outdoor Oasis
Parks and wildlife areas offer freedom to relax and explore
BY DONNA B. STINNETT
If you’re looking for a place to melt away life’s stresses, Henderson has plenty of possibilities filed under “nature.”
JOHN JAMES AUDUBON STATE PARK
How about some soothing birdsong? Audubon State Park has a 6-mile trail system, and its 1,300 acres is flush with bird life, especially in migration season when you might see something unusual. An easy hike is the accessible Island Loop Trail at Audubon Wetlands over a slough. You can get a look at a bald eagle’s nest and a heron rookery. The longest is the 1.6-mile Back Country Trail along Wilderness Lake. The park’s nature center helps you learn about birds (and other critters) in the forest. It also hosts Ohio Valley Birding Festival events in late spring.
MUNICIPAL
PARKS
There’s no better place for a sunset than the west-facing riverfront at any time of the year. Henderson has five parks along the Ohio River – Atkinson, Audubon Mill, Hays, Red Banks, and Sunset – creating a 2.5-mile uninterrupted stretch of the great outdoors available to everyone. There’s a paved walking path stretching the length. Along the way are playgrounds, places for picnicking, and an open field for flying a kite or simply stretching out on the grass to read a book. For a more rustic walk, the trailhead for the 3.1-mile Canoe Creek Nature Trail is in Newman Park
Freedom Park, adjacent to Henderson Farmers Market at the Henderson County Fairgrounds, offers a playground and a walking trail that loops the grounds. Sandy Lee Watkins Park, in eastern Henderson County, includes a playground, picnic shelters, a paved 3-mile walking trail encompassing a trio of repurposed truss highway bridges, and four fishing lakes (one with a boat ramp and kayak/canoe launch).
SLOUGHS WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA/ GREEN RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Sloughs Wildlife Management Area is a mecca for hunters, birdwatchers, canoeists, and kayakers. Its 10,000 acres include wetlands, woodlands, ridges, open fields, and observation platforms. For the intrepid kayaker or canoeist, Jenny Hole Slough is beautiful in mid-summer when pink, yellow and white lily pads make a blanket of blooms amid the cypress trees.
Located near the confluence of the Green and Ohio rivers, Green River National Wildlife Refuge was launched in 2019 as the second NWR in Kentucky. The long-term conservation project supports migrating waterfowl, songbirds, fish, and other wildlife. Acreage is gradually being added.
DID YOU KNOW?
Canine friends need green spaces, too, and a new fenced-in dog spot in Red Banks Park provides off-leash romping. It has a “memorial wall” where pet owners can leave a tribute to a departed furry friend.
The Audubon Sculpture Walking Tour in Downtown features 16 cast-bronze sculptures by artist Raymond Graf that are based on paintings by naturalist and ornithologist John James Audubon. A fun activity on the tour: Find the sculptor’s extra touch of a tiny “hidden creature.”
AUDUBON STATE PARK
AUDUBON SCULPTURE WALKING TOUR CENTRAL PARK FOUNTAIN
Shop Local
Find a treasure hunt among Downtown stores
BY EVANSVILLE LIVING STAFF
Whether you’re hunting for one-of-a-kind gifts, browsing for home decor, or adding new flair to your wardrobe, Downtown Henderson retailers deliver a shopping experience that is distinctively local and delightfully walkable.
Start your adventure with a specialty espresso blend at Roast Coffee Bar, then wander over to First Street, where boutiques and specialty shops dot the landscape. J’Petals is a favorite for floral arrangements and gifts, offering everything from seasonal blooms to handcrafted candles and accessories. For fashion-forward finds, stop in at The Olive Leaf, where contemporary women’s clothing meets small-town hospitality. Nearby, leaf through the upscale consignment treasures among the racks of women’s apparel at Just Plus/Just Chic. For items that are stylish and comfortable — including some that scream Kentucky or Henderson County — check out LandyLane Boutique’s selection of women’s wear, housewares, seasonal clothes, and fun buys for kids.
One of Downtown’s newer shops, Hattie James Bridal takes a personal, fun approach to styling brides: Dresses are crafted, not produced, and decor is light-hearted, not heavy. Wilkerson Shoes, a specialty store in the heart of Henderson, offers styles and sizes for the whole family. Falcon Creek Boutique specializes in children’s items and offers a lengthy list of name brands, plus a selection of apparel and gifts for all ages.
Beachbum Farms – “one of Henderson’s favorite downtown shops,” according to the city’s Tourism Commission – has creative, rustic decor, boutique clothing and accessories, gifts, and much more. True to its name, Radiant Sun Boutique wants you to feel exactly that way while wearing its trendy, affordable apparel; owners say they strive to promote body positivity through fashion. Elite Downtown brings a unique look and eclectic feel to Henderson, offering women’s apparel, accessories, and graphic tees in brands that aren’t otherwise found locally.
Simple, affordable, and memorable – those are the three goals of Olive + Mae Boutique, which stocks apparel for the entire family, plus accessories, school spirit wear and even dip mixes, snacks, and gourmet sauces and spices. Whims & Wishes is a home base for paint parties and in-studio classes, as well as holiday season items, handwritten signs, and customizable home decor. Thirsty? Walk up the block to Antler Specialty Goods for custom drinks — including seasonal lattes with syrups made in-house from real ingredients — as well as quick, fresh lunch specials.
OLIVE LEAF
HATTIE JAMES
Art lovers should visit Gallery 101 inside the Tourism Commission’s welcome center, where regional creatives display and sell their work, from vibrant paintings to handmade pottery. It’s a great place to view rotating exhibitions and discover a meaningful souvenir with Kentucky roots.
WHIMS & WISHES
J’PETALS
To Your Health
Medical and wellness resources keep area residents in the hands of expert practitioners
BY DONNA B. STINNETT
When you see an ambulance moving on the highway with sirens blaring, or when a friend calls with fears about a health diagnosis, rest assured that Henderson is equipped to provide care.
Opened in 1946 and known as Community Methodist Hospital until being acquired by Deaconess Health System in 2020, Deaconess Henderson Hospital offers 151 staffed beds for short-term acute care located on North Elm Street beside Atkinson Park. The hospital’s May 2025 profile in the American Hospital Directory reported that it had 4,952 annual admissions and 19,609 total patient days. (In the health care industry, a “patient day” measures time during which the services are being used by a patient.) Clinical services include emergency room, cardiac rehab, sleep studies, electroencephalography, chemotherapy, joint replacement, hemodialysis, obstetrics, radiology, mammography, physical therapy, intensive care units, robotic surgery, and wound care.
Deaconess Henderson was ranked No. 2 among 61 acute care hospitals in Kentucky on the 2024-25 Lown Institute Hospitals Index for its social responsibility, value of care, clinical outcomes, pay equity, and costs efficiency. It also received “A” grades in health equity, patient outcomes and inclusivity. The hospital provides leadership for Healthy Henderson coalition, whose members represent organizations with a stake in community health. The coalition meets the first Monday of the month to work on three priority health needs identified in a Community Health Needs Assessment: mental health, substance abuse, and obesity/diabetes.
A Daviess County-based health system extended its network into Henderson County in early 2018. The Owensboro Health Henderson Healthplex outpatient facility offers walkin laboratory services, an urgent care center and expertise in primary care, family medicine, sports medicine, orthopedics, podiatry, cardiology, diabetes education, nutrition counseling, behavioral health, mammography/radiology/imaging, obstetrics and gynecology, occupational medicine, and bone loss and osteoporosis.
The overall Owensboro Health system has more than 350 health care providers in 30 locations across Daviess, Henderson, Hopkins, Muhlenberg, Ohio, McLean, Grayson, and Logan counties in Western Kentucky and Spencer County in Southwestern Indiana. On average each year, the system has 19,000
inpatient admissions, delivers 2,000 babies, provides the region’s only Level III neonatal intensive care unit, performs 33,000 surgical procedures (including nearly 150 open-heart surgeries), and manages 90,000 emergency room visits and 1.25 million outpatient visits, according to the Owensboro Health website.
Indiana-based Ascension Medical Group also operates a primary care facility at 151 Garden Mile Road.
Another major provider is RiverValley Behavioral Services, which has offered mental and behavioral health services to Henderson and six surrounding counties since 1967. In addition to substance use and mental health treatment, RiverValley specializes in care for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities to adults, children, and adolescents, as well as support for their families and caretakers.
Henderson County Health Center at 472 Klutey Park Plaza serves the local office of the Owensboro, Kentucky-based Green River District Health Department and oversees epidemiology and preparedness programs in the community. The health department also handles tobacco prevention programs, diabetes prevention and control, nutrition health education, breastfeeding education, outreach to at-risk teens, restaurant inspections, and more.
In June, RiverValley Behavioral Health, Owensboro Health, and the Green River District Health Department announced the formation of the Green River Regional Mental Health Collaborative. In monthly meetings, the group will assess community needs, spot service gaps, and align efforts to ensure mental health resources are accessible.
DEACONESS HEALTH SYSTEM
OWENSBORO HEALTH HENDERSON HEALTHPLEX
A Savory Tradition
Barbecuing’s roots in Henderson go back to the 19th century
BY CHUCK STINNETT
Barbecuing is an old tradition in Henderson. At least as far back as the 1850s, notices for barbecue events were being advertised in newspapers here. Today, four restaurants carry on the legacy of barbecuing sumptuous pork, ribs, chicken, beef brisket, and more.
Founded 65 years ago, Thomason’s Barbecue (originally Willett’s) at 701 Atkinson St. is the granddaddy of Henderson ’cue joints, and it has earned national fame, from being featured years ago on Jane and Michael Stern’s Road Food website to being named the No. 2 barbecue spot in Kentucky by Southern Living in 2024.
Its sweet, meaty barbecue beans are a local favorite; Thomason’s sells 37,000 pounds of beans per year. Kevin Gibson in 2023 took over ownership of Thomason’s from his father, Frank, who ran it for three decades.
While Kevin describes Thomason’s as “a hole in the wall,” he has national aspirations. In late May, he announced plans to convert a garage on the property into a USDAapproved kitchen, ramp up production of Thomason’s beloved barbecue beans, and distribute them nationally, both via its website and in stores.
And while he continues to produce the restaurant’s original barbecue dip, he has expanded its offering of sauces, adding a sweet variety and a bourbon barbecue option. Now, he’s working to co-brand a barbecue sauce with Silk Velvet, an old Henderson bourbon brand resurrected this year by the Hargis family, with plans to sell it online, in stores, and packaged with Silk Velvet bourbon itself.
Meanwhile, Taylor’s Grill on Wheels got its start with a barbecue trailer in 2017, moving in 2020 into a storefront at 130 N. Water St. that Carl Taylor, who has been barbecuing for 35 years, and his wife, Maai, run. Among its many favorites is a barbecue-topped loaded baked potato that tips the scales at three pounds.
Josh Bennett taught himself to barbecue when he bought a smoker about five years ago. At first, he’d just smoke a Boston butt or loaves of bologna at home on Sundays to share or sell. That proved so popular that in early 2021, he opened ChefWhat BBQ & More at 422 Seventh St. Bennett says his smoked mac-n-cheese with pulled pork is a customer favorite.
Henderson restaurateur Casey Todd opened Homer’s Barbecue at 128 Second St. in late 2021 as a tribute to his
EAT WELL
The Henderson Tourist Commission helps market the city’s barbecue spots through the West Kentucky BBQ Belt’s website, and it’s producing results: Executive Director Abby Dixon says that since launching in May 2024, the website has been visited 320,000 times. Read more about Henderson’s barbecue joints on the Belt at wkybbq.com.
to age
THOMASON’S BARBECUE
TAYLOR’S GRILL ON WHEELS
HOMER’S BARBECUE
CHEFWHAT BBQ & MORE
great-grandfather, Homer Ward, who cooked barbecue commercially up
82. It always has special items on the menu and is the only barbecue place in town with a bar.
Mark Your Calendar
Attending these signature events should be part of your to-do list
BY DONNA B. STINNETT
Picking out a favorite event from Henderson’s annual events calendar can be difficult because there are so many to choose from, but something for everyone. Here are some standouts.
SONGS OF SUMMER
With at least one music festival in every month May-August (and most of them free), it’s easy to see why the Henderson Tourist Commission markets them together as the “Rootin’ Tootin’ Songs of Summer.”
The downbeat happens in mid-May with SummerFest, an evening of rock music on an outdoor stage with an Ohio River backdrop. It’s on the doorstep of nine Downtown restaurants and includes a beer garden.
The first Saturday evening of June, front porches on South Main become mini-stages for PorchFest musicians. Music fans can stake out a favorite front lawn to set up their chairs or wander up and down the street to visit all. Food trucks are parked nearby for when listening to tunes works up a hunger.
PorchFest quickly is followed in June by the long-running W.C. Handy Blues & Barbecue Festival, whose main stage in Audubon Mill Park on the Ohio River offers four days of artists performing various blues sub-genres. Restaurants and watering holes host their own live music for lunch breaks and happy hours. A popular Zydeco Night Food Tent serves food reminiscent of the bayou and helps fund the free festival.
In July, songwriters take the spotlight at the four-night Sandy Lee Watkins Songwriters Festival. Song authors from Nashville, Tennessee, perform in the round, playing their songs — often hits by big-name artists — and tell stories about them. This festival requires a ticket.
In August, the two-day Bluegrass in the Park Folklife Festival features bands playing both traditional and progressive bluegrass music in Audubon Mill Park.
LIONS CLUB FESTIVALS
To bust folks out of winter, in April the Breakfast Lions Club hosts Tri-Fest, a street festival with food booths, entertainment, fireworks, a 5K race, and more over three days.
Each October, the City Lions host the Arts & Crafts Festival at John James Audubon State Park with more than 100 vendors selling fall decor and holiday gifts.
DID YOU KNOW?
The Alice P. Taylor Christmas Candlelight Service, a community-wide ecumenical program of sacred music that rotates between Downtown churches, marks its centennial in 2025.
For Memorial Day, an army of volunteers installs more than 6,000 white crosses in Central Park (all of them decorated with floral tributes) to honor the community’s deceased veterans. Festivals celebrating diversity include Juneteenth and Pride in the summer and the colorful Día de los Muertos in the fall.
Are you a baseball fan? In June and July, the Henderson Flash play at Park Field in Atkinson Park against other teams in the Ohio Valley collegiate wooden bat league.
The Garden Club hosts a popular Candlelight Home Tour in the holiday season.
TRI-FEST
W.C. HANDY BLUES & BARBECUE FESTIVAL
ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL
AUDUBON METALS
270-830-6622
Audubonmetals.com
BELLE HOMES
270-831-0079
CABINETS BY DESIGN
270-826-2244
cabinetsbydesignky.com
CENTURY ALUMINUM
270-521-7812
Centuryaluminum.com
ERVIN CABLE CONSTRUCTION
270-333-3366
ervincable.com
F.C. TUCKER/COLLIER
270-827-5624
FCTuckerCollier.com
FIELD & MAIN BANK
888-831-1500
Fieldandmain.com
GIBBS
270-827-1801
Gibbsdc.com
GREEN RIVER AREA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
270-826-0927
greenriverafcu.com
HENDERSON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 270-826-7505
Hendersonkychamber.com
HENDERSON COUNTY FAMILY YMCA
270-827-9622 hcfymca.org
HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 270-826-3712 hcpl.org
RIVERVALLEY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 270-689-6879 rvbh.com rvbh.com/careers theporthenderson.com
ROAST COFFEE BAR 270-212-0938 roastcoffeebarky.com
SIDEWALK CAFE
270-831-2233
SQUARE YARD CARPET
270-827-1138
Squareyardcarpet.com
www.choosehendersonky.com
www.choosehendersonky.com
At Field & Main Bank, we believe in strengthening bonds with the leaders shaping our community’s future and investing in the place that made us who we are.
