Indianapolis Monthly - June 2023 Edition

44

LAKE HOUSES WE LOVE

We cast our net from Michigan to Bloomington, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find more enticing freshwater retreats than these anywhere. With golden landscape views, uplifting decor, and leisure options ranging from energizing to chill, each of our handpicked homes will inspire you to make your own lakeside dream come true.

BY MICHELLE MASTRO

58

ONE IN A MILLION

He was not known for living large or doling out even small sums of money, but Terence Kahn died a very rich man. His staggering wealth and accidental generosity would change Indy’s nonprofit scene for good.

BY MARY MILZ

Homes on Lake Lemon are growing in demand.

Photo by Chrissy Ramsey

PHOTO BY ANGELA JACKSON

STEP INTO MOTHERHOOD WITH THE BEST

When the family is about to grow by two feet, you’ve got a whole team ready to help you find your footing. Franciscan Health’s labor and delivery specialists take all the steps to motherhood with you – from prenatal to postnatal, and every step in between, including advanced care for high-risk pregnancies and breastfeeding support services. Step into your new role as mom with confidence! Choose your OB/GYN today.

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CIRCLE CITY

11

SPEED READ

After a hugely successful first year, the WonderRoad Music Festival is making its second foray into Garfield Park. An even bigger and more enthusiastic crowd will be waiting.

14

THE HOOSIERIST

Our Indiana expert extraordinaire answers that age-old question: What’s in a name?

16

THE BEAT Conner Prairie has launched a compelling podcast with a surprising historical tack. Here’s the backstory.

18

IN THE FIELD

You’ll be prepared for the next time you stumble across a hobbled hawk, an orphaned opossum, or a run-down rabbit.

20

BEST BETS

Behold, the five can’t-miss events in Indy this month.

133

23 WANTED

Consider your Father’s Day shopping done.

24 SHOP TALK

A cavern of European delights swings open its doors in Carmel.

26 TRENDING

The humble water glass is elevated to new heights.

28

STREET SAVVY

54th and the Monon is alive with creativity.

30

BODY+SOUL

To sleep, perchance to dream. Here’s help.

32

TRAVELER

Get your blues on at ROMP.

34

REALTY CHECK

A lavish Italianate in Zionsville checks every luxury box.

THE DISH

37

SWOON

Borage’s chef-baker duo brings pastries, gourmet groceries, and luxe dinners to the heart of Speedway.

38

FIRST BITE

Memento Zero Proof Lounge gets buzz; a Greenfield eatery raises a glass to wine-inspired dishes; and dessert genius Youssef Boudarine drops pastry wisdom.

40

FOODIE

Pitmaster Brendon Hutton of Smoke Hutt has barbecue sauce in his veins.

41

TASTE TEST

From cream-cheese-swirled to cinnamon-buttered, this French toast will have you scrambling out of bed.

42 REVIEW

Hovito Ultra Lounge lands on a rowdy downtown corner with elegance and swagger.

140

RESTAURANT GUIDE

A tour of the city’s best eats, from fine dining to favorite dives.

BACK HOME AGAIN

You give a dog an inch, he’ll take a couch. We learned the hard way.

Learning the Ropes

I HAVE never owned a boat. Although my dad is no stranger to fishing vessels, he always subscribed to the theory that it’s better to have a buddy who owns a boat than to buy one yourself. Throughout my childhood, my family was fortunate enough to have generous friends who hosted us on lake outings, usually on Sundays after church. Those sunny afternoons spent tooling around Mississinewa Lake wearing damp bathing suits are permanently stored in my mind as fond memories. We toted beach towels and coolers and passed around bags of grapes and cans of Pringles, swimming and laughing like the following day wasn’t Monday.

Andrea Ratcliff Editor-in-Chief

It was during these outings when I learned to water ski. It took several teaching sessions and many, many failed attempts, but once I finally figured out how to stay upright on skis, I never forgot the method. My endlessly patient instructor jumped in the lake with me over and over again, coaching me on how to bend my knees, press my feet into the water, and pretend I was rising up from a chair while being pulled behind a speeding watercraft. Those lessons have stuck with me throughout my life. Each time I ventured out on a boat with other generous friends, decades later, I remembered exactly what I was taught and got right up on skis on the first try.

I don’t know how many kids and adults learned to water ski under the guidance of Pat McGavic, but it seems fitting to salute him in an issue showcasing beautiful lake retreats (p. 44) that hits newsstands the same month as Father’s Day. While I inherited my own father’s green thumb and penchant for gardening, I never picked up his fishing hobby. But those Sunday boat trips with family friends instilled a lifelong love of inland waterways and bragging rights to an all-too-seldom-used skill.