We extend civic and economic resources where they’re needed most. Our passion for community drives every decision we make – from supporting local organizations to championing initiatives that build healthy, vibrant, and collaborative neighborhoods.
Community isn’t just our business; it’s our heart. Through volunteer and sponsorship partnerships with W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson, Elevate, and other impactful organizations, we are reinforcing our mission to strengthen relationships, support local businesses, and give back to the community that has so generously given to us. Here, community comes first. That’s MODERN CRAFT BANKING.
Visit FIELDANDMAIN.COM to learn more about our community-first banking experience.
Dwell
GROWING SHADE
No matter how many times you venture into Susan and Patrick Tromley’s backyard garden, there’s something new to discover. The couple has spent more than 30 years cultivating multiple varieties of shade-loving ferns, hostas, and blooming trees, creating an oasis that dials down the temperature on a hot day. The result is an enchanting respite where troubles melt away.
Into the Woods
Susan and Patrick Tromley cultivate their yard into a private haven
By Maggie Valenti
The yard behind Susan and Patrick Tromley’s Tudor home on Bellemeade Avenue used to be mostly grass. A gift of saplings from Patrick’s brother-inlaw, David Kolb, provided an opportunity to grow something unique, and those saplings, combined with more than 30 years of cultivation, transformed the backyard into an oasis.
“I planted what I thought looked pretty to my eye … I planted as native as I could, but … there are some non-native plants in here,” Susan explains. “In a shade garden, there’s not a lot of color. To add color interest with perennials, you do it with different shades of greens and also add some red or purple shades in there.”
That philosophy is evident when surveying the yard. The saplings grew into Kousa dogwood, redbud, sweet gum, tulip, oak, maple, and white pine trees. Interspersed are hostas in the aforementioned varying shades of green. Susan installed ferns to add structure and texture, but she didn’t stick with one kind: Her collection includes maidenhair, autumn, ostrich, royal, and Japanese painted ferns. She added splashes of color with palace purple coral bells, astilbe, cone flowers, Solomon’s seal, bleeding heart, brunnera,
During the design and planting process, Susan sourced ideas from books and took classes to become a master gardener. She learned fast, and her home oasis was featured on the Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association’s 2003 Garden Walk.
The Tromleys have added personal touches over the years. Patrick built winding stone paths and a wooden swing for Susan to sit and admire her outdoor space. A water feature adds a soothing trickling sound. Bird feeders hang from tree limbs and poles, and small statues of cats, turtles, and birds dot the landscaping. Decorative signs underscore the mood: “Nature touches every heart.” “Our main goal was to create a woods,” Susan says. “We started adding more areas where we put in stone and paths, (and) raised it up to tier it. It happened over time.”
Many of the bird statues depict owls, hinting at Susan’s hobby documenting one of the Dexter neighborhood’s nocturnal residents, which Evansville Living featured in a March/April 2021 story. In the back left corner of the Tromleys’ private “woods,” as they call it, is a small tree stump marking
the former home of an owl named Eleanor, whom Susan named after former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. “She was the female matriarch. She nested in a tree for eight years, and they had to cut down the tree because it was about to fall,” Susan says. “It was really nice of the homeowner to let me have that.”
The garden’s diverse plants also attract migratory birds, including warblers, rosebreasted grosbeaks, thrashers, and thrushes, plus cardinals, blue jays, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, wrens, goldfinches, and sparrows. Another perk: During extreme heat and humidity, walking under the tree canopy is a fantastic way to cool off. Susan agrees: “It’s cooler back here in the summer.”
TRANQUIL ESCAPE There is plenty to see in the Tromleys’ shade garden. Winding paths introduce a new aspect at every turn. Only one tree in the yard is original to the house, and it’s claimed to be the oldest Japanese maple in Evansville.
Giving Notice
Historic Newburgh, Inc., applauds stellar landscaping and lawn maintenance
By Maggie Valenti
Ifyou think no one pays attention to what’s happening in your front yard, think again. Historic Newburgh, Inc. officials launched a “We Notice” campaign two years ago to recognize notable exteriors “where people take pride in their homes,” says HNI Executive Director Troy Wells. “Some people go above and beyond for their properties.”
To be considered, properties must be well-maintained and fit their neighborhood’s aesthetic. A committee regularly walks through Downtown and nominates selections to be voted on by the full board. The committee also welcomes recommendations from community members. A We Notice sign remains on the property’s lawn for a month until the next honoree is chosen. Eighteen homes — two per month — have been recognized so far,
and at the end of the year, the home with the most likes on social media is named Home of the Year.
Becky and Steve Geis’ longtime State Street home received the We Notice award in May. Becky’s gardening — featuring hostas, hydrangeas, and perennials — has given the 125-year-old house a boost. “I garden for me, but I also want the house to look nice,” says Becky, who owned the former gift shop Heart of Newburgh. “If everyone else enjoys it, that’s fine too.”
We Notice has partnered with HNI nonprofit Newburgh Neighbors to assist residents in addressing exterior needs on their properties. “We are hoping to continue this program and make it even bigger,” Wells says. “We would love to see some blighted homes in Newburgh come alive.” historicnewburgh.org
‘A PARKLIKE SETTING’ Elegant lodge is a showstopper
By John Martin
Searching for privacy in the city? Perched a half mile from Evansville Country Club sits a site-built luxury home, surrounded by more than five acres of woods and plains that are roamed by wildlife. Listing agent Mitch Schulz says the home stands out because of its grounds, charm, and uniqueness. A stream cascades down the front lawn into a lit fountain and pond. Vehicles navigate a winding, tree-lined driveway famed by a wrought iron archway.
The great room boasts soaring ceilings, original hardwood flooring, and dual fireplaces. Elegant touches include ionic columns, arched windows, and boxwood. The current owner added a 1,320-square-foot walkout basement a year ago. Adding to the upscale feel are stained glass and a stone veneer leading to the home’s in-law suite wing. Schulz describes the cottage-style home as large, yet “quaint and cozy,” and the property is “a parklike setting.”
Year Built: 1926
Vital Stats: five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, nearly 6,600 square feet
Listing Price: $1.435 million
Listing Agent: Mitch Schulz of Weichert Realtors, The Schulz Group
A CENTURY OF GROWTH
Henderson’s garden club invests in beautification
For nearly half of Henderson, Kentucky’s 228-year history, members of the Garden Club have rolled up their sleeves and spruced up public spaces to create a visually vibrant community.
“Whatever the city needs and wants, we try to do it,” says Garden Club president Pam Johnson, a 12-year member. “Not everyone is an avid gardener, but they appreciate gardens.”
Most of the club’s work since its inception on May 1, 1925, is visible in planters and hanging baskets along Downtown streets, the redbud trees lining Elm Street, cherry trees in Central Park, and the stone gateway at Atkinson Park costing $1,500. Members have planted trees and perennials at Redbanks Nursing Home, Henderson Community College, Brain Injury Center, and Audubon Mill Park.
Not all of its projects involve greenery. In 2010, the club saw to the placement of two American flags, two Kentucky flags, and a stone planter with knockout roses and a sign that says “Welcome to Henderson” near the southbound intersection of U.S. 41 and Wolf Hills Road. Former club president
By Maggie Valenti
Ardith Shannon also touts one of her favorite projects: the dedication of copper frog sculptures, created by South Carolina sculptor Beau Smith, in the Henderson County Public Library’s children’s playground and garden area in 2021.
Among the club’s most notable events are its annual Candlelight Christmas Tours and, this year, a Garden Tour hosting plein air painting club Easel Does It at local residences, with proceeds going toward beautification projects. However, the clubs 54 active members have scaled back other events and focus on promoting love of gardening, protecting native trees and flowers, and encouraging civil planting and beautification. The club also holds regular community events promoting education at the University of Kentucky Extension Office and Expo Center.
“We are a club of many past, present, and future members,” Johnson says.
“I’ve watched the club change,” Shannon adds. “Everything changes with time.”
Follow Garden Club of Henderson on Facebook
This year, the Garden Club of Henderson hosted a plein air painting event with club Easel Does It.
Dream It, Do It
TODD AND SALLY KEMPF’S CUSTOM HOME EXUDES LIMITLESS IMAGINATION
BY
JOHN MARTIN • PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW
“WE FEEL LIKE WE NAILED IT.” SALLY KEMPF
A WOODSY PARADISE Todd and Sally Kempf’s imaginations worked in overdrive when designing and building their new home. Surrounded by forest, it has a mix of chic modern and retro elements. Sally has an office with a view, Todd has ample room for his classic car pursuits, and the couple’s grandchildren have endless opportunities for fun.
MANY PEOPLE can visualize their dream home, but how many have the ability to construct it with their own hands? Todd Kempf did just that. The one-of-a-kind property he shares with his wife, Sally, and their Aussiedoodles Archie and Addi is a product of creativity, skill, and a touch of irreverence.
Nestled in the woods just over the VanderburghPosey County line, the Kempfs’ home is distinct for its silo-shaped master bedroom suite and open concept, complete with mezzanine.
“I GUESS I’M A GREEN FREAK.” SALLY KEMPF
WIDE OPEN SPACES The Kempfs coveted an open concept for their custom home. The resulting floor plan features a second-level mezzanine overlooking the entryway, living room, and kitchen. With an unimpeded flow, entertaining throughout their home comes easy.
AND THAT’S JUST THE INSIDE. The outdoor environment is a paradise unto itself, tailor-made for playing children, family cookouts, and relishing nature.
Todd was an iron worker after high school and then co-owned the Kempf Group Real Estate & Development. Retired from that career for a decade, Todd these days sells classic cars and car parts — we’ll get to a discussion of his garage — and has time to admire the living space he built. The frame was erected by Daviess County Metal Sales of Cannelburg, Indiana. For the most part, Todd took it from there. “I just helped with the decorating,” Sally says.
The entire job took about three years; the Kempfs lived with Sally’s sister and brother-in-law during much of that time. They moved into their new home four years ago, but the master bedroom suite took longer. Todd wrapped that up in August 2023. “I got so burned out that I kept putting it off. There was scaffolding in there for a couple of years. I told Sally I’d finish it by Christmas. But I didn’t say what year,” he laughs.
The bedroom has long vertical windows. Towering above are a ceiling and roof with 2-feet-thick foam insulation packed between them. Inspiration for the tall, circular design came from Todd’s heart. His father, the late Gregory Kempf, founded Empire Contractors (initially known as Empire Steel), but he also worked as a grain salesman. “I did that (the silo shape) to honor him,” Todd says.
Most of the Kempfs’ living space is unrestricted by walls — when you walk in the front door, you can see all the way to the back windows. Shiplap and some tongue and groove cover the walls. Befitting its setting outside, accents throughout are varying shades of green, from dining chairs to kitchen drawers to steps in the staircase. “I guess I’m a green freak,” Sally says. Kitchen cabinets were crafted by Allison Quality Woodworking; owner Clay Allison is a longtime friend of Todd.
The first floor contains a guest bedroom and Sally’s enclosed pottery room just off the rectangular dining room, which features a low ceiling to accommodate the walkway upstairs. The rest of the first floor gathering spaces are open with up to 16-foot ceilings. There is
A NOD TO DAD
Todd’s late father was a grain bin salesman and inspired his decision to locate the couple’s primary bedroom suite in a silo-shaped room, which was the last area to finish construction. “I did that to honor him,” Todd says.
FUN FOR ALL SEASONS The Kempfs designed their home so it can be enjoyed year-round. The garages — the outbuilding features decorative antique gas pumps — allow Todd to pursue his passion for classic cars, and the surrounding woods are relaxing for the adults and ideal for the couple’s grandchildren. “We enjoy the outdoor porch as much as we can,” Sally says.
lots of roaming space, ideal for socializing or movie watching, whether from big comfy seats or beanbag chairs the Kempfs bought for their grandchildren. “We just wanted something really functional to hold everyone, the dogs and kids,” Sally says.
THE SECOND FLOOR OVERLOOKS the first, the mezzanine hemmed in by a wrought iron railing. As with much of the rest of the house, it’s an open space, from their grandchildren’s play area to the sitting room. Additional bedrooms are tucked upstairs, and
dreaming of a post frame building?
“THE KIDS CALL IT NARNIA.”
Sally, who works for Clarkston, Michiganbased Chase Plastic Services, has a second-floor office with windows overlooking their land. Todd says Sally wanted windows for her work area, and “I didn’t want her to feel like she was closed in.”
The Kempfs’ home is dotted with colorful objects and decor. They are fans of Evansville painter Michael Key, and many of Key’s abstract creations line the walls. A rendering of the Last Supper was painted by Sally’s niece, Whitney Oliver, who passed away more
TODD KEMPF
than two years ago at 36. “She worked in Chicago at Project Onward, which is a place for autistic artists,” Sally says. “They can sell their artwork. Half the proceeds go to Project Onward and half to the artist.”
Another artistic touch is a Mona Lisa created from Legos by the Kempfs’ grandson, Brooks Elfreich. “He was doing 18-year-old stuff at 6,” Todd says.
The Kempfs love their picturesque, natural setting, which abuts the surrounding forest-like area. They playfully call it Poison Ivy Park, but there really isn’t much poison ivy, they insist. “The kids call it Narnia,”
Todd says. A large wrap-around porch is complete with a slide to the ground. On that level, there’s a large play structure and places to sit and eat or chat. Todd’s meat smoker, which he repurposed from a metal trash bin, stands ready for its next cookout. Sally added a creative flair by fashioning a sculpture with wine bottles and metal piping.
“We could come out here and had parties in the backyard area before we even had a house,” Sally says. “We enjoy the outdoor porch as much as we can. When it’s a little bit cool, we roast marshmallows.” Todd also made a hayride wagon to drive around the 10-acre property. The Kempfs’ five grandchildren “don’t want to leave when they are here,” he says.
THE GARAGES ARE ALL TODD’S and represent the home base for his classic car pursuits. Decorated with neon signs, an attached garage has a 1967 Shelby, a 1953 Ford pickup that was purchased new by his grandfather, and a 1966 Ford Bronco. His unattached garage is a vintage gas station, with a welding shop that he uses frequently.
The Kempfs bought the 10 acres in 2009 after seeing an ad in the Tri-State Thrifty Nickel, and although it took time, they have since crafted it into their own slice of Southwest Indiana paradise.
Sally says she loves how the property can be enjoyed by friends and family all year long. There’s plenty of room inside when inclement weather hits, and the spacious porch has a roof.
The Kempfs are “super happy” with how all has turned out, Sally says — but she and Todd are leaving the door ajar to doing more.
“We feel like we nailed it,” Sally says, adding, “It’s always a work in progress. Who knows what the future brings?”
p Jeremy Bethel, Sam Mills, Cherie Simpson, Nick Wood, and Ray Butler.
Crafting Nature’s Beauty
Savor
IN THE KITCHEN
BAKED IN NOSTALGIA
One thing to know about Amanda Benson? When she has a passion, she commits to it. That’s why her 1946 ranchstyle kitchen is filled with pastel washes of vintage Pyrex, geometric flooring, retro-looking appliances, and other types of what she calls “mid-century cotton candy kitsch.”
Back to the Past
Amanda Benson’s vintage decor adds color — and happiness — to her kitchen
By Jodi Keen and Brodie Curtsinger
Walking into Amanda Benson’s home must be what it feels like entering a portal to the 1950s. Bright pops of Pyrex baking dishes double as wall art. Her kitchen is floored in yellowand-white vinyl in a geometric print. A pale pink ‘50s-era Big Chill refrigerator sits alongside metal cabinets with Formica countertops and opposite a Frigidaire stove that’s original to the 1946-built house. A retro pitcher stands ready to pour lemonade into matching white-and-yellow glasses. A smiling pink pig is painted on a tea kettle, a curly metal tail jutting from the back. Benson’s kitchen is awash in smiles.
“It makes me happy to bring other people into the home and see how happy it makes them.”
Amanda Benson
“You can’t help but come in and just be happy looking at pinks and happy little faces on your knick-knacks,” says Benson, a case administrator and Evansville resident since 2013.
Benson’s passion for vintage began when she accompanied her parents to auctions and garage sales during her childhood in Plymouth, Indiana. Enjoying the treasure hunt, she started collecting Care Bears as a pre-teenager, then Depression glass to decorate her college apartment. After graduating from Indiana University in 2013, she supplemented her income through buying and selling housewares, antiques, and collectibles. She scored her first piece of vintage Pyrex — an Amish butterprint Cinderella mixing bowl in dreamy blue — for $15 at an antique shop in tiny Roann, Indiana, that November. She’s decorated her East Side home with vintage decor since 2019.
“I like the lines of mid-century furniture, the pointed legs and the colors, the walnut,” she says.
Although not the sole source of her kitchen decor, Pyrex milk glass baking dishes make up a large part of it. Attracted by the whimsical designs, Benson narrowed her focus on the colors that make her happiest: turquoise, pinks, and yellows. Vintage prints like butterprint, daisy, white-on-charcoal snowflake, and gooseberry fill the bulk of her collection, and all stick closely to late 1950s and early ‘60s product lines.
Acquiring a collection of original Pyrex can be difficult. The brand, originally developed by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Inc.) in 1915 as a borosilicate low-expansion alternative to Schott AG’s Duran kitchenware product line, was revered for its durability long before fanciful prints were added. Among Benson’s “holy grail” pieces is a hard-to-find turquoise space saver in a 1960s atomic starburst promotional pattern. At this point in her Pyrex journey, though, Benson is searching for specific, rare pieces to complete her sets. She shops at antique shops and thrift stores throughout Southern Indiana and Western Kentucky.
“It brings me a lot of happiness,” Benson says. “It makes me happy to bring other people into the home and see how happy it makes them. How can you not be happy in a home where you’re surrounded by smiles?”
COLOR BURST Amanda Benson was way ahead of TikTok’s “dopamine decor” trend and has been styling her home in vintage kitchenware since college. She says two of her more notable Pyrex pieces are “a pink Amish butterprint casserole dish my dad found at a garage sale and an Atomic Starburst Space Saver I raced up to Shelbyville for.”
In Good Spirits
Hundreds of bourbons await at a bar under Owensboro’s Miller House
By John Martin CHEERS
There’s no dress code at the Miller House’s Spirits lounge — guests come as they are. It’s the drinks that are highbrow. This basement paradise for bourbon connoisseurs in Owensboro, Kentucky, offers comfort with an air of class.
Owners Larry and Jeanne Kirk say Spirits isn’t a speakeasy, although it does have that feel. Bourbon bottles cover the walls in waist-to-ceiling wooden cabinets with glass windows. Beneath the cabinets is exposed brick, just like you’d find in any hideaway.
With more than 600 bourbons, Spirits claims the widest selection under one roof in Western Kentucky. The rarest spirits — those not easily found in stores — are consumed quickly, like pours from the Pappy Van Winkle and Old Forester families. “We’re not a bourbon museum,” Larry says. “We get many bottles of great bourbons, and when they’re gone, they’re gone.” The lounge works handin-glove with the two-story Miller House restaurant above, where an upscale menu marries high-end drinks. “Casual elegance” is how Jeanne describes it.
The Kirks bought the Queen Anne home Downtown on East Fifth Street in 2006. Constructed in 1905 and named for original owners Elmer and Lizzie Miller, it needed substantial work — and that was before it was damaged when an EF3 twister
ripped through the city Oct. 18, 2007. “You could stand in the basement and see pigeons fly in the attic,” Larry recalls.
The Miller House opened in 2009 and quickly hit its stride. The restaurant and Spirits see customers from beyond Owensboro, including those making the short trek from Evansville and Southwestern Indiana. Recognition has come from The Bourbon Review, which named Spirits one of America’s 55 best bourbon bars in 2013, as well as Whisky Advocate, which ranks it on a national list of 10 destinations with more than 100 bourbons to sip from.
The Kirks’ daughter, Kasey Dillow, is the Miller House’s head chef. The menu is Southern influenced; meatloaf and plates of
shrimp and grits are two top sellers. Visitors to Spirits can order and enjoy dinner in the subterranean setting. Larry says most guests come for a combination of dinner, as well as a stop at Spirits. “It’s not the amount of bourbons, it’s the feel you get when you come in. It makes you feel at home,” he explains. “We have a lot of people from a lot of different cities, and all the tables are talking together. We’ve been blessed to have it, and it seems to keep getting better all the time.”
themillerhouserestaurant.com
PHOTOS
TAKE YOUR PICK More than 600 bourbons await in the Spirits bar under the Miller House. The Queen Anne home in Downtown Owensboro, Kentucky, was converted into the restaurant in 2009. Cocktail selections include the timeless Old Fashioned and a Raspberry Manhattan.
Straight From The Farm
Moonlight Hollow Farm offers homegrown food and natural products
By Maggie Valenti
Britni and Troy Teeters intended to grow food for their own purposes. Then word spread, and their herbs, eggs, and lettuce found their way onto tables at area restaurants and into the inventory of online marketplace Local Source. Now, Moonlight Hollow Farm is expanding its line of clean, natural food products.
When the couple moved to their 11-acre property seven years ago, Britni was working as a remote project lead for PSCU (now known as Valera) of Advisors Plus based in St. Petersburg, Florida, while Troy was a welder and fabricator for Vogler Metalwork & Design in Haubstadt, Indiana. The couple had always been interested in growing their own food and herbs, but the stress of corporate life and Britni’s resulting health issues prompted them to expand their farm to encourage her recovery journey. Five years ago, they introduced animals, and three years ago, they added consumer sales.
“We just wanted to do it for ourselves. … We didn’t want to depend on other people for our food and wanted to know where our food was coming from,” Troy says. “We’ve always had a garden … but nothing on this scale,” adds Britni, sharing that their children, Omelia, 11, and Oliver, 8, help with farm chores.
On five acres, they grow Parisienne carrots, dazzling blue kale, crisp mint lettuce, Chinese red meat radish, early scarlet globe radish, purple plum radish, zlata radish, black cherry tomatoes, peppers, berries, beets, cucumbers, and squash. Herbs include basil and oregano, which restaurant venture Turn Table procured while operating out of Arcademie. The Teeters’ chicken eggs have been poached and paired with asparagus and used in fresh, house-made pasta dishes on Belly of the Wolf’s menu. Their lettuce appears in salads at Copper House and the Pangea family of restaurants. They also sell pork and poultry meat alongside herbal remedies, soaps, natural bug sprays, and brownies at farmers markets, including Market on Main and Franklin Street Bazaar.
Last year, the Teeters connected with Mary Winstead, co-owner of Beautiful Edibles, and the online marketplace Local Source, who assisted in establishing their online marketplace presence last year, which linked them with more restaurants. The Teeters’ goal is to expand their current farmto-table offerings to include more vegetables, edible herbs, and meats. “The Salanova salad mix is the most productive in the farm-to-table restaurant orders,” Britni says.
That said, the Teeters prioritize the production of natural and healthy food over expansion. “We’re small batch. …We do all of this with love and make sure we have a clean, natural environment,” Britni says.
evansville.localfoodmarketplace.com
READ MORE
What other farm businesses provide locally grown and raised food products to area restaurants? Find out at evansvilleliving.com.
PHOTOS
Britni and Troy Teeters
SET THE SCENE
OH, OH, OH! IT’S MAGIC
Joseph Franklin adds a dash of mystery at Turoni’s Forget-Me-Not Inn
There’s magic in the air Friday nights at Turoni’s Forget-Me-Not Inn when Joseph Franklin pushes around his cart of props and delights diners with a quick show.
The Henderson, Kentucky, resident’s interest first was piqued when as a child he saw a magician perform while dining with his father at a restaurant in Carbondale, Illinois. Stumbling across a magic shop in San Francisco, California, and discovering a copy of Henry Hay’s “The Amateur Magician’s Handbook” in Paducah, Kentucky, captured his passion.
“I really didn’t know anything except that I wanted to pursue this,” says Franklin, who is a desktop engineer for Deaconess Health System. “I went in different directions until I found what I needed.” He’s performed magic professionally for 37 years.
Starting out, he focused on tricks with cards and coins and gradually added more props. His regular gig at Turoni’s Weinbach Avenue location began in 2001. Though he prefers parlor and
By Maggie Valenti
close-up magic, he also performs at birthday parties, corporate events, Christmas shows, and events like the Vanderburgh County Fair. In 2016, he added ventriloquism to his repertoire, and he’s performed song-and-dance numbers since joining the Drop Dead Darlings Burlesque & Variety Show in 2018.
“Over the years, I’ve done it all, everything from close-up to stage illusions,” he says. His favorite part of being a magician? “Interacting with people, and bringing a little mystery to their lives, letting them know more things are possible than they believe,” he explains.
He also mentors beginner magicians, including Lewis Chaney, a mentalist who performs at Turoni’s North Main Street and Newburgh locations. He encourages magicians just starting out to follow his lead: “The harder tricks are in books,” he shares.
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Dine
Fine Dining
i Butcher & Barrel
Specializing in American Modern comfort cuisine, this upscale eatery offers woodfired barbecue, sizzling steaks, fresh seafood, and craft bourbon cocktails in a former bank. (Check out the dining room in the old vault!)
416 E. Fourth St., Huntingburg
Cavanaugh’s on the River
Located on the second floor of Bally’s Riverfront Event Center, this premier dining experience specializes in steak and seafood on its three-course menu, which includes prime rib, pork chop, blackened neptune, verlasso salmon, and king crab legs. Live entertainment Wednesday-Sunday at Cavanaugh’s Piano Bar. Reservations recommended.
This newer scratch restaurant inside Schymik’s Kitchen offers a wine-driven menu of smoked salmon, Iberico pork loin, shareplate ribeyes, steak frites, Curacao creme brulee, and more.
1112 Parrett St.
Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano
Monthly chef specials and homemade dishes fill out the lunch and dinner menus. Try bacon-wrapped dates, seafood scampi, french onion soup, braised short rib or butternut squash ravioli, eggplant parmesan, dijon salmon, and grilled mahi mahi.
6401 E. Lloyd Expressway Ste. 3
i Cap & Cork
Find a menu heavy on steak and seafood, with several handheld choices, a lengthy cocktail menu, and a cigar and bourbon bar.
104 N. Water St., Henderson, KY
The Collective Entrees like seafood stuffed mushrooms, barbecue pork sliders, crispy skin salmon, chicken cordon bleu, and porterhouse stead are complemented by curated wines, original cocktails, and a whiskey selection. 21+.
230 Main St. (above COMFORT by the Cross-Eyed Cricket)
Copper House
Dishes range from white bean hummus and steak and grits to apricot salmon, plus cocktails and wine enjoyed from the restaurant, bar, and Garden Room overlooking the kitchen.
1430 W. Franklin St.
H Cork ’N Cleaver
(Best Restaurant for a Celebratory Dinner)
With its menu etched on literal cleavers, this longstanding restaurant is known for steaks, seafood, burgers, and sandwiches, an extensive salad bar (complete with anchovies), and mud pie for dessert.
650 S. Hebron Ave.
Cosmos Bistro
This French-inspired menu, concise with a broad variety of options, offers a la carte dishes that change seasonally.
101 S.E. First St.
Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar
The wine and cocktail bar has an intimate setting and offers a rotating selection of small plates including charcuterie and cheese plates, salads, flatbreads, and desserts
303 Main St.
i Farmer and Frenchman Winery
French and Italian cuisines live in harmony on this menu offering seasonal small bites, focaccia, vol au vent, braised beef pasta, beet and burrata salad, beef bourguignon, and roasted butternut squash. An extensive wine menu is available.
12522 U.S. 41 S., Robards, KY
i Haub Steakhouse
Housed in a 125-year-old former grain warehouse, find hand-cut meats, including trimmed steaks and fresh seafood, alongside desserts and signature cocktails.
101 E. Haub St., Haubstadt
Casual
Backyard Bar & Grill
Formerly J’s Sportsbar, you’re invited to “sit and stay awhile” while enjoying daily lunch specials and plate lunches alongside a regular menu of sandwiches, pizza, tacos, nachos, soups, and salads.
602 Vann Ave.
Bar Louie
The Midwest gastrobar chain offers bar bites like fried pickles and bone-in wings before entrees including Monterey chicken, citrus grilled salmon, beer-battered fish and chips, shrimp and grits, flatbreads, and craft burgers and scratch-built sandwiches. Catering available.
7700 Eagle Crest Blvd.
Bonefish Grill
A local favorite for seafood, find hand-cut and wood-grilled specialties like Chilean sea bass, parmesan-crusted rainbow trout, and bourbon-glazed salmon. For those who prefer land-based meats, try chicken, pork, steak, or linguine dishes.
6401 E. Lloyd Expressway
H BRU Burger Bar
(Best Restaurant for a Burger)
Inside the city’s historic former Greyhound bus terminal, dine on endless takes on the burger — dress it up with bourbon sauce, Provencal cheese, double bacon, chipotle barbecue sauce, a Mexicali spice mix, and mushrooms and Swiss cheese. A wide range of sandwiches, milkshakes, and signature cocktails also are served.
222 Sycamore St.
Bubba’s 33
This family restaurant/sports bar fusion was started by Kent “Bubba” Taylor, the founder of Texas Roadhouse, in 2013, and came to Evansville in 2022. Enjoy dishes like the Bacon Burger and Meaty Meat pizza, plus garlic knots, pastas, salads, and sandwiches.
1 N. Burkhardt Road
i Carriage Inn
Housed in what originally was a 19th-century livery renting horses and carriages, this Southern family-style restaurant serves hand-breaded fried chicken, chicken livers and gizzards, grilled salmon, and catfish filets, plus sandwiches and burgers.
103 E. Gibson St., Haubstadt
Catfish Willy’s Seafood & Comfort Cuisine
This eclectic menu includes a Grippos cheeseburger, meatloaf, coconut shrimp, crab stuffed whitefish, fried frog legs, a seafood ramen boil, loaded gator fries, fresh-shucked loaded or raw oysters, deep fried crab cakes, and a create-your-own seafood steampot, all served with the help of robots.
5720 E. Virginia St.
Chef Lo on the Go
Find a range of classic smashburgers — including pineapple bacon, surf and turf, and brunch variations — plus a shrimp po’boy, fajita tacos, ribeye cheesesteak sandwich, and a variety of loaded fries.
900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage)
COMFORT by the Cross-Eyed Cricket (Best Spot for Brunch)
Dine in a historic former hotel on one of the city’s most varied menus. Country entrees include meatloaf, roast beef, and chicken and dumplings, or select from loaded salads, thick sandwiches, fish and fowl dishes, and steaks. Belgian waffles, skillets, omelets, and more breakfast items are served all day.
230 Main St.
Cross-Eyed Cricket Family Restaurant
The precursor to COMFORT set the table for homestyle cooking available all day. Breakfast specials include bread budding French toast, deep fried fruit-covered funnel cake, and garlic butter ribeye steak ‘n eggs. For lunch or dinner, try the Cricket Melt — two beef patties with lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions, and bacon on Texas toast.