( CONTRIBUTORS )

JULIETTE BORDA

Borda has created illustrations for publications worldwide, including Time and The Wall Street Journal. Working on “Paw Patrol” (p. 18) brought back this memory: A raccoon once entered her thirdfloor Brooklyn apartment via a fire escape, ate a plum from the fruit bowl, then left the way it came in. No assistance, breast or otherwise, was needed.

MARY MILZ

Freelance reporter Mary Milz loves good mysteries.

When she heard an attorney called a dozen nonprofits asking if they could handle a “transformational gift,” Milz was intrigued.

When she learned the benefactor would never know where his fortune wound up, she was hooked.

“It’s a story with lots of twists and turns,” she says of her feature (p. 58).

SUSAN SALAZ

Local freelance journalist

Susan Salaz knows MOKB Presents can pull off a good party. “They bring out so many great shows, and Garfield Park is an amazing venue,” she says. But Salaz was curious why WonderRoad Music Fest has such an edge over the other festivals that have come and gone. She tells us in this month’s Speed Read (p. 11).

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andrea Ratcliff

FEATURES EDITOR

Julia Spalding

LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Christina Vercelletto

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

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ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR

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JUNE

SUPPLEMENT AND SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

65 // HOME

Empty-nesters tailor a custom townhouse to accommodate their art collection, and a blended family creates room for young children to grow in this special supplement. Also included: an updated Forest Hills Tudor suits its buyers to a tee.

125 // TRAVEL

Pack up the car and trek to kid-friendly Midwest destinations in Indiana and Kentucky for summer recreation and hands-on learning experiences. From museums and cultural attractions to zoos and parks, each locale offers a wide variety of fun, engaging a ctivities

IN THE NEXT ISSUE ... Medical Guide

What are the latest trends and issues in the medical community? We’ll talk with Central Indiana doctors in a variety of disciplines to get the latest details about patient care, testing, treatments, and facilities. This annual resource includes a list of local medical facilities and rehabilitation centers— from hospitals to specialty practices— with information and updates about the programs and services offered at each site.

SHOP. DINE. ENJOY. LIVE.

CIRCLE CITY

No One-Hit Wonder

Back for an encore June 17–18 in Garfield Park, WonderRoad Music Fest is shaping up to be what we’ve wanted forever: an Indy version of Coachella.

PRODUCTIVE PARTNERS. A duet of sorts, WonderRoad Music Fest was founded on a partnership between Indianapolisbased promoter MOKB Presents and Cleveland-based producer Elevation Festivals—who also host WonderStruck in Cleveland, WonderBus in Columbus, and, new this year, WonderWorks in Pittsburgh. But it isn’t just business. Dan Kemer (of MOKB) and Denny Young (of Elevation) are longtime professional and personal friends, promoting shows and collaborating since the 1990s.

THAT’S THE TICKET. Many music festivals have come and gone in Indianapolis, but WonderRoad is poised to become an annual event. What’s different? Ticket sales, for one. Last year’s show, with 7,500 attendees each day, sold out. This year, Indy Parks offered to increase the capacity to 10,000 tickets each day. “If the turnout is strong, and people seem happy and provide positive reviews, it gives you the confidence to continue to move forward,” says Young. Well-known headliners like Weezer and Jason Isbell definitely drive sales, but Young is also aware that many people are craving a music festival experience close to home.

MUSIC IS A MONEY-MAKER FOR INDY.

“People talk about what the Colts do, and what the Pacers do, and what the race does for the city as far as being an economic engine, but music … is big business,” says Kemer. In 2021, the most recent year for which data is available, Indiana’s art and culture sector was an $8.6 billion industry, dramatically impacting communities and the economy.

JUST BEING NEIGHBORLY. Executive director of Big Car Collective and Garfield Park resident Jim Walker welcomes the exposure the festival brings to the park and accepts that festivals, by their nature, are self-contained. “It’s all inside the fence,” he says. Although many of the food trucks and art vendors are local, Walker says he would like to see

the community outside the fence somehow involved more, “so that it’s not just happening to our neighborhood, it’s happening with our neighborhood.”

LOCALS LINE UP. Cheryl Dillenback, who lives across the street from the park and serves as the co-president of the Garfield Park Neighborhood Association as well as the treasurer for Friends of Garfield Park, loved the festival last year, especially seeing her favorite band, Lord Huron. She purchased VIP tickets for this year’s event the day they went on sale and says many of her fellow residents plan to attend.