2101 W. Lloyd Expressway
Drake’s
The Lexington, Kentucky-based chain specializes in burgers, steaks, sushi, and a good time. The bar has 20 craft beers on tap to wash down a variety of sushi rolls and burgers, plus chicken asada tacos, fried fish, salads, chili, smashburgers, steak, and sandwiches.
1222 Hirschland Road
The Frontier Restaurant and Bar Feast on chicken wings, a “porterhouse” pork chop, and roasted prime rib, plus seafood, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches at the former cinder block saloon.
12945 IN-57
G.D. Ritzy’s
Exuding a diner feel with a 1950s playlist, on the menu are chili, “the world’s best” peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and
the well-known shoe string fries alongside burgers, hotdogs, salads, and soft-serve ice cream.
Three locations in Evansville
i Hometown Roots
Explore cuisine with Southern roots by way of pork cakes, a classic Kentucky Hot Brown, Mississippi Cajun catfish, and sweet sorghum banana pudding served in a mason jar. Catering available.
136 Second St., Henderson, KY
HT’s Ice Cream & Grill
Inside the former 2nd Street Treats, this relaxed eatery specializes in smashburgers and ice cream and offers sandwiches, milkshakes and malts, banana splits, sundaes, and more.
221 Second St. Ste. A, Henderson, KY
The Hornet’s Nest Steakhouse
Formerly a tavern, hotel, and dance hall, now the restaurant offers everything from a hot brown and beef Manhattan to Cajun chicken tortellini, French dip and Philly sandwiches, lollipop pork chop, pecan bourbon chicken, and more in a relaxed setting. From the bar, enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine, beer, bourbon, and whiskey.
11845 Petersburg Road
Jacobs Pub
This new venture incorporates many original DiLegge’s Restaurant dishes. Start with a fungi ripieni granchio or insalata DiLegge, then dig into Gina’s fried chicken, DiLegge’s baked ziti, a chicken parmesan grinder, German bologna sandwich, double Chicago hot dog, bistecca e gamberetti, clams and linguine, scampi, or build-your-own pasta.
607 N. Main St.
Journey Fish & Chicken
Food with a Chicago flare, try Windy City twists on honey barbecue wings, chicken tenders, catfish steak, and Italian beef.
825 S. Green River Road
Juicy Seafood
Specials include boiled black and green mussels, squid, crayfish, and snow crab, plus New England clam chowder, hushpuppies, raw or steamed oysters, king crab legs, seafood fried rice, and pasta on the Cajun-inspired menu.
865 N. Green River Road
i The Korner Inn
The northern Warrick County bar is open from breakfast to dinner, including nightly specials on fried chicken, catfish fiddlers, and smoked pork chops.
15 W. Main St., Elberfeld
i The Log Inn
The Elpers family’s definition of homestyle cooking includes fried chicken legs and wings, rolls, ham, roast beef, mashed potatoes, homemade coleslaw, corn, green beans, and freshly baked pies and cakes. Erected in 1825 as a stagecoach stop and trading post, this resting point is recognized as the oldest restaurant in Indiana.
12491 S. 200 E., Haubstadt
Major Munch
Order from a menu of savory burgers and patty melts, catfish sandwich, Philly cheesesteaks, po’boys, three types of crispy chicken sandwiches, and tenderloins.
101 N.W. First St.
Mister B’s (Best Restaurant for Wings)
Choose from fare like battered mushrooms, nacho baskets, seasoned and loaded waffle fries, loaded potato soup, reubens, strombolis, buffalo mac and cheese, baked ziti, and specialty pizzas. After your meal, stop at Club 18, an indoor golf simulator club next door to the Evansville location. 1340 Hirschland Road; 2611 U.S. 41, Henderson,
The New Old Mill Family-style dinners have been made from scratch here since 1936. In a dining room sporting Old World decor, share plates of breaded cauliflower, shrimp egg rolls, Texas-cut prime rib, baby back ribs, shrimp Maui, filet of sole almandine, baked scrod, chicken ala Kiev, lasagna, weiner schnitzel, and Old Mill tenderloin and fish filet sandwiches.
5031 New Harmony Road
i Oink, Inc., Smokehouse & Catering
Tim Flick grew up with home-style cooking and restaurant kitchens, which led him to a career as a chef, providing southern comfort meals of slab ribs, bourbon praline chicken, chargrilled ribeye, grilled salmon, boneless chops, and more.
408 Main St., Jasper; 420 E. Sixth St., Huntingburg
Pangea Kitchen
This East Side restaurant combines Thai and Italian dishes to create its eclectic menu of Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizzas, housemade pasta, pad ke moa, kao soi, pad ka poa and rice, torta milanesa, and a rotating taco special. Gelato and Italian pastries are available for dessert.
111 S. Green River Road
Pip’s Pub
Did the silvery diner exterior catch your eye as you exited Interstate 64? Weary travelers and local diners alike stop by for classic and creative twists on pub cuisine, including catfish bites, fried pickles, Bavarian pretzel sticks, and the mac and smash attack burger, Philly cheesesteak, pork tenderloin sandwich, and a citrus chicken rice bowl. 19501 Elpers Road
Prime Time Bar & Grill
The prime rib is a house specialty, but there’s plenty more here: burgers, rice bowls, and crunchy potato chips to snack on while waiting for an order. Choose from about 45 bourbons and 25 beers on tap.
8177 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh; 12301 U.S. 41 N.
R’z Café & Catering
Inside the former Swinney Printing Company, find a scratch kitchen using Dewig Meats and local produce to make brunch, lunch, and dinner meals. On the menu are omelets, soups, salads, wraps, flatbreads, sandwiches, and entrees like grilled salmon, fried catfish fillet, country fried steak, chicken Florentine, and penne pasta Alfredo.
104 N. Main St. Ste. 400, Fort Branch
Rockin Chicken Indi
Sample a variety of marinated meats like grilled chicken, jumbo wings, skirt steak, pulled pork, and rack rib, plus street and soft tacos and burritos with housemade sauces and sides. 2519 N. First Ave.
The Rooster’s Den
Passed-down family recipes are the backbone of this menu, which offers biscuits and gravy, a loaded haystack, Rowdy Rooster, French toast, pancakes, breaded pork tenderloin, Hawaiian chicken salad, and chicken strip basket. A soup and salad bar is available at lunch.
38988 Haley Drive, Newburgh
Samuel’s
You’ll know this Downtown eatery by its red exterior. Inside, and on the outside patio, diners enjoy smashburgers, truffle fries, and cocktails. 21+.
113 S.E. Fourth St.
The Rooftop
Whether inside or with a view on the elevated outdoor patio, dine on an expansive menu with breakfast choices as well as a Rooftop smashburger, Richie’s Fried Chicken, build-your-own-pizza, buffalo chicken mac, chicken on the beach, and a brisket mac and cheese taco.
112 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The Tin Fish
Fill up on calamari, crab cakes, mahi-mahi, swordfish, trout, and filets like orange roughy, catfish, tilapia, and walleye are offered alongside New England clam chowder, tacos, burritos, and sandwiches. The two-story, pink salt-walled seafood eatery includes an 18-seat bar.
707 State St., Newburgh
i Yellow Tavern
Originally an Owenist haunt in 1815 and rebuilt in its current location in 1908, this full-service restaurant and bar serves sandwiches, pizza, steaks, shrimp, pies, cakes, cheesecake, bread pudding, and more.
521 Church St., New Harmony
Cafés
10-8 Café Bar & Grill
The menu inside the North Side shooting range and entertainment center winks at the law enforcement life, offering live rounds (pizza), burglers (burgers), new recruits (kids’ menu), mutual aid (sides), and sandwiches like the dayshifter BLT and the billy club.
4209 U.S. 41 N. (inside Lawman Tactical Guntry Club)
Kite & Key Café
Breakfast and lunch options include omelets, breakfast burritos, eggs benedict, French toast, crepes, avocado toast, skillets, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, quesadillas, soups, and salads. Try the cinnamon roll bread pudding, and stop in the coffee bar.
2301 W. Franklin St.
i Sidewalk Café
This local favorite lunch spot features sandwiches like grilled pimento cheese and hot ham and cheese, and daily specials, plus soups, salads, and desserts. Catering available.
228 Second St., Henderson, KY
Sunrise Café Family Restaurant
Select from several spins on pancakes, waffles, French toast, and omelettes, plus hearty lunches like catfish, chicken strips, and chopped sirloin.
8401 N. Kentucky Ave.; 2121 N. Green River Road, Ste. 8
Diners
The Diner by Mele’s
Offering a wide mix of American and Mexican cuisine, order the funnel cake, chicken and waffles, tilapia mango, enchiladas, tacos, taquitos, fajitas, chicken on the beach, Mexican chicken, or cheesecake chimichanga.
550 N. Green River Road
NOW OPEN
Mexican food shop La Paqueñita Market , 7799 State Route 66, Ste. 102D, Newburgh, Indiana, has opened next to La Catrina Mexican Restaurant and sells fresh fruit and vegetables, soups, seasonings, cereals, desserts made at La Catrina, and more. HT’s Ice Cream & Grill, 221 Second St. Ste. A, Henderson, Kentucky, opened May 19 and offers a menu of smashburgers and sandwiches, plus ice cream sundaes, milkshakes and malts, and more. Backyard Bar & Grill, 1602 Vann Ave. — formerly J’s Sportsbar — opened May 17 under its new name. Diners can order sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more. The Smokin Roux is a new Cajun food truck serving pork belly corndogs, po’ boys, smoked brisket sandwiches, pulled pork loaded baked potatoes, chicken and sausage gumbo, and more. Fast-casual national chain Chuy’s Tex-Mex moved into the Evansville market in May and offers fajitas, enchiladas, soups, green chile fried chicken, flautas, “Big As Yo’ Face” burritos, and made-from-scratch sauces at 7301 E. Indiana St.
NIBBLES
Kenny Salazar has purchased Libby and Mom’s Café, Two Richardt Ave., and plans to reopen it as Kenny’s Family Diner. Lyle’s Sportszone Pizza & Pub, 1404 E. Morgan Ave., has been sold to Nathan Hillyard, who has updated the restaurant’s branding and interior and introduced a new menu, which includes strombolis, pizza, grilled bologna, chili cheese dogs, fried chicken wings, fish and chips, hot pepper cheese cubes, and mini corn dogs. Donut Bank has opened its 11th location at 6451 Vieth Lane, on the North Side near Deaconess Sports Park. The West Side location of Pizza King, 220 N. St. Joseph Ave., has hit the market for $450,000 to purchase or $18 per square foot to rent. Brian Adcock is the new manager of Gerst Bavarian Haus, succeeding Paul Ankenbrand, who spent 25 years with the restaurant and served as general manager for nine years.
DEARLY DEPARTED
Longtime diner The Carousel has closed, and the property at 5115 Monroe Ave. is for sale. Little Angelo’s at 8000 Bell Oaks Drive in Newburgh has closed.
FRESH TAKES
Backyard Bar & Grill
La Paqueñita Market
Frankie’s Restaurant
Discover both Mexican and Midwestern comfort food, including chilaquiles, churro waffles, tres leches pancakes, cajeta French toast, fried catfish, and Wisconsin cheese curds and fried pickles. The bar serves cocktails, wines, and beer plus weekly drink specials.
6840 Logan Drive
Merry Go Round Restaurant
Open since June 1946, the menu at this octagon-shaped building includes a choice of steak, smoked porch chop, grilled pork tenderloin, pork cutlet, and chicken plus eggs as well as omelets. Sandwiches make up a huge chunk of the menu, plus salads, seafood, steaks, pasta, soups, and chili.
2101 N. Fares Ave.
Nellie’s
Popular breakfast items include chicken and waffles, French toast, chicken fajita burrito, breakfast skillets, and omelets. For dinner, try the liver and onions, ribeye sandwich, pot roast, shrimp creole or tacos, and smothered pork chops. A North Side sister restaurant offering bar seating joined the family in 2024.
6600 N. First Ave.; 8566 Ruffian Lane, Newburgh
Walk-ups and Drive-ins
Big Top Drive-In
Since 1948, this is the spot for old-fashioned burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and soft serve ice cream and shakes. Also find tenderloin, Grippos chicken, and rib sandwiches, soup and grilled cheese, frozen hot chocolate, sundaes, Twinkle Kote cones, and more.
1213 W. Maryland St.
Burger Bank
The yellow, red, and white building is easy to spot. If you’re not into the sliced-thin patties served on fluffy buns with classic toppings, order the tenderloins, melts, Philly cheese steaks, burgers, soups, sandwiches, shakes, floats, and softserve ice cream.
1617 S. Weinbach Ave.
i The Dariette
This old-school burger joint offers lunch and dinner for a sitdown, drive-up, or drive-thru meal. Order tater kegs to start, then choose from cheeseburgers, pork tenderloin, Nashville hot chicken, fish, chili dogs, and buffalo chicken strips. For dessert, try extreme milkshakes and sundaes.
711 Atkinson St., Henderson, KY
JD Caribbean Restaurant
This South Side eatery is known for Caribbean and Haitian fare such as fried goat, jute leaves, chayote, goat stew, plantains, and fried fish.
1010 S. Kentucky Ave.
i Taylor’s Grill on Wheels
Memphis-style smoked meats are the top attraction alongside brisket, rib tips, smoked loin chops, pulled pork, smoked or barbecue pulled chicken breast, mac and cheese, baked beans, nachos, potato salad, and baked potatoes. Catering available.
130 N. Water St. Henderson, KY
Zesto Drive-In
Since 1971, the Riverside Drive location has been owned by members of the Hardesty family, who in 2024 added the Franklin Street drive-in. Both sites continue the 1950s tradition of pounded-thin burgers, crinkle fries, and soft-serve ice cream. The West Side menu expands with bacon, egg and cheeses, biscuits and sausage gravy, hashbrown bites, breakfast tacos, and sandwiches like breaded tenderloin and cheeseburgers as well as grilled cheese and soup and a fish sandwich basket.
102 W. Franklin St.; 920 E. Riverside Drive
Pizzerias
Archie & Clyde’s Restaurant & Bar
Grab a drink and appetizer before a meal of homemade chili, gyros, pulled pork barbecue sandwich, breaded or grilled tenderloin sandwich, and a variety of pizzas.
8309 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh
Azzip Pizza
It’s “pizza” backward, but the mix-and-match style of pie is anything but. Personal-sized pizzas (8 or 11 inches) are prepared to order. Specialties include the West Sider (barbecue pork, Grippos, and Ski extract), the Italian Stallion, and Potato Head, as well as the seasonal March Crabness.
Three locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh
Big Ass Slice Shop
These New York City-influenced pies are large — we’re talking 18-by-8-inch slices – piled with toppings like jalapeno, banana peppers, pineapple, chicken, and bacon.
900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage)
Casey’s Dugout
The baseball-inspired restaurant serves cleverly monikered pies like The “Graham” Slam, Field of Greens, and “The Hitman” and Donnie MEATball, both named after Evansville native and former New York Yankees star Don Mattingly. Come for the pies, stay for the swath of sports memorabilia decorating every available surface.
2900 Lincoln Ave.
Dontae’s Highland Pizza Parlor
Sink your teeth into hoagie-style sandwiches and specialties pizzas. For pies, try the Cow & Pig, Funky Chicken, or King Fajita, or nosh on The Farva, Hines’ own spin on Evansville’s favorite strombolis.
6669 Kratzville Road
Franklin Street Pizza Factory
Order a signature pizza such as the Sleek Green or Le Dolce Vida, or build your own pie. This West Side spot also offers sandwiches, salads, beer, and wine.
2033 W. Franklin St.
Kipplee’s
Thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, and strombolis have been the top draw at this East Side establishment for more than 30 years.
2350 E. Division St.
Lombardi’s New York Pizza and Wings
New York City-style pizza carves its way into the Midwest with a variety of flavors and toppings, sold by the slice or whole. A meaty variety is the New Porker.
3311 N. Green River Road
Lyle’s Sportszone Pizza & Pub
Part restaurant, part dive bar, you’ll find pizza, strombolis — including Lyle’s original loaded stromboli — burgers, and sandwiches, plus live entertainment.
1404 E. Morgan Ave.
Pangea Pizzeria
Offerings include Neo-Neapolitan pizza plus breadsticks, wings, cookies, and house made gelato and sorbet. Diners also can order from the menu of neighboring restaurant 2nd Language.
401 N.W. Second St., Ste. A
Pizza King
The local version of this Hoosier chain has a variety of appetizers and thin-crust pizzas, but it’s best known for its strombolis. The original boasts sausage and onion, or order a strom with a twist, like Texas barbecue and ham and cheese.
Two locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh
Roca Bar and Pizza
Serving pizza since 1953, Roca Bar lays claim to being “Evansville’s Original Pizza.” Try specialty pies like Round the World, bacon cheeseburger, quesadilla, Mega Meat, and Roca Fredo, or order flatbreads, sandwiches, and pasta.
4600 Washington Ave.
Rounders Pizza and Rounders Too Specialty pizzas include the Nameless Special, a pie with the tomato sauce on top, and the Bavarian, served with mustard, plus strombolis and sandwiches.
510 W. Mill Road; 12731 N. Green River Road
The Slice
Steps away from the University of Evansville campus, this neighborhood gathering place sells pies by the slice in popular choices such as the potato, ranch, and spinach. 2011 Lincoln Ave.
Spankey’s Una Café
The brand expanded in 2023 with this eatery in Haynie’s Corner Arts District. Find una-style pizza alongside cheese bread, bread sticks, wings, pretzel bites, salads, strombolis, sandwiches, desserts, and more.
15 Jefferson Ave.
Spankey’s Una Pizza
This restaurant’s first iteration grew from its una-style origins and into a popular sit-down restaurant on the West Side offering specialty pizzas — on that trademark cracker-thin crust — and build-your-own pies, plus sandwiches and specialty salads. Try the Strom Pizza or the Westsider, two options with a nod to Evansvillians’ appetites.
440 W. Lloyd Expressway
The Sportsden Bar & Grill
Dress up una-style pizzas with an array of toppings or order the Grand Slam and other specialty pies. Brat burgers, ribeye, German fried bologna, strombolis, and other sandwiches round out the menu.
701 N. Weinbach Ave., Ste. 110
Steve’s Una Pizza
Have a classic una-style experience at this 50–plus-year-old walk-up favorite. Choose from thin-crust pies, wings, strombolis, and sandwiches.
1005 S. St. James Blvd.
H Turoni’s Pizzery and Brewery (Best Pizza)
Famed for its cracker-thin crusts since 1963, this restaurant also launched Evansville’s first microbrewery in 1996. Pizza, strombolis, and sandwiches, paired with a frosty pint of Honey Blonde Ale, await.
Two locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh
Twisted Tomato Pizza Co.
Serving pizza on made-from-scratch pizza dough, pizza dippers, popper toast, pepperonicinis, oven-baked sandwiches including chicken alfredo carbonara and sloppy joe, and a variety of pastas.
2333 St. George Road
Barbecue
Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge
Test your spice tolerance with eight different levels of heat for fried chicken, plus crab linguine, baby back ribs, steak frites, hog fries, smoked chicken wings, tacos, and more.
1418 W. Franklin St.
i ChefWhat BBQ & More
Fresh lunch specials are made to order daily, including burritos, pulled pork sandwich and quesadilla, smoked mac and cheese, and a smoked bologna and cheese sandwich. Catering available.
422 Seventh St., Henderson, KY
Hickory Pit Stop
This local staple since 1957 cooks its meats over a hickory wood fire. Dinners include half-chicken, pork, mutton, ham, and baby back ribs with potato salad, baked beans, slaw, and fries. From the grill, try a fried bologna sandwich or double cheeseburger. Buffet-style catering available.
1521 N. Main St.
i Homer’s Barbecue
Find trademarks like smoked wings, brisket, and St. Louis-style ribs as well as specialties like chicken lollipops, briskitos, and barbecue nachos, and cheddar jalapeño sausage. Catering available.
128 Second St., Henderson, KY
Lone Star Bar-B-Q and Soul Food
Texas-style slow-cooked meats share a menu with burgers, salads, sandwiches, catfish, frito pie, and more. Catering available.
2403 Washington Ave.
Mission BBQ
Readers named this national chain their favorite barbecue joint in the 2017, 2022, and 2023 Best of Evansville awards for its barbecue meats — and for deploying its armored catering vehicle to feed first responders during emergencies. Large Pick-Up Packs and catering available.
1530 N. Green River Road
i Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn
Daily lunch and dinner buffets, as well as a menu. An abundance of barbecue and other meats, plus country-style vegetables, corn muffins, a salad bar, and desserts.
2840 W. Parrish Ave., Owensboro, KY
i Thomason’s Barbecue
Since the 1960s, the family-owned business has used hickory wood to smoke barbecue pork, mutton, ribs, chicken, ham, beef, chicken, baby back ribs, and turkey. Classic sides include potato salad, slaw, and barbecue beans. Catering available.
701 Atkinson St., Henderson, KY
Asian
2nd Language
Take your taste buds on a global adventure via Japanese karaage, Asian Buffalo Bao Bun, lumpia Shanghai, chimichurri steak, Korean cucumber salad, donburi rice bowls, and at least nine choices of ramen.
401 N.W. Second St.
Big Bang Mongolian Grill
Bowls piled high with custom combinations of vegetable, meat, and noodle stir fry are the signature here.
2013 N. Green River Road
Canton Inn
The North Park Shopping Center is home to this well-known spot offering Cantonese- and American-style appetizers, soups, poultry, beef, pork, seafood dishes, and daily lunch and dinner buffets.
947 North Park Drive
Chopstick House Restaurant
The longtime eatery in Village Commons serves Cantonese meals, including specialties such as Treasure Duck, a boneless delicacy steamed for hours in spicy sauce and topped with vegetables.
5412 E. Indiana St.
Crazy Buffet
Find fresh Chinese fare like seafood, sushi, and nigiri for a dine-in experience or order from the to-go buffet.
701 N. Burkhardt Road
Domo Japanese Hibachi Grill, Sushi, and Ramen (Best Asian Restaurant)
Get ready to roll with a lengthy list of sushi choices, plus Japanese dishes, ramen, bento boxes and more.
215 N. Green River Road
Fuji Yama
For 20 years, this North Side sushi and hibachi spot has served soups, salads, noodles, rice, sushi, hand rolls, chicken, beef, and shrimp dishes.
915 North Park Drive
Gangnam Korean
Named for the Gangnam District in Seoul, South Korea, select from rice dishes like bibimbap and dupbap, noodle options such as Korean Ramyun, and entrees including chicken and beef bulgogi, all served as K-Pop music plays in the background.
518 Main St.
Jaya’s Authentic Foods
Authentic Korean cuisine and sushi from the namesake chef have delighted diners since 1980. Select from several rolls, soups, and traditional entrees like kimchi bok um, jaeyuk dupbop, and pul ko kee.
119 S.E. Fourth St.
Order from traditional Korean dishes such as bibimbap, yachae twigim, and bulgogi.
5720 E. Virginia St.
Kanpai (Best Sushi)
This East Side eatery has a long list of sushi choices — such as the Zig Zag, filled with cucumber and avocado and, topped with soft shell crab, scallion, and spicy mayonnaise — lunch bento boxes, and more.
4593 Washington Ave.
Ma.T.888 China Bistro
Pick from high-quality modern Cantonese and Chinese fusion cuisine choices, including house specialties such as lemongrass fish, Peking duck, and chicken lettuce wraps.
5636 Vogel Road
Noodle House
This family-owned spot has made fans with its Wok fried rice, lo mein, mei fun, ramen, pho, and more. Bao buns are made in-house.
8922 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh
Osaka Japanese Hibachi and Sushi
Hibachi-style and Indonesian cuisine is the main attraction, plus a sushi bar, poke bowls, hot plates, bento boxes, and Japanese curry.
5435 Pearl Drive; 4222 Bell Road, Ste. 7, Newburgh
Poke River
This Hawaiian fusion restaurant serves up poke and sushi in dishes like bowls, burritos, and salads.
6240 E. Virginia St.
Roppongi Japanese Steak & Sushi
Follow up one of the lively hibachi shows with entrees like the Roppongi special, featuring lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, and New York strip.
7221 E. Indiana St.
Sakura
Find Japanese cuisine such as sashimi, fried rice, tempura, as well as Chinese dishes. Sushi choices include a trio of specialty rolls: the Rainbow, Volcano, and Mango Tuna.
4833 Highway 261, Newburgh
Szechwan Restaurant
The extensive Sichuan menu offers Szechuan dumplings, Kung Pao Chicken, Ma Po Tofu, and crispy Peking Duck.
669 N. Green River Road (in Eastland Place)
Thai Bistro and Bar
Spice up your life with the bistro’s authentic Thai cuisine including Pad Thai, curry, papaya salad, crab rangoons, satay, and more.
5416 E. Indiana St.
Vietnamese Cuisine
This staple of Southeastern Asian cuisine offers ribeye noodle soup, a chargrilled pork sandwich, grape leaf-wrapped meats, hot pots, rice noodle dishes, and more.
4602 Vogel Road
Yang’s Shabu Shabu
The Japanese style of quickly cooking thin-sliced meat in a simmering broth is applied to lo mein, chow udon, chow mei, and more. Complete your meal with one of a dozen bubble tea flavors.
4700 Vogel Road
Yen Ching
A longtime East Side favorite, this establishment is known for Mandarin, Szechwan, and Peking cuisine, served among classic Asian decor sporting red and gold touches reminiscent of Old Beijing’s summer palace. Catering available.
406 S. Green River Road
Zuki Japanese Hibachi Grill & Sushi Lounge
Both locations offer a high-end hibachi grill, gourmet sushi, and Japanese dishes in an upscale setting.
1448 N. Green River Road; 222 Main St.
German
H Gerst Haus (Best Draft Beer Selection)
This West Side staple nods to the surrounding neighborhood’s heritage with authentic dishes from schnitzels to stroganoff, as well as several American favorites, served in a Bavarian beer hall-style environment. As Evansville Living readers have noted, Gerst also offers some of the city’s best draft beer choices.
2100 W. Franklin St.
i Schnitzelbank Restaurant
German recipes made their way from Bavaria to this third-generation family establishment offering goulash, rolladen, weiner schnitzel, and sauerbraten. Catering available.
393 Third Ave., Jasper
Indian
Bites of India
Select Indian and Indo-Chinese entrees such as garlic naan, butter chicken, galouti kebab, tawa fish, okra masala, goat rezala, goat sukka, andhra fish fry, malabar fish curry, and a variety of briyanis and traditional soups.
1434 Tutor Lane
Taj Mahal
Order buffet style or from a menu of tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, panjabi curry, kadai paneer, and more.
900 Tutor Lane
Yak & Yeti
Himalayan and Indian family recipes converge in tandoori lamb chops, momo dumplings, and several kinds of curry — choose from 10 spice levels.
815 S. Green River Road
Irish
Patsy Hartigan’s Irish Pub
Taste cuisine of the Emerald Isle, including fish and chips, Reuben sandwiches, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie. Chase them with a pint of Guinness or a new house brew.
203 Main St.
Italian/Mediterranean
Angelo’s
The lunch crowd stands in line for pizza by the slice. A full complement of Italian starters, entrees, and desserts (including silk pie) is offered.
305 Main St.
Café Arazu
A worldly mix of meals awaits, such as gyros, Tuscan grilled beef sala, Moroccan red lentil soup, and hummus and falafel platters.
17 W. Jennings St., Newburgh
House of Como
The South Side staple offers a menu of Arabian dishes like shish kabobs, yebra malfoof, seneya betiajia, and kibi seneya, plus seafood, steaks, and Italian specialties. Reservations required. Payment is in cash or check.
2700 S. Kentucky Ave.
Kabob Xpress
A go-to spot for a quick meal with a Middle Eastern flare, select from stuffed grape leaves, shawarma, falafel, fresh salads, sandwiches, gyro plates, and many kabob plate options.
3305 N. Green River Road
Lily’s Mediterranean Express
Choose from salads, falafel, bruschetta, hummus, rice bowls, wings, sandwiches, wraps, beef kabob, chicken dinger, and pizzas.
4120 N. First Ave.
Little Italy
Mix Italian and Mediterranean with fried zucchini, parmesan fried green tomato, minestrone soup, cream of potato soup, spinach ravioli, rigatoni carbonara, chicken kebab, shrimp bisque, pizzas, and Italian cream lemon cake.
4430 N. First Ave.
Manna Mediterranean Grill
Specialties include stuffed grape leaves, gyros, kebabs, beef and lamp gyros, chicken shawarma and creamy garlic sauce, baba gannoug, tabbouleh salad, harissa, and baklava.
2913 Lincoln Ave.
Marida Mediterranean Restaurant
Enjoy Turkish and Kurdish cuisine like kebabs, gyro wraps, kuzu pirzola, alinazik, sac tava, and haydari, plus steak, seafood, pasta, and vegetarian specialties.
One E. Water St., Newburgh
Milano’s Italian Cuisine
File through the line for the lunch salad bar, to-go pasta, and slices of pizza, or sit for a meal of lasagna bolognese, spinach cannelloni, chicken pizzaiola, scampi alla lino, and veal di milano.
500 Main St.
Shah’s Halal Food
This national chain restaurant serves Mediterranean-influenced platters over rice with a choice of meat, a variety of salads, chicken sandwiches, gyros, and sides like pita and pakora chips, plus baklava for dessert.
222 S. Red Bank Road, Unit L
H Smitty’s Italian Steakhouse
(Best Restaurant for Outdoor Dining)
Filling choices abound, from New York strip, bone-in filet, and porterhouse steaks to pasta like baked lasagna, manicotti, and fettucini alfredo, and seafood such as garlic shrimp, whitefish piccata, and pan fried grouper. Seasonal patio dining available.
2109 W. Franklin St.
Latin
American
i Burrito Express Mexican Grill
Drive through, pick up, or eat in at this Mexican-inspired restaurant serving quesabirria tacos, asada fries, burrito chicken, street tacos, pollo playa, burrito steak, and more.
2539 U.S. 41 N. Ste. A, Henderson, KY
Casa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant
Traditional Mexican entrees, family specials, and more are served among a menu of shrimp on the beach, huevos rancheros, burrito Evansville, quesadilla Indiana, fajita on the beach, huevos con chorizo, flautas Mexicanas, and nachos al pastor. For those who come hungry (or don’t mind sharing), try the two-foot Monster Burrito.
1003 E. Diamond Ave.
Chuy’s Tex-Mex
Looking for “big as yo’ face” burritos? Find them here, alongside tacos, tortilla soup, enchiladas, and entrees like green chile relleno and fried chicken, chuychanga, chicken flautas, and more.
7301 E. Indiana St.
El Charro Mexican Restaurant
Mariachi band performances occasionally punctuate the dining experience at this West Side eatery, where the menu includes chicken on the beach, fiesta California, papa grande loaded baked potatoes, and Pollo Indiana, a top seller sporting chicken breast and chorizo doused in cheese sauce.
720 N. Sonntag Ave.
i El Sabor de la Abuela
Recipes from grandma’s kitchen to the menu include mojarra frita, coctel de camaron, soups and stews, taco salad, chicken fajitas, carne asada, chimichangas, chicken on the beach, fajita Texans, and street tacos.