TRASH TALK. Dillenback admits a few residents were not fans of the festival, some citing noise and parking as concerns, while others were upset about tire marks and trash—which were promptly repaired and cleaned up by Elevation (who works with Zero Waste Event Productions to ensure that 90 percent of the festival’s waste avoids the landfill). According to Dillenback, the majority of the community has

embraced the weekend and the crowds of people it brings to the park.

THE CITY’S COMPLETELY ON BOARD. Last year, Indy Parks received $25,000 from WonderRoad, which went toward underwriting music and other performances in parks throughout town. The same is expected again this year. Isabel Ramsey, public information officer for Indy Parks and Recreation, says the city is excited to welcome the event back to Garfield Park. “The festival and other concerts are one way we activate our parks with arts and culture and bring people together,” she adds.

SET THE STAGE. A trio of stages allows for music all day, from the big names to local acts performing on the Hi-Fi stage, including Audiodacity, Sadie Johnson, and more. Kemer explains that the festival fits into the musical scheme MOKB (which includes himself, Josh Baker, and Jason King) is trying to build in the city, strategically growing bands through its venues.

PARTY ON. The shows at Garfield Park end promptly at 10 p.m., but that doesn’t mean the music stops. The fun just moves up the road to Fountain Square. After-shows at MOKB’s HiFi and Hi-Fi Annex promise to be a wonderful way to end the evenings. Get tickets for the WonderRoad Music and Arts Festival at WonderRoadFest.com. —SUSAN SALAZ

“PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WHAT THE COLTS AND THE RACE DO FOR THE CITY, BUT MUSIC IS BIG BUSINESS.”

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What’s in a Name?

Q : HOW COME SO MANY HOOSIERS SEEM TO HAVE THE LAST NAME SMITH? A: It doesn’t exactly make us feel special to know that the most common of surnames is Indiana’s No. 1. But if blandness loves company, rest assured we’ve got plenty. According to a recent survey by Ancestry.com, Smith is the most common last name not only here, but in 39 other states as well. Its origin is English and Scottish, and it was one of those names that indicates what the person did for a living. Back in the day, it was commonly used by blacksmiths or farriers (a blacksmith who specialized in horseshoes). No, I don’t know why all the blacksmiths and horse whisperers decided to come here en masse. Regardless, at least Indiana’s other top surnames are exotic. Just kidding. Number two is Miller. You guessed it: a worker in a grain mill. Coming in third is Johnson, an English-Norman moniker that—whoa—means son of John. —SAM STALL

( UNSPOKEN RULES )

The Vera Bradley Sale

A MANNER-FESTO FOR THE OUTLET BLOWOUT, BACK JUNE 14–18 AFTER A THREE-YEAR HIATUS.

Bring breath mints—or a mask. The last sale drew 45,000 shoppers. Wear comfy shoes. You’re going to the Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, all 52,000 square feet of it. Keep an eye out for the designated sorting areas to parse out your picks. Buy a $6 ticket for any of the first three days. The last two are walk-in, but by then the most coveted pieces are gone. Get it now. Early birds get a $25 discount. Leave your Vera Bradley gift cards at home. They’re not accepted. You need to be in the checkout line by your timed session’s end. Snag gifts for your favorite Gen-Zer. This year, Pura Vida jewelry is part of the sale.

In 2021, six out of every 1,000 residents got married or remarried—which just happens to be the national average. Nevada, perhaps unsurprisingly, is the most matrimonial minded at 26.2, while lonely Louisiana brings up the rear at 4.4.

ask THE HOOSIERIST ILLUSTRATION BY RYAN JOHNSON; PHOTO BY JASMINE BEJAR, UNSPOKEN RULES WRITTEN BY MICHELLE MASTRO

Myth Busters

CONNER PRAIRIE IS DIGGING INTO A PROBLEMATIC PAST THROUGH ITS POPULAR NEW PODCAST, WHICH SHINES A LIGHT ON THE SKEWED UNDERSTANDING OF HISTORY THAT TOO MANY OF US HOLD. BY ROBERT ANNIS

HANNAH Murphy and Easton Phillips sit around a small, round table in a cramped back room, surrounded by clear plastic bins filled with crayons and toys, talking about history. The relatively tiny supply room inside Conner Prairie’s preschool building also happens to be where the pair of curatorial research associates records their engaging new podcast, “This is Problematic!,” which began its 10episode second season in April.

For those who haven’t yet discovered “This is Problematic!,” Phillips and Murphy explain not only their Conner Prairie research, but also

take a broad look at hotly debated topics, such as the gentrification of historically Black neighborhoods in Indianapolis and the representation of Native Americans—or lack thereof—in popular culture over the years. “Many of those systems in place back then are still in place now,” Phillips says. “By telling the truth [about these people and events], hopefully we can spur action where problems still exist today.”

In several ways, the hosts bring outsider perspectives to their research and podcasting duties. Neither one is from Central Indiana; Phillips was born and raised in Cincinnati—“the greatest city on Earth,” he proudly proclaims at every conceivable

opportunity—while Murphy hails from Scotland. One of the more endearing aspects of each podcast is when Murphy’s usually imperceptible Scottish lilt shines through on random words like reality and now. But more importantly, as a woman and a Black man, both embody voices that weren’t represented in most history texts until relatively recently.

“This is Problematic!” gives an interesting, behind-the-scenes look at the historical-research process and explains why the history many of us were taught in school is, in many ways, flawed. For generations, it was presented through a “top-down” perspective, which looked at events through the eyes of the ruling classes. Here in the United States, that’s typically been wealthy white men. But for the last few decades, museums and other learning institutions have followed an evolution in academic approach called the “bottom-up” approach, which reframes history through the lens of everyday people. While this is generally considered a richer view of history, spotlighting different perspectives and more diverse voices, it can be more difficult to uncover. Working-class people didn’t leave as many documents or other tangible clues about their dayto-day lives behind, Murphy explains.

The podcast was 100 percent the idea of Conner Prairie leadership, who wanted to share their new research with a more adult audience. A podcast seemed like the perfect medium. Whereas it can take several years for new facts to find their way into an exhibit, a podcast can get that information to the public much faster. Despite having no background in audio storytelling, Murphy and Phillips were eager to participate when approached. “We were doing the research anyway, so why not?” Phillips says.

The 10-episode first season of the podcast premiered late last year and has garnered more than 4,000 listeners from around the globe, but the audience is primarily in Indiana. Perhaps the most memorable episode of that first season discussed a collection of 25 articles written by Associated Press reporter and Indiana

THE BEAT

Illustration by CURT MERLO

Journalism Hall of Fame member Dale Wright Burgess that were compiled in an award-winning book, Just Us Hoosiers and How We Got That Way, in 1966. To say the book is politically incorrect would be a massive understatement. “We’re glad our takes wound up coming across quite freely, but that was actually the episode we prepared the most for,” Murphy recalls. “It was certainly impossible to explore it without tackling some of the more inflammatory sections, which were uncomfortable for us to even read out loud. We tried to be very aware of not elevating the book or creating ‘reaction theatre’ around it.”

The pair has a 20-page Google list with ideas for future episodes, which are being recorded and aired monthly. One idea that’s likely to make the cut is the story of the temperance movement that swept through Westfield in the days before prohibition and led a mob of more than 40 women to destroy the town’s saloon. Twice.

Murphy says Conner Prairie’s leadership has complete trust in them, giving them carte blanche over podcast content—even when they’re stripping away some of the heroic sheen of the museum’s own namesake, William Conner.

For decades, an elementary school field trip to Conner Prairie was a rite of passage for thousands upon thousands of Central Indiana children. If you grew up here, you almost certainly have fond memories of a sunny day off from school, visiting the volunteers in period dress reenacting life in a 19th-century prairie town. When Conner was referred to by those volunteers, it seemed to be in an almost reverential tone. In one podcast, Murphy mentioned that she was surprised so many people, from staff and volunteers to adult visitors, have such an emotional attachment to

Conner, forged by those annual school trips. “Back in the day, you didn’t take William Conner’s name in vain here,” Phillips says. “He was painted as this noble symbol, but in many ways, he really represents the myth of the frontier … a lot of the credit given to him was likely misallocated.”

When the property on which Conner Prairie sits first became a livinghistory museum in 1934, historical accuracy wasn’t at the forefront of the founders’ minds. The museum’s original depictions of Conner were taken from the sources at their fingertips, including a book written by a family member. Because Conner didn’t leave much behind in the way of formal records, Phillips says, the original museum historians likely inferred many of his more mythical attributes, exaggerating his war exploits and business accomplishments.