108 Second St., Henderson, KY
Fiesta Acapulco
One of many Mexican specialties here is the Burritos Acapulco – chicken and beef burritos topped with cheese sauce, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo.
8480 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh
Gollita Peruvian Cuisine
Feast on minestrone, tamales, papa a la huancaína, arroz con pollo, and more — all featuring sauces and marinades made in-house.
4313 E. Morgan Ave.
Hacienda (Best Ranch Dressing)
This Tex-Mex chain is known for its wet burrito, fajitas like garlic mushroom, chicken, steak, or shrimp, plus chimichangas, Mexican pizza, chicken strip dinner, quesabirria, and ranch dressing, which some diners buy by the tub to take home.
Four Evansville locations
Helados Ice Cream, Snacks and Antojitos
Order Latin American-fused papas, conchas, tortas, ceviche, tostadas, elotes, ramen, and more, plus an extensive dessert menu featuring loaded milkshakes, crepes, banana splits, flan, ice cream dishes, iced drinks, and Mexican shaved ice.
779 S. Green River Road
La Campirana (Best Latin American Restaurant) Freshness and authenticity are hallmarks of “La Camp,” which serves Mexican and Latin American staples like tacos, gorditas, quesadillas, burritos, sopes orden, ensalada Mexicana, tortas, birrias, carnitas, flautas, enchiladas, alambres, and more.
724 N. Burkhardt Road; 900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage)
NEW BRUNCH MENU
La Mexicana Restaurant
The family-owned establishment offers chori-pollo, jalapeño chicken, molacajette a la mexicana, burrito gagante, carne azada, fillet tilapia lemon pepper, enchiladas paisano, and pollo vallarta plus street tacos tostadas, and tortas, plus
This food truck also has a sit-in restaurant that serves street tacos, tortas, quesadillas, mulitas, burritos, street corn (on a
Traditional Mexican dishes and drinks are served, including quesadilla Bravo with grilled shrimp and chorizo, Baja tacos
Enjoy island dishes like Haitian spaghetti, lalo with spinach, fried turkey, and oxtail, plus traditional Caribbean soft drinks.
Authentic Mexican flavors permeate this menu of fried truffle yuka fries, grilled elote salad, deep-fried tres leches, tacos, and more. Dine on the second-level patio on nice days.
Sinaloan-style (from the Mexican state Sinaloa) seafood such as camarones a la diabla, filete ranchero, mojarrra frita, and camarones ranchero mix with specialty cocktails, karaoke,
This high-end menu is inspired by cuisine from Central and South Americas, with dishes cooked on a charcoal grill. Select from pollo con mole, ropa vieja, picanha, and more,
Mexican food lovers can discover a filling mix of fajitas, chimi-
This spot specializes in authentic Salvadorian pupusas and street tacos with a variety of fillings, plus. create-your-own
Sports Bars
Bally Bet Sportsbook & Bar
Dig into smash burgers, fish and chips, Asian glazed shrimp, braised short ribs, and a wide selection of beer and cocktails. Catch sports action on several big screens and an LED video wall, and bet on games at the Sportsbook’s counter and kiosks.
Feast on smash burgers, pizzas, catfish, tacos, nachos, sandwiches, and more from The Rooftop next door while playing simulated golf, dodgeball, basketball, hockey, and more sports or throwing an axe down the lane.
120 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Franklin Street Tavern
Pub grub like basco sticks, pretzels, nachos, bratwurst, popcorn, 14-inch pizzas, and more are available while you relax on the patio or catch a game on the TVs indoors.
2126 Franklin St.
Marina Pointe and Nightclub
This seasonal hotspot along the Ohio River is open May-October and is defined by live music and its open air bar and grill. Try beer battered onion rings, fried shrimp, crispy marina chicken wings, pointe burger, fried fish sandwich, wagyu dog, and smoked chicken salad.
1801 Waterworks Road
Mojo’s BoneYard Sports Bar & Grille
Bar food including chicken wings doused with housemade sauces, square steam burgers, thin-crust pizzas, the Sloppy Mo sandwich, Philly cheesesteak, chili, salads, and strombolis, plus drinks and a robust live music schedule await. Only those aged 21 and over are allowed.
4920 Bellemeade Ave.
Neighbors
Build-your-own smashburgers are a main attraction here, as well as barbecue pork nachos, fried okra, brussel sprouts, pizza burger, breakfast burger, peanut butter bacon burger, chicken parmesan sandwich, fish sandwich, bratwurst sandwich, German fried bologna, and the smashburger wrap.
4222 Bell Road, Ste. 1, Newburgh
Newburgh Tavern
Munch on nachos, chip bags, 10-inch pizzas, a wagyu hot dog, quesadillas, chicken strips and nuggets, and more while enjoying karaoke, music, and sports viewing.
707 State St. Ste. E, Newburgh
O’Brian’s Sports Bar & Grill
Come for billiards, darts, and 22 big TVs, and stay for the Irish brews, full bar, and menu of potato skins, and bacon barbecue cheddar burger, breaded tenderloin sandwich, and more.
1801 N. Green River Road
Prime Sports
Feel at home with billiard tables, lots of TVs, and drinks. Culinary offerings come via a greaseless kitchen offering smoked wings, pretzel bites, pizza bombs, pigs in a blanket, strombolis, pizza, salad, cactus chili, chicken parmesan sandwich, toasted hot dog, baked penne with beef, and a variety of pizzas.
4944 Old State Route 261, Newburgh
i Rookies
This family-owned business serves a sports-themed menu. “Pre-game” with Fred’s fried green tomatoes and chicken buffalo eggrolls and greens like the Arabian salad before the “main event” steaks and “knockouts” like honey glazed pork chop, chicken stir fry, tortellini diablo, and chicken teriyaki.
117 S. Second St., Henderson, KY
Tiki on Main
American and Mexican fare are popular at this dive bar after Ford Center events. Pick from pork rinds, blackened shrimp, fried pickle chips, patty melts, rock’n shrimp tacos, street tacos, hot dogs, and sandwiches like hot dogs, battered swai sandwich, and grilled cheese and chili. Also find steak kabobs, tiki nachos, stuffed burritos, pollo playa, and a fajita plate.
524 Main St.
Tavern and Pub Food
Bokeh Lounge
Stuffed with as much food as live entertainment, the Haynie’s Corner Arts District restaurant offers Bokeh Nachos, churros, the Bokeh Burger, pepper jack cheese balls, pot stickers served hot honey, a candied bacon burger, tacos, fish and chips, personal pizzas, and Sunday brunch, as well as signature cocktails.
1007 Parrett St.
Bud’s Rockin’ Country Bar and Grill
This lively West Side country music hotspot and restaurant honors the Bud’s Harley Davidson dealership that used to be
under roof and specializes in four-cheese macaroni, St. Louis-style ribs, country fried steak, jerk chicken bowl, barbecue sundae, and cedar-roasted atlantic salmon.
2124 W. Franklin St.
Crickets
Curb your hunger with wings by the pound, “mile-high” taco fries, Cricket’s roll ups, breaded cauliflower, breaded corn nuggets, chili, thin-crust pizza, sandwiches, and ovenbaked hoagies.
518 W. Main St., Newburgh
Darmstadt Inn
This small municipality in northern Vanderburgh County is known for serving sandwiches, plate lunches, steaks, fried chicken, seafood, and more in a cozy setting.
13130 Darmstadt Road
Deerhead Sidewalk Cafe & Bar
Ostensibly the first place in Evansville to offer “double-decker pizza,” menu offerings include boneless wings, strombolis, Texas red chili, vegetable beef soup, and sandwiches like souvlakia, Polish sausage, and a black bean veggie burger. Enjoy your meal indoors or on the patios.
222 E. Columbia St.
Highland Inn
With daily specials and a big menu, this North Side spot has something for all appetites. Entrees include fried chicken, beef brisket, grilled pork steaks, and fried catfish filets.
6620 N. First Ave.
The Hilltop Inn
Fried pork brains, big ol’ tenderloins, and fried bologna are among the sandwich choices at this historic dining room on the West Side with a rustic facade and seasonal outdoor seating. Patrons also love the salad bar and seafood entrees.
1100 Harmony Way
Horstketter’s Tavern
This traditional tavern has seven decades of history under its belt. Enjoy wings, sandwiches, and food-themed nights like the annual Meatball Challenge.
5809 Stringtown Road
K.C.’S Time Out Lounge & Grill
The long-established spot in Washington Square Mall has a robust live entertainment calendar, billiards, and a bar menu of salads, sandwiches, and pizza.
1121 Washington Square
H Knob Hill Tavern (Best Catfish)
Best-known for its fried catfish fiddler (proudly displayed on its neon sign), The Knob offers other fish dishes plus fried chicken and an array of sandwiches. There’s plenty of history between these walls: The Knob has been around since 1943. 1016 Highway 662 W., Newburgh
H Leroy’s Tavern (Best Place for Karaoke)
Feast on pizza, sandwiches, and Free Soup Saturdays during colder months of the year, plus karaoke and themenight activities.
2659 Mount Vernon Ave.
i Metzger’s Tavern
This Henderson tradition opened in 1869, with today’s version offering traditional tavern pretzel bites with beer cheese, deep fried mushrooms and pickles, soups (try the bean soup or chili), and sandwiches like shaved steak, fried bologna, spicy pork sausage, and pimento cheese. Also open for breakfast.
1000 Powell St., Henderson, KY
i Nisbet Inn
Established in 1912, Nisbet Inn holds Indiana’s second-oldest liquor license. Visit for the sandwiches, soups, desserts, and barbecue, as well as the “World’s Coldest Beer.” 6701 Nisbet Station Road, Haubstadt
Peephole Bar & Grill
This neighborhood-style bar in the heart of Downtown has plenty of local devotees. It’s known for its cheeseburgers, onion rings, fries, and the splitter (a fried hot dog). Don’t miss Beck’s chili, named for the late Harold Beck — proprietor of the former East Side tavern Harold’s Bar.
201 Main St.
Sportsman’s Grille & Billiards
This spot on the busy West Franklin corridor features bar food choices to go with a relaxed atmosphere of billiards, sports on TV, and good times. Try the 16-ounce porterhouse, available on weekends, or the two-fisted bacon burger.
2315 W. Franklin St.
St. Joe Inn
Historic charm and modern comfort await at this tavern, whose history stretches back to 1836. Pick from soups, salads, sandwiches, plate lunch specials, fiddlers, steaks, and fried chicken dinners.
9515 Saint Wendel Road
St. Phillip’s Inn
Enjoy karaoke and tavern-style offerings out of an 1890s-era building. Choose from plate lunch specials, nightly specials, or a simple ham and cheese sandwich plus burgers, pizza, strombolis, fiddlers, and fried chicken.
11200 Upper Mount Vernon Road
Stockwell Inn
Stockwell Inn offers plate lunches, homemade soup, salads, sandwiches, steak, pork chops, and brain sandwiches. Check out the homestyle daily specials and themed menus for holidays like Fat Tuesday.
4001 E. Eichel Ave.
Zaps Tavern
Home of what is claimed as the original tavern burger, you’ll find a menu laden with catfish, fried chicken, sweet corn nuggets, build-your-own pizza, strombolis, zing shrimp wrap, breakfast burger, patty melt, and a half-pound burger.
3725 St. Philip Road
Delis
Chicken Salad Chick
There’s more than just chicken salad here. Also find salad, soups, and sweet treats made from scratch with fresh ingredients.
1414 Hirschland Road
The Deli at Bally’s Evansville
Grab-and-go menus of breakfast items and coffee, sandwiches, soups, pizza, and burgers, plus a late-night menu until 2:30 a.m. on weekends.
Downtown workers — including Evansville Living employees — line up to grab fried fish, homemade soups, paninis, and daily specials.
One Main St. (inside Old National Bank headquarters)
Fly By Faith Café
Stop in this eatery on Ascension St. Vincent’s East Side campus for breakfast items like biscuits and gravy, egg casseroles, smoothies, and lattes, or dine on a California wrap, chicken-loaded baked potato, or smoked pulled pork for lunch.
801 St. Mary’s Drive
The Granola Jar Café & Bakery
What started with a breakfast menu has grown to include sandwiches and deli-style salads, including house-made balsamic chicken salad. Basil pesto tortellini, jalapeño macaroni, curried bulgur, broccoli slaw, soups, and desserts round out the menu. Catering available.
1022 E. Mount Pleasant Road
Just Rennie’s Cafe & Cookie Co.
Run by Marla and Doug Rennie, who started in the catering business with a Tuscan-inspired event space. They quickly expanded to a storefront offering fresh deli salads, sandwiches, pasta, coffee, and baked goods, including their beloved mound-ofdough cookies.
100 S.E. Fourth St.
North Main Annex Gourmet Catering & Deli
Chef Narda Feather operates this catering business and deli that changes its menu items daily based on the freshest ingredients. Try breakfast food, salads, soups, entrees, and fresh-baked desserts until 2 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays.
701 N. Main St.
Honey Moon Coffee Co. (Best Coffee Shop)
The original shop near the University of Evansville campus has expanded into four locations plus a roastery. Offerings include its signature latte with honey and lavender, Hong Kong-style bubble waffles, fruit smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches.
Three locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh
Mission Grounds Coffee
The Evansville Rescue Mission runs this coffeehouse next to its thrift store offering signature espresso-based drinks, teas, and bakery items.
1107 Washington Square
Mr. Bubble Tea
Sip on bubble milk teas in strawberry, matcha
for breakfast and lunch.
600 S.E. Second St.; 601 E. Boonville New Harmony Road
River City Coffee and Goods Shop for local, handmade gifts and Evansville-inspired items while drinking brews, espressos, teas, or a hot chocolate. Specialties include a Fruity Pebbles Latte, Horchate Latte, and, in a nod to the Evansville are code, the 812 Latte. There also are seasonal muffins, cookies, blondies, and ham and cheese scones.
223 Main St.
River Kitty Cat Café
Play with adoptable cats and kittens while you enjoy espresso-based coffee drinks, specialty teas, and wine. This outreach of the Vanderburgh Humane Society also features desserts from Julie’s Just Desserts.
226 Main St.
i Roast Coffee Bar
Find craft espresso drinks and bagels from Frothy Monkey. Summer sips include Kentucky Summer, Strawberry Shortcake Matcha, and the Anna Banana.
136 Second St., Suite 100, Henderson, KY
Scooter’s Coffee
The national drive-thru chain has expanded to three locations in the Evansville area. Coffee flavors include Caramelicious, Candy
Bar, Mocha, and Turtle. Also try iced teas, smoothies, and breakfast items.
535 E. Diamond Ave.; 1940 N. Green River Road; 1101 E. Fourth St., Mount Vernon
Ice Cream
Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream (Best Milkshake)
Try a scoop of the brand’s old-fashioned milkshakes, floats, chocolate-covered Choco Cremes, sundaes, dessert pies, and soft-serve ice cream in 20+ flavors. Deli items also are available.
Four locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh
Milk & Sugar Scoop Shoppe
Take a bite of edible cookie dough, add a scoop of custom-flavored ice cream on a warm Belgian waffle, or sip on a gourmet soda.
2027 W. Franklin St.
Rivertown Ice Cream and Grill
To its fans, its annual opening in March signals the arrival of warmer weather. Choose from dipped cones, banana splits, sundaes, shakes, malts, ice cream nachos, and food from the grill, including cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot and corn dogs, tenderloins, tenders, and more through October.
521 State St., Newburgh
Your go-to spot for an unforgettable dining experience that blends Kurdish and Turkish cuisine with a lively atmosphere
Indulge in our most popular dishes, including succulent kabobs and tender lamb chops. Our extensive menu also features a delightful array of hot and cold appetizers, fresh seafood, and hearty pastas. Don’t miss our house specialties like Cokertme Kebabi, and Beyti, each a testament to our rich culinary heritage.