But as researchers dug into Conner’s past, some uncomfortable truths came to light. The museum had always heralded Conner’s close relationship with the Lenape Tribe. So close, in fact, that he was married to a Lenape woman named Mekinges, who was the daughter of Chief Anderson, after whom the nearby town is named. But what wasn’t known until recently was that the 26-year-old Conner may have married Mekinges when she was 12. Eighteen years later, he would help negotiate a treaty that forced the Lenape out of Indiana—including Mekinges and their six children. Three months after their departure for Missouri, William Conner, now age 43, would marry Elizabeth Chapman, 18, and father an additional 10 children.

“People want to feel good about their history,” Phillips says. “We get that it can be hard to disconnect analysis from emotion, especially when it’s a story you think you know. But no

matter how old we are, we can still learn new things. We need to be open to fresh perspectives.”

While researching the museum’s upcoming Promised Land as Proving Ground exhibit, Phillips discovered how Conner’s life also intertwined with Pete Smith, a free Black man popular in the local community at the time. One of Conner’s Kentucky business associates filed a false claim in out-of-state court that Smith was his escaped slave, and when the Kentuckian returned to Indiana, he captured Smith. The Noblesville townspeople wanted to free Smith and lynch his captor, but Conner talked them out of it. That fall, with Smith conveniently out of the way, Conner would go on to harvest Smith’s corn crop, keeping the proceeds for himself. (These newly uncovered facts are discussed at length in episodes four, five, and six of the first season.)

“Mythologizing historical figures isn’t beneficial for anyone,” Murphy says, tapping her fingers. “We’re not attempting to entirely dismiss William Conner or anyone else from our past; all human beings make mistakes and are problematic in their own ways. We only want to present a more fully formed person to our audience.”

Perhaps surprisingly, given the culture wars that have gripped much of Indiana and the entire country and the pushback against teaching alternative historical perspectives, very little negative reaction has resulted from these podcast reevaluations. Volunteers and staff members have expressed more concern than the public, Phillips says, but not because of devotion to William Conner. They simply hate the idea that they may have been giving their visitors wrong information for all these years. “The public wants simple, objective answers,” says Jody Blankenship, Indiana Historical Society president and CEO, “but when we’re looking at history, that’s almost never the case. People are complicated, so history is complicated.”

The “This is Problematic!” podcast can be streamed now on ConnerPrairie .org/this-is-problematic, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

“THE PUBLIC WANTS SIMPLE, OBJECTIVE ANSWERS, BUT WHEN WE’RE LOOKING AT HISTORY, THAT’S ALMOST NEVER THE CASE. PEOPLE ARE COMPLICATED, SO HISTORY IS COMPLICATED.”

Paw Patrol

COYOTES, AND TURKEYS, AND BEARS! OH, MY. WHETHER A HELPLESS ANIMAL IS FEATHERED OR FURRY, THIS GROUP COMES TO THEIR RESCUE.

BY SAM STALL

THE FOUR LOCAL women who run the Morgan Countybased wild animal rescue service Paws, Wings & Other Things are on duty 24/7. They have to be. They swing into action whenever civilians find injured or orphaned wild animals needing care. Their work is unpleasant and even dangerous, and often happens in the middle of the night. “It was originally supposed to be a hobby,” says founder and president, Katja Kimball. “The first year we helped 128 animals. Last year it was 1,225.” Here’s what they’ve learned from their adventures.

RACCOONS ARE tough. “Nobody wants to take them because they’re very expensive to rehab and a lot of work,” says volunteer Susan Hobbs. The cost is at least $200 a pop, whether it’s being rehabilitated as an injured adult or raised as an orphaned kit. The group takes both, along with raccoons people tried to keep as pets—something Kimball strongly discourages. “When they turn 6 months old, they will rip your face off because all they want to do is mate,” she says. “They make terrible pets.”

WILDLIFE RESCUES can get hairy. Kimball once had to wade through icy, knee-deep water in the middle of February to help a wounded bald eagle. All while wearing sandals, because she left her home in such a hurry that she forgot to change shoes. On another occasion, she and her husband got up at 4 a.m. to rescue an osprey from the top of a 200-foot-tall grain silo in the middle of a

windstorm. “He wrapped the bird in a blanket and then tied him to his waist so he could climb back down the silo,” Kimball recalls. “It was quite the ordeal.”

WELL-MEANING SOULS feed the wayward fauna they find the wrong things. Often, the mistake worsens their condition, especially in the case of birds, whose bodies can’t dispose of undigestible matter. One gave milk to a fledgling bird because “baby animals drink milk.” (Pro tip: Baby birds most definitely don’t.) Another fed a finch, a seed-eater, roast beef. But the most notable was a woman who breastfed a baby raccoon. “She thought it was more natural,” Kimball recalls. “I told her, ‘Ma’am, there is nothing natural about your breast for a raccoon.’” (Her own baby had to be checked for parasitic infections.)

SOME OF THE animals the group ministers to aren’t typical Hoosier denizens. One bitter cold night Kimball got a call from a man who’d picked up what he thought was a stray cat. In fact, it was a young bobcat suffering from hypothermia. The good Samaritan drove it home, where the warmth revived the surprised and angry predator. Fortunately, the rescuers were able to wrangle it into a cage and provide care. Likewise, the group aided a pelican that, while migrating through the state, snagged itself on a fishing line on a lake in Putnam County. It was rehabilitated and released this past April.

ANIMALS CAN come home with you unannounced. Once a frantic woman contacted Kimball with an incredible story. She thought she’d hit an animal while driving, but hadn’t seen anything on the road. She parked in her garage, and the next morning found a terrified coyote crouching in a corner. It seems when she’d hit it the night before, it became lodged in her grille and rode all the way to her house. It was treated for (relatively) minor injuries and released. And this was no one-off. On another occasion, a woman called upon discovering a large barn owl stuck in her car’s grille. It also made a full recovery.

IT’S POSSIBLE to love wildlife too much. One woman found an abandoned fawn on her property. “By the time I got out there, they had taken it inside,” Kimball recalls. “It was in one of the kids’ bedrooms, watching Law & Order with the family.” On another occasion, a determined lady saw a deer brushed by a car and hauled it, unconscious, into her house. The 80-pound animal woke up and tore the place apart trying to escape. “Deer are not Bambi,” Kimball says. “They can kill you.” The moral of this story is clear. Don’t try to help—or feed—wildlife. Instead, check out the Indiana Department of Natural Resources list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators at in.gov/ dnr or contact Paws, Wings & Other Things at 317-263-1131 or via Facebook.

BEST BETS

THIS MONTH’S CAN’T–MISS EVENTS

(1) Indy Pride Pet Pride

June 3

Kick off Pride Month with the whole family. That includes your fur baby, naturally. Gather at Riverside Park at noon to enjoy music and fun with fellow pet parents. No pooch? No problem. Local animal shelters will be on hand to introduce you to a forever friend who needs a home. indypride.org/ event/indy-pride-pet-pride-2023

(2) Juneteenth Foodways Festival

June 16

Taste the fare of local Black restaurateurs at this free celebration of Dolly Johnson, the first Black chef in the White House, at the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site. bhpsite.org

(3) Charlie Puth Presents the Charlie Live Experience

June 21

The four-time Grammy nominated pop star and collaborator with Elton John on the hit “After All” is coming to the TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park. That turns us on like a light switch. wrsp.in/charlie-puth-2023

(4) Symphony on the Prairie: The Music of Harry Potter

June 23-24

If you can hum “Hedwig’s Theme,” this magical outdoor performance by the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra at Conner Prairie is for you. Maestro Enrico LopezYanez is conducting. connerprairie.org

(5) Bubble Run

June 24

The running equivalent of the bubble room in Willy Wonka’s factory, this 5K race is familyfriendly. The first wave starts out at 8 a.m. from Celebration Park at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center. bubblerun.com/locations/ indyg

PHOTOS COURTESY 1) INDY PRIDE 2) BENJAMIM HARRISON PRESIDENTIAL SITE 3) LIVENATION 4) DOKK SAVAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

BUILDING STRONG FAMILIES

GOOD LIFE

WANTED Buckle Up

The husband-and-wife team, Zack and EJ Anderson, behind Bicursal Designs give scrap lumber a really cool retirement. The pair crafts striking wooden jewelry, hair accessories, charcuterie boards, and belt buckles. With Father’s Day upon us, the latter—available in customizable styles—really caught our eye. With wood being the star element, no two buckles are exactly the same. “Between sourcing nearly all of the wood from Indy Urban Hardwood and working with Nate at 1979 Co. on the design and functionality, these buckles carry a few extra layers of local collaboration,” says EJ. Bicursal Designs mirrored cypress on blacked copper buckle, $60, and 1979 Co. belt, $50, both available at 1979 Co., 201 S. Audubon Rd., 1979coleather.com. —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

Photo by TONY VALAINIS

( SHOP TALK )

In Vino Veritas

FOODIES AND OENOPHILES ALIKE ARE FLOCKING TO A NEW WINE-GOURMET SHOP WITH INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR.

BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

AS YOU ENTER the boutique nestled in the heart of the Carmel Arts & Design District, the artfully and deliberately arranged vignettes signal that the wares displayed are special. Regalique focuses on fine European wines, but also carries beer, specialty foods, premium cheeses, gourmet sweets, and wine-lifestyle gifts from around the world. Among the delicacies awaiting discovery are feralswine saucisson, summer truffle peelings, herbed Valencia almonds, an olive-oil-and-rosemary Asiago (a worldchampionship cheese), and balsamic vinegar that spent the last 15 years aging in a barrel in Modena, Italy. “Trips abroad sparked my passion for the fabulous diversity of wine flavors and origins in various regions,” says owner Jexy Rowe. When asked which wine makes a can’t-miss hostess gift, Rowe, who is pursuing sommelier certification, doesn’t hesitate: “You always make a statement with a French wine from Burgundy or Bordeaux.”

Regalique ADDRESS

110 W. Main St., Ste. 120, Carmel 317-756-9982, regalique.com

HOURS

Monday–Friday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday noon–7 p.m.; Sunday noon–6 p.m.

SCOUTED

(1) Lamborghini Luxe Collection Grechetto white wine, $52 (2) Made Market Co. condiment serving set, $32 (3) Sparkling Wine for Modern Times hardcover, $20 (4) spiced calamari in ragout sauce, $14

THIS GIVES US SUPERBOWLRIHANNA VIBES.

Exactly! I had no idea what to do with this 19-week pregnant body, so I took a page from the queen with a Free People red jumpsuit. The gold snake belt was my grandmother’s, and my boots are Pskaufman, my favorite designer.

WHAT’S YOUR APPROACH TO ACCESSORIES?

To add just one I adore, whether that’s a standout coat, killer boots, or a piece of my beloved turquoise jewelry. I also consider my Great Dane a fabulous accessory.

ANY FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPS?

1979 Co. in Irvington and Zodiac Vintage in Fountain Square. Both owners are the best humans who just so happen to be wildly talented. — C.V.

Kalliopi Nikou Realtor

LET’S FIND OUR PLACE IN THE SUN.

Kick back on white-sand beaches and wade in emerald green waters. Paddle through hidden mangroves tunnels and pedal down the new St. Pete Pier. Fill up on fresh-caught cuisine and sample local craft beer. Make every moment a memory in St. Pete/Clearwater.

Let’s shine—plan your escape at VisitStPeteClearwater.com

Drink It In

THE HUMBLE WATER GLASS IS NOW THE STAR OF THE TABLE.

BY STEPHEN GARSTANG

FROM LEFT: The William Yeoward Crystal Vanessa Tumbler Highball in forest green is stunning at dinner parties. $90. Charles Mayer & Co., 5629 N. Illinois St., charlesmayer.com

This vintage-style Tall Drinking Glass with burnished gold accents is easy to grip, thanks to the ridged design. $21. Be the Boutique, 5607 N. Illinois St., betheboutique.com

We love this indooroutdoor All-Purpose Glass for cookouts. The wicker sleeve slides off for washing the glass. $16. Parkside Linen, 1762 E. 86th St., parksidelinen.com

An iridescent Tumbler of hammered glass with a gilt rim is classic midcentury modern. $22. Surroundings, 1101 E. 54th St., surroundings -antique-store .business.site

The cased-glass Dashing Check Highball by MacKenzie-Childs has a heavy feel. $148/set of four. Addendum Gallery, Carmel City Center, The Fashion Mall, addendum gallery.com

The Zafferano Perle Beverage Glass, available in multiple colors and in a smaller size, is crafted just outside of Rome. $28. Parkside Linen, 1762 E. 86th St., parksidelinen.com

54th and the Monon

FREE PARKING AND SCORES OF OWNER-OCCUPIED SHOPS WITH A CREATIVE VIBE MAKE FOR A FUN SUNNY-DAY STROLL.

BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

GET

AN EARLY START.

Dedicated breakfastto-lunch eateries have popped up like tulips at Newfields in April. Yet the brunch crowd still gravitates to the yellow cinder block, kitschy fixture that is Good Morning Mama’s (1). And we mean crowd: You’ll wait on weekends, but the earlier you arrive, the better. Once you bite into the Kahlua-battered French toast, all will be forgiven. 1001 E. 54th St., 317-255-3800, goodmorningmamas.com

TRY SAVORY ICE CREAM. The little blue house alongside the Monon is Lick (2) , noted for interesting combinations, such as Gorgonzola Candied Pecan, Sweet Corn, and Cedar Whiskey. Less adventurous types can go mainstream with the likes of mint chocolate chip or strawberries and cream. Each flavor is made from scratch with organic dairy. They do offer a vegan choice that’s surprisingly creamy.