The Tiki Bar & Downstairs DeckThe Kebab Festival
Step into paradise at our brand-new Tiki Bar, now open until midnight! Our spacious downstairs lower deck is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the evening. We’re also transforming this versatile space into a hub for exciting upcoming events.
Embark on a culinary journey with our Kebab Festival! Perfect for families or those who want to experience the full breadth of our delicious Kurdish and Turkish cuisine, this festival-sized meal includes an appetizer platter, salad, soup, your choice of entree, and rice.
Bakeries
Be Happy Pie Company
These made-from-scratch sweet pies come in 26 flavors, including the signature “Be Happy” cherry. Add to your order with scones, cookies, brownies, muffins, and cheesecakes. Food truck available.
2818 Mount Vernon Ave., Ste. B; 6635 E. Virginia St., Ste. C
Bea Sweet Treats
The mother-daughter venture has drawn fans with its custom cakes, breakfast cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes, and more. 4111 Merchant Drive, Newburgh
Cleo’s Bakery & Brown Bag Lunches
This homestyle bakery is a favorite stop when strolling in Downtown Newburgh. Family recipes are offered alongside soups and sandwiches. Catering available.
9 W. Jennings St., Newburgh
Cookies by Design
Find fresh-baked cookies and cupcakes for a variety of occasions, all handmade and delivered from this locally owned and operated shop.
419 Metro Ave.
Donut Bank
Sip fresh coffee while selecting from racks
at this longtime business owned by the Kempf family.
11 locations in Evansville, Newburgh, and Henderson, KY
Panaderia San Miguel
Try not to be slack-jawed surveying Mexican and El Salvadorian puff pastries like orejas, conchas, panaderos, banderillas, cerillos, cornos, and empanadas. Breakfast and lunch menus also are offered.
2004 Washington Ave.
Parlor Doughnuts
Layered doughnuts in an array of flavors are the specialty at this Evansville-based bakery with locations across the nation.
204 Main St., 301 N. Green River Road
Piece of Cake
Snag your stomach’s attention with whiffs of specialty cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and even dog treats. This bakery is known for its array of frosting options.
210 Main St.
Breweries and Craft Cocktails
Arcademie
Choose from craft cocktails, regional beer, and rotating food options at this Downtown spot boasting a mini-arcade stocked with vintage games.
Barker Brewhouse
Human and canine visitors are welcome at this West Side watering hole with an extensive selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages.
96 N. Barker Ave.
Damsel Brew Pub
This family-friendly microbrewery offers cleverly named craft beers and cocktails with a menu of scotch eggs, chili, vegetable spring rolls, tacos, a peanut butter burger, sweet onion teriyaki wrap, beer cheese steak, and po’boys.
209 N. Wabash Avenue of Flags
Haven’s Bar
Regional craft beer, wine, domestics, scratch cocktails, and spirits, plus a small food menu await along with trivia, karaoke, and sports viewing.
300 W. Jennings St., Newburgh
Haynie’s Corner Brewing Co.
Sip from a long list of craft beers, including nonalcoholic varieties, at this popular gathering spot with quirky charm in the trendy Haynie’s Corner Arts District. Visit with friends and whip out a favorite board game.
56 Adams Ave.
i Henderson Brewing Company
Henderson’s first craft brewery, founded by five local entrepreneurs, concocts and serves IPAs, porters, farmhouse ales, and more.
737 Second St., Henderson, KY
Hush on Main
Can you keep a secret? This 1920s speakeasy offers a tucked-away venue for live piano music plus custom and high-end cocktails alongside an upscale dinner menu.
323 Main St., Ste. F
Industry Bar
New on the Downtown scene is this dogfriendly bar with cocktails and rotating draft beers, plus billiards and bar games. Enjoy cocktails alfresco on the patio.
101 S.E. First St.
Mo’s House
A chic lounge at Haynie’s Corner Arts District, this is a favorite place for Evansville Living readers to unwind with friends or someone special. Sample the craft cocktails while listening to the musicians who frequently book sets. On a pleasant night, the deck here is a great place to be.
1114 Parrett St.
Myriad Brewing Company
Tip your glass to house-brewed and guest beers, as well as wine and spirits. Food trucks visit regularly, or you can also have a delicacy delivered. Come for Tuesday trivia and other special events.
8245 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh
NEW YORK STYLE CHEESECAKE
SEA SCALLOP RISOTTO
LASAGNA BOLOGNESE
CALAMARI FRITTI
SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN
GENERAL’S CHICKEN AND EGG DROP SOUP BUFFET PORK AND LO MEIN
THE YELLOW TAVERN
Indulge
FRESH HOMEMADE PIZZA
CASEY’S DUGOUT
Nestled in the heart of town, our cozy pizzeria is a haven for pizza enthusiasts craving mouthwatering slices. At Casey’s Dugout, we’re all about quality ingredients, from our hand-tossed dough to our fresh, savory toppings. We believe that eating isn’t just about feeding your body, it’s about nourishing the soul, too. And life is too short for mediocre food. We make sure every dish that we serve satisfies your entire being. Crispy, savory, sweet, juicy, satisfying. Whatever you crave is what we want to serve.
ROAST BEEF SANDWICH
CHEF RUSS J. LLOYD AND CASEY KEOWN
GRAHAM SLAM AND PEPPERONI PIZZA
JACOBS PUB
PORTERHOUSE
CLASSIC AMERICAN CHEESBURGER WITH STEAK CUT TALLOW FRIES
DILEGGE’S FAMOUS BAKED ZITI
ST. JOE INN
Originally built as a tavern and hotel in 1836, the St. Joe Inn has long been a cherished destination. Committed to preserving its heritage, it offers a cozy atmosphere, hearty meals, friendly service, and a touch of history. From our family to yours, we look forward to sharing our story with you.
ST. JOE CLUB
ST. JOE INN FRIED CHICKEN
SUPREME PIZZA
DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER
NEIL AND NIKI LYNN
GIANT BREADED TENDERLOIN
BOSCO STICKS
GERST HAUS
Enjoy a beer from Gerst’s enormous tap selection as you soak up the authentic Germantown atmosphere, centrally located in the heart of Franklin Street. We’ve brought our own Nashville’s “Best” Reuben sandwich to the neighborhood. The Wiener schnitzel and bratwurst are a must try! Now under new management, call for reservations.
HOUSE OF COMO
Step foot into the Middle East and enjoy a colorful menu packed with traditional Arabian plates, supplemented with Italian specialties. House of Como is noted for their hearty steak and chops menu and assortment of seafood. Bar opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. Dining is open 5-8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.
LAMB CHOPS
ARABIAN SALAD
YEBRA MALFOOF
VIETNAMESE CUISINE FAVORITES
VIETNAMESE HOT COFFEE
DRAKE’S
Drake’s offers a unique dining experience where exceptional food, craft beer, and energetic hospitality fuse. With a diverse menu featuring handcrafted burgers and fresh, made-to-order sushi, there’s truly something for everyone. Whether you’re catching the big game, relaxing on the patio, or exploring 20-plus rotating beers on tap, Drake’s makes every visit memorable. Available for dine-in, carryout, or delivery.
EL CHARRO
CHIMICHANGA
PAELLA STREET
DEERHEAD SIDEWALK CAFE
Since 1982, Deerhead prides itself on being Evansville’s first and only restaurant to offer the Double Decker pizza. With a full menu of pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and appetizers, Deerhead offers a wide range of options, and with generous portions sure to please everyone’s appetite.
10” DOUBLE DECKER PIZZA
CORN CUSTARD SQUARES
BAR LOUIE
We’ve just expanded our menu with some mouthwatering new dishes you won’t want to miss! From irresistible main plates to scratch-made cocktails and martinis, there’s plenty to get excited about, including the Cajun Salmon and Shrimp, Decadent Cheesecake, and our famous Diva Martini or Strawberry Lemonade Sangria.
CAJUN SALMON AND SHRIMP
THE DIRTY, STRAWBERRY LEMONADE SANGRIA & THE DIVA MARTINI DECADENT
BITES OF INDIA FAVORITES TANDOORI CHICKEN
CHICKEN PAN BIRYANI
AZZIP PIZZA
As a Top 10 “Mover and Shaker” in the pizza industry, being uniquely delicious stays top of mind for Azzip Pizza. July’s lobster roll pizza (Shell Yeah!) and December’s fig jam and bacon pizza (Figgy Piggy) are just two ways they Create Something Delicious.
SHELL YEAH!
SHELL YEAH!
OINK INC SMOKEHOUSE & CATERING
Oink Inc serves up Southern-style mashups that are slow-smoked to perfection. Come try our savory ribs, chops, Bourbon Praline Chicken, our famous Totchos, and our award-winning sauce. In Jasper, enjoy craft cocktails that pair perfectly with your meal. Visit us in Jasper or Huntingburg.
Bubba’s 33, a locally owned and operated establishment, makes all food in-house from scratch, right down to the sauces on our wings and dressings on our salads. No kidding. Our patties are cooked medium well and served hot and juicy on a toasted bun. We are known for our handstretched, stone-baked pizzas as well! Come give this sports-themed family restaurant a try!
PATRIOT BURGER
NOCHE
At Noche, we blend homemade recipes with bold flavors. From our signature tacos and entrees to fresh, hand-pressed juices and craft margaritas and signature cocktails, every detail is thoughtfully prepared. Now offering full-service catering, Noche brings the same elevated dining and drinks to your event — perfect for weddings, corporate gatherings, and celebrations. Fresh. Flavorful. Unforgettable.
ENTWINED WINE AND COCKTAIL BAR
Experience Entwined, an upscale wine and cocktail bar featuring a full dinner menu crafted by Chef Michael Hite served in an elegant atmosphere. Our signature espresso martini was recently featured in Forbes Magazine, highlighting our commitment to craft excellence. Join us for modern dining and expertly crafted drinks in an elegant atmosphere. Open Tuesday through Thursday 4PM-10PM, Friday and Saturday 4PM-11PM. 303 Main St. | 812-550-1393 | @entwinedbar | entwinedbar.com
MEXICAN CUISINE
FRESH JUICE COCKTAILS
PISTACHIO MARTINI
ESPRESSO MARTINI (AS SEEN IN FORBES)
CHICKEN SALAD CHICK
Let us cater your next event! We have a dozen varieties of made-from-scratch chicken salads, homemade sides, salads, soups, and desserts! Our signature lunch boxes and specialty trays are the perfect fit for all your festivities! We are available for dine-in, take-out, drive-through, or enjoy your food on our patio. Scan the QR code to order or download our app!
ANGELO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
Angelo’s Italian Restaurant, named the Courier & Press’ Reader’s Choice winner for Best Italian Restaurant in 2024, delivers an authentic Italian dining experience with a menu featuring rich sauces and fresh ingredients. Angelo’s Gondola Room is the perfect spot for family gatherings, rehearsal dinners, and celebrating special occasions with delectable Italian cuisine. The Gondola Room seats up to 80 people for private parties.
COOKIES AND CUPCAKE BY DESIGN
THE GONDOLA ROOM SHRIMP & SCALLOPS BELLA DONNA
FRENCH SILK PIE
YAK & YETI HIMALAYAN CUISINE
We founded Yak & Yeti out of a deep love for real Himalayan and Indian food, for food that is fresh, healthy, and authentic. We only use real ingredients that were used in recipes handed down from generation to generation. The history of our food is in the taste and quality.
CHICKEN CHILLY
BIRYANI
CHICKEN, CORN, AND MASHED POTATOES
COCONUT CREAM PIE
TAJ MAHAL
Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine offers delicious regional specialties made with the finest and freshest ingredients and prepared in authentic Indian fashion. We invite you to enjoy our warm setting, friendly service, and variety of traditional dishes, like our saag paneer and butter chicken. Open seven days a week. Buffet daily, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
CRAZY BUFFET
BUFFET
CHICKEN TIKKA
SAAG PANEER
BUTTER CHICKEN
BAD RANDY’S HOT CHICKEN & BBQ LOUNGE
Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge is a chef-driven restaurant on West Franklin Street in Evansville. Although our food and drinks are rooted in tradition, we unabashedly follow our own rules. Come to Randy’s to catch the vibe. After all, you deserve to be BAD.
W. Franklin St. | 812-401-2332
G.D. RITZY’S
Step into G.D. Ritzy’s and experience a delightful blend of nostalgia and flavor. This retro 1950’s diner offers classic American favorites like smashed burgers, crispy shoestring fries, and rich, hand-dipped ice cream. G.D. Ritzy’s combines friendly service with a charming atmosphere, making every visit a delicious trip down memory lane.
East Evansville | 601 N. Green River Road | 812-474-6259 North Evansville | 4320 N. First Ave. | 812-421-1300 West Evansville | 4810 University Drive | 812-425-8700 | gdritzysevansville.com
PIG MAC
DELMONICO RIBEYE
ROUNDERS PIZZA
Celebrating 39 years in business, Rounders Pizza offers delicious, hand-tossed pies, crispy wings, fresh salads, signature sandwiches and much more. Known for its cozy atmosphere and friendly service, it’s a local favorite for casual dining and flavorful,
STROMBOLI
BAVARIAN PIZZA
THE 9AM ALL MUSIC HOUR
• Over the air 20.1 WTSN
• Astound Channel 105
• Spectrum Channel 186
President’s Message
Recently, I was asked to detail for members of the U.S. Congress why public media funding is so important. Following is a portion of the letter I submitted.
WNIN Tri-State Public Media serves communities in parts of Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois. Only a third of our annual budget is made up of federal grant dollars distributed by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. More than two-thirds of our annual budget comes from local corporate entities, some state funding, and truly local dollars from individuals and community events that WNIN hosts. The federal funding we receive allows us to spend our local dollars on local news coverage, local education projects, local community endeavors … in a word, local. Federal funding has always been critical to our local work and critical to our existence.
WNIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025
A.J. Manion
Immediate Past Chair
Susan Hardwick Chair
Richard Kuhn Vice Chair
Lawrence Taylor Secretary
Nancy Hodge
Treasurer
Tim Black
President
Noah Alatza
Steven Bridges
Beau Dial
Stephanie Koch
Whitney Lubbers
Kim McWilliams
Tara Overton
Amy Porter
Amber Rascoe
Stacey Shourd
Thomas Silliman
Lindsay Snyder
Daniela Vidal
Gene Warren
Amy Waterman
Hope White
Jordan Whitledge
Matthew Wright
WNIN is a trusted partner of local schools, primarily helping the states within our coverage area to build literacy, math, and science skills. Generations of local children have become better prepared for school and for life in part because of the tools we provide. WNIN, public media in general, has become known as the largest pre-K classroom in our communities. We take that responsibility very seriously. WNIN partnered with local school corporations, many of them rural and without adequate internet/broadband service, during the COVID-19 pandemic to distribute educational programming for those students at home. The partnership worked so well that many of the school systems have continued providing at-home learning programming to WNIN to air on our broadcast platform during the summer months.
WNIN television produces four, local, community, and public affairs shows each week: “Newsmakers,” “Lawmakers,” “Shively & Shoulders,” and “Two Main Street” with David James. “Newsmakers” focuses on a community issue/topic each week and interviews guests who are knowledgeable of and involved with the issue. “Lawmakers” is a forum for discussion/interview with local state lawmakers during state legislative sessions. “Shively & Shoulders” is a lively discussion program hosted by popular local officials known throughout the region about local political issues, and “Two Main Street” focuses on interviews with local authors, the leaders of local organizations, and various human interest stories. We produce two, local, hour-long radio shows each week: “Two Main Street” with David James and “The Friday Wrap” with John Gibson. “The Friday Wrap” looks back at the week’s local news and community events, often featuring journalists from other local media and the community events leaders at local organizations. Most notably, virtually NONE of this
local content is available anywhere else in our communities. Our local newspapers are going away. Our local, commercial broadcast brethren may cover some of the same but devote 30 seconds to the story, while WNIN may devote 30 minutes.
WNIN also produces and airs award-winning documentaries about local people, institutions, and stories. “Monumental Honor” traveled with local veterans on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to visit monuments on the National Mall erected in their honor. “Homegrown Heritage” focused on the family farm in our local region. “The Historic Churches of Evansville” looked at 10 of the older churches in our area and examined the architecture as well as the founding congregations. “Evansville at War” examined the critical role Evansville and its citizens played in the weapon and artillery manufacturing infrastructure during World War II.
I think it’s extremely important to point out that the federal dollars we receive at the local station level are not a “hand out.” The Corporation for Public Broadcasting requires WNIN to go through a rigorous and detailed application process each fiscal year in order to receive our federal grant. At bottom, we MUST demonstrate that we are doing our part to solicit and receive local funding through a combination of corporate grants and underwriting support, sometimes state support, and individual donations. At WNIN, more than 50 percent of our annual operating budget consists of these local dollars. We simply won’t receive the federal dollars without the local dollars. Federal support is essential to what we do locally. Recent math indicates that for every federal dollar we receive, we are able to generate five to seven dollars in local support. The federal-local funding model works and I contend it works the way it should!
Sincerely,
Tim Black, President and CEO
Get
Ready for a Day of Big Smiles and Big Fun at WNIN’s Kids Fest!
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls — get ready for a day of nonstop FUN! WNIN’s Kids Fest is rolling into town 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, and you’re officially invited to the biggest family party of the year!
Best of all? It’s absolutely, positively, 100 percent FREE to join the fun!
Bring your smiles, your curiosity, and the whole family for a jam-packed day of excitement, including:
• Hands-on activities from awesome local businesses and organizations
• Live entertainment and games galore
• Special guest appearances from your favorite PBS KIDS characters
• Inflatables, food trucks, and fabulous prizes!
Kids Fest is ALL about learning through laughter, play, and imagination. Each booth will have something special for kids to try, make, or discover — and trust us, you won’t want to miss a single one. Plus, there will be fun goodies and helpful resources for parents, too!
Feeling adventurous? Dive into inflatable obstacle courses, grab a delicious snack, and meet PBS KIDS friends! And don’t forget to stop by the free book giveaway — every child gets to pick a storybook to take home!
“The WNIN Kids Fest is all about bringing families together to show that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms — it can happen anywhere, especially when you’re having fun!” says Karen Robinson, WNIN Director of Events and Theater.
Can’t wait until September? Neither can we! Warm up for the big day by tuning into PBS KIDS every morning on 9.1 WNIN PBS, and check out even more games and activities at pbskids.org/grownups.
Want the latest Kids Fest news and surprises? Follow WNIN on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for email updates at wnin.org.
Bonus! If your business wants to join the fun and support Tri-State kids in a BIG way, we’d love to have you! Reach out to Karen Robinson at krobinson@wnin.org to become a sponsor or booth partner.
We can’t wait to see you there — let’s make memories, learn something new, and most of all, have a ton of FUN!
Join the Conversation!
By Laura Porter, WNIN Director of Corporate Support
In an era of declining trust in media, businesses are rediscovering the enduring value of underwriting with public media stations like WNIN (NPR) Radio and (PBS) Television. Unlike traditional broadcast advertising, public media underwriting aligns brands with trusted journalism, educational programming, and thoughtful dialogue, without the noise of excessive commercial clutter.
Today’s savvy consumers are more value-driven than ever, seeking brands that reflect their own commitments to integrity, community, and purpose. Underwriting on public radio or television offers your business or organization a unique opportunity to showcase those values. It’s not about pushing a product or service; it’s about standing for something bigger.
Public media audiences are educated, influential, and deeply loyal. They don’t just passively consume content. They’re fully engaged. They invest in it. When a business underwrites programming, it becomes part of a relationship built on trust, quality, and civic engagement. That’s a relationship that’s difficult to replicate through paid social ads or traditional broadcast media.
In today’s economic climate, where marketing dollars must work harder and smarter, businesses seek platforms that deliver brand awareness while demonstrating their social responsibility. Public media offers underwriters both audience reach and meaningful brand equity.
I encourage you to view underwriting on WNIN not as a charitable act, but as a strategic investment. It’s an alignment with mission-driven, community-focused media at a time when consumers are paying close attention to where brands show up and why.
The opportunity is clear: Businesses that support public media aren’t just buying airtime — they’re joining a conversation that matters.
Laura Porter has served in WNIN’s Corporate Support Department since September 2020. With a background in commercial radio, she brings strong partnership-building skills to public media. The daughter of a teacher and a U.S. Army officer, Laura grew up watching “Sesame Street” and “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” sparking her passion for lifelong learning and driving her dedication to communityfocused media.
Spotlight
August Highlights
PROFESSOR T, SEASON 4
Airs August 2025
At Season 3’s shocking finale, Dan and Jasper are consumed by grief. Dan throws himself into work while the Professor hides in his lectures, avoiding the police at all costs. Helena, Jasper’s therapist, helps him face back up to his police work and there’s a hint of love in the air. The ensemble cast is joined by Zoe Wanamaker in the role of the Professor’s aunt, Zelda Radclyffe.
THE MARLOW MURDER CLUB ON MASTERPIECE, SEASON 2
Airs August 2025
While life in the idyllic town of Marlow has nearly returned to normal after a chain of murders rattled the tight-knit community, it’s not long before retired archaeologist Judith Potts, dog-walker Suzie Harris, and Vicar’s wife Becks Starling are called back into action to solve a series of new crimes that befall residents.
UNFORGOTTEN ON MASTERPIECE, SEASON 6
Airs August 2025
This award-winning cold case crime drama follows veteran London detectives who uncover the truth behind tangled, complicated murders from the past. But the deeper the truth lies, the bigger the emotional toll for the suspects, the families left behind, and the investigators themselves. The show has won both a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA) and a Broadcasting Press Guild Award.
GREAT PERFORMANCES: VIENNA PHILHARMONIC SUMMER NIGHT
CONCERT 2025
Airs August 2025
This year’s concert is conducted by Maestro Tugan Sokhiev and features as vocal soloist the opera singer Piotr Beczała, who performs arias from “Carmen,” “Turandot,” and “Gräfin Mariza.” The Vienna Boys Choir also joins the performance.
ATOMIC PEOPLE
Airs August 2025
Combining personal accounts with archive footage, this film features voices from a shrinking group — the only people left on earth to have survived a nuclear bomb — while exploring how their experiences continue to affect them.
ISLAM’S GREATEST STORIES OF LOVE
Airs August 2025
In a personal and dramatic fashion, explore the transformative power of love in Muslim culture. Follow a young
Muslim religion scholar on her journey across America through art, architecture, literature, and history, motivated by the loss of her beloved father. Now, she seeks answers in the Islamic tradition to such questions as: What is love? Is there such a thing as enduring love? How does a person recover from losing love?
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: SMOG
Airs August 2025
Learn about the epic struggle against airborne toxins that led to a national reckoning about air quality and the creation of the Clean Air Act.
August Pledge Highlights
JOHNNY CASH: WE WALK THE LINE
On April 20, 2012, music stars and friends gathered at Austin City Limits Live in Texas to celebrate the life of Johnny Cash. The standing-room-only event at The Moody not only paid tribute to Cash and his music but also to his roots and heritage. Performances included Grammy-winning and -nominated musicians Brandi Carlile, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Ronnie Dunn, Jamey Johnson, the late Kris Kristofferson, and Willie Nelson, alongside an all-star band led by Don Was featuring Buddy Miller, Kenny Aronoff, Ian McLagan, and Greg Leisz.
ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL, CHAPTER 5
It’s spring 1941 in Darrowby, and young baby Jimmy keeps everyone in Skeldale House on their toes. Helen is getting the hang of motherhood with James away at RAF Abingdon, and Carmody now is
a full-fledged member of the Skeldale family. With World War II fully underway, Mrs. Hall and Helen consider their contributions to the community, and Carmody is eager to step up. Siegfried is keen to have everyone back home, but the surprise return of Tristan won’t be quite as straightforward as he’d hoped.
PBS PREVIEWS: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: A FILM BY KEN BURNS
This six-part documentary examines how America’s founding turned the world upside down. Thirteen British colonies rose in rebellion, won their independence, and established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired democratic movements around the globe. Viewers will experience the Revolutionary War through the memories of the rank-and-file Continental soldiers and American militiamen, Patriot political and military leaders, British Army officers, American loyalists, Native soldiers and civilians, enslaved and free African Americans, and various civilians living in North America.
RAYE: LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL
This concert captures the British singer-songwriter’s career-defining performance at the iconic London venue, featuring reimagined orchestral arrangements of songs from her acclaimed debut album, “My 21st Century Blues.” Joined by the Heritage Orchestra (conducted by Tom Richards), gospel choir Flames Collective, and organist Anna Lapwood, the setlist includes standout moments such as “Oscar Winning
Tears,” a show-stopping rendition of “Worth It,” and the chart-topping smash hit single “Escapism.”
September Highlights
PROHIBITION
Airs at 8 p.m. Tuesdays starting Sept. 5
This three-part, five-and-a-half-hour documentary film series directed by Ken Burns and Lynn Novick tells the story of the rise, rule, and fall of the Eighteenth Amendment. Prohibition was intended to protect individuals, families, and society at large from the devastating effects of alcohol abuse. But the enshrining of a faith-driven moral code in the Constitution paradoxically caused millions of Americans to rethink their definition of morality.
BIG CATS 24/7, SEASON 2
Airs at 7 p.m. Wednesdays starting Sept. 10
Like the first season, viewers can follow the lives of lions, cheetahs, and leopards in the Okavango Delta of Botswana, a place described as one of Africa’s last wildernesses. With extraordinary, unparalleled access in a rarely visited area and the opportunity to film from the ground, the air and through the night, the Big Cat 24/7 team worked together to follow the cats’ lives around the clock.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: NIXON
Airs at 7 p.m. Sept. 2
The enigmatic nature of the Nixon presidency combined comparatively progressive legislative initiatives with a flagrant abuse of presidential power and the public trust. Even today, decades after his death, Richard Nixon inspires divided passions: Some credit him with ending the war in Vietnam. Others point to his resignation and tainted legacy. Admired and reviled, loved and hated, the man and his life continue to fascinate us.
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: FDR
Airs at 7 p.m. Tuesdays starting Sept. 10
The policies and persona of Franklin Delano Roosevelt set the cast of the “modern” U.S. presidency. The longest-serving American president led the nation through the Great Depression and World
War II — two of its worst crises — during his 13 years in the White House. Engendering both admiration and scorn, FDR exerted unflinching leadership despite devastating paralysis from polio. An aristocrat beloved by “ordinary” citizens and despised by many of his own class as a traitor, FDR, for better or worse, forever changed the American people’s relationship with their government.
POV DRIVER
Airs at 9 p.m. Sept. 1
After losing everything, Desiree Wood takes a second lease on life as a long-haul trucker. Alongside an irreverent group of women drivers, she fights for a life on the road. In a rapidly changing labor landscape, Desiree and her sisterhood of truckers rally against the crushing forces of an industry that is indifferent to their survival.
MIDSOMER MURDERS, SEASON 23
Airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays and at 8 p.m. Saturdays starting Sept. 18
Venture back to the fictional picturesque English county of Midsomer following DCI Barnaby and his trusty sidekick, DS Jamie Winter, as they solve perplexing crimes while also exploring the quirks of this delightful yet deadly county.
(July) 2 p.m. Specials (3 hours) 5 p.m. BBC News The Context 5:30 p.m.
&
a.m. Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood
a.m. Arthur 6 a.m. Wild Kratts 6:30 a.m. Weather Hunters starting 7/7/25 7 a.m. Lyla In The Loop
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Swapping Corn Husks for Stories
Alongside hot, sticky work came lifelong family memories
By Jodi Keen
Every family has summer traditions they reminisce about — maybe a sojourn to Holiday World or a camping trip. My relatives — practical folks who were short on discretionary funds — share one key summer memory: Gathering one day each August at our farm to harvest corn.
Since the 1930s, the Keens have grown soybeans and sweet corn on a farm — now topping 600 acres — in Wayne County, Illinois. Most of the crop is sold for profit, but we had a plot that we harvested for our own tables. When I joined the family in the mid-1980s, the one-day harvest tradition was in its third decade. There were only a few days between when the corn was ripe enough to pick and when the wildlife would find it, so we had to be ready to assemble quickly. We started around 5:30 in the morning, when my grandfather Verl, father David, uncle Gene, and cousin Jarod would hop in a pickup truck, drive out to the fields, and handpick about 15 bushels of corn. The quartet then would deposit the ears on the front lawn of my grandparents’ house, where about a dozen relatives would sit in lawn chairs and shuck ears for hours, discarding husks and silk into washbaskets and buckets. A fire built inside three tiers of bricks in the gravel driveway heated water to boiling in a 55-gallon metal drum. Clean ears were lowered into the water via a wire basket and blanched for about five minutes, then moved into a water bath to slow the cobs’ rate of cooking. It was hot, sticky work. I didn’t like getting up early or shucking in the heat, and I especially loathed the way the tiny, fine silk in each cob would refuse to separate from the kernels — and when they finally let go, they’d cling to me. We’d finish shucking and cooking around noon, break for lunch, and then pick up our electric knives, cut the kernels from the cobs, and fill plastic bags bound for our freezers or mason jars. Come winter, that corn would be served in vegetable
FUN ON THE FARM When farming is in your blood, crops factor into your summer vacation. For decades, four generations of Managing Editor Jodi Keen’s family would meet on her grandparents’ farm in Wayne County, Illinois, and harvest enough corn to feed them for the next year. Hunched for hours over washbaskets filled with discarded husks, the family entertained themselves by telling increasingly outlandish stories of growing up on the farm.
soup and alongside beef stew and meatloaf — and it would taste just as fresh and crisp as the day it was plucked off the stalk.
To pass the time, we’d swap stories. Sitting around flying husks of corn, you’d hear tall tales that somehow turned out to be true, like how one snowy December evening, a man broke into his neighbor’s trailer and stole a TV. That’s when electronics were huge hunks of metal and plastic, and the man needed a wheelbarrow to cart the TV back to his house a few doors down. He barely had time to enjoy his new acquisition before the police came calling, and he couldn’t understand how the cops knew it was him. (Did I mention that it was snowing?)
Another story was about the time Virgil Myers, a painter and part-time clown with the Ringling Brothers, was dared to perform his signature standing-on-hishead move atop the silo he was painting. Virgil did just that, like it was an everyday occurrence. (No word on if the farm’s insurance policy was checked first.)
One relative would begin a story, and another would jump in, helping spin the yarn. Soon, four generations were bowled over, wiping tears of laughter from their eyes — with a handkerchief, of course, because our hands were covered in corn silk.
Some years, like in 1996, there was a drought, resulting in no corn to harvest. But most years, we waited by the phone each August, ready to drive to the farm with just a few days’ notice and shuck ears until we thought we’d be sick of corn forever.
Our August tradition began winding down in the early 2000s, several years before my grandfather passed away from cancer. I never experienced those harvest days as an adult, and looking back, I wish I had recognized the precious opportunity to bond with my elders. Those memories live on through my parents, aunts, and uncles, and even though we haven’t gathered to shuck corn in years, we never miss the chance to swap those stories.