1049 E. 54th St., 317-979-0237

CHERRY PICK. Devoted to sustainable fashion with a retro vibe, Lux & Ivy (3) creator Sara Baldwin curates the best of local brands and secondhand goods. Hunting through the trove of changing finds is half the fun. On a recent visit, we spotted Katy Bell earrings, handmade chunky mugs, a disco-ball bag charm, and vintage rings. Closet overflowing? Buying day is Wednesday. Don’t forget to grab a free Lux & Ivy pin at checkout. 1051 E. 54th St., Ste. A, 317-602-2388, luxandivy.com

DECORATE YOUR DOMICILE. Interior designer Tiffany Skilling has expanded her private-appointment enterprise with retail space Le Shoppe by Tiffany Skilling (4) . “I was always being asked if we were open to the public for shopping. Our bandwidth for interior-design clients is limited, so this fills a void,” explains Skilling. Find Les Ottomans hand-painted iron trays, Tozai marble frames, Schumacher pillows, and Arteriors side tables. 1057 E. 54th St., Ste. D, 317-385-9058, tiffany skillinginteriors.com/le-shoppe-1

Clockwise from above left: Among the most popular items at Heritage Clothier & Home are Indianapolis-neighborhood candles; artist to the glitterati, Walter Knabe, shows off a piece commemorating Annie Lennox; treats laden with luscious buttercream come in rotating “fancy pants” flavors as well as classic ones at The Flying Cupcake.

STOP AND SMELL THE FLOWERS. Meredith Fleming and Erika White, co-owners of Posh Petals (5) , are innovators when it comes to presenting posies. “Customizing creatively is the whole fun of this business,” says Fleming. The most coveted blossoms these days? Peonies and their look-alikes, ranunculus. You’ll also find an array of candles and ceramicware. As you leave, snap a selfie against the bloomfestooned wall. 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. A, 317-923-6000, poshpetals.com

MANGIA BENE. Whether date night is cooking side-by-side or dinner out, go to Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta + Market + Back Room Eatery (6) . The market stocks hard-to-find gourmet products plus house-made fresh pasta, sauces, meatballs, and mozzarella. Sit-down menu

Clockwise from near left: Eggs simmered in housemade Pomodoro sauce with fresh basil is a solid pick at Good Morning Mama’s; find superb Italian cheese and olive oil at Nicole Taylor’s Pasta + Market + Back Room Eatery; farmers market favorite Lick is now a small-batch scoop shop in a cottage.

stars include mushroom ravioli and tiramisu. Erin Kem of Scarlet Lane Gastropub just joined as chef. 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. C, 317-257-7374, nicoletaylorspasta.com

REMIND YOURSELF THAT LIFE IS SWEET.

Thank The Flying Cupcake (7) for starting the Indy cupcake craze 15 years ago with their ginonormous specimens. Look for Pucker Up, chiffon cake filled with sweet-tart lemon curd, Fruity Pebbles topped with cereal-milk frosting—and Pupcakes for your pooch. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-396-2696, theflyingcupcakebakery.com

GET A PIECE OF HIS MIND. The art of textile designer and painter Walter Knabe enlivens anything, whether a celeb’s penthouse, Dario Franchitti’s race helmet, or the items in his Walter Knabe Specialty Boutique (8). Shelves are lined with pillows, totes, cuff bracelets, scarves, and paper goods, all sprung from his brilliant mind. 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. H, 317-9866900, walterknabe.com

BRING HOME DAPPER DUDS. Many a man rely on Heritage Clothier & Home (9) for wardrobe inspo. Expect modern activewear, evening-out pieces, swimwear, accessories, and shoes. You’ll also see an eclectic mix of made-in-Indiana decor and giftables. 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. K, 317426-5732, heritageclothierandhome.com

FIX IT UP. Since 2001, Jean Easter of Easter Conservation Services (10) has been rejuvenating textiles—whether a tapestry, vintage draperies, or an upholstered footstool. Ceramics, artwork, and frames are also in her repertoire. 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. J, 317-396-0885, easterconservation.com

Katy Bell cherry dangle earrings, $24, Lux & Ivy

Mixed-plant pot, $40, Posh Petals

Handmade coasters, $10 each, Heritage Clothier & Home

Photos by TONY VALAINIS

Generation Zzzz…

A GOOD NIGHT’S SLUMBER ELUDES MANY OF US. HERE’S HELP FROM THE OFFICIAL SLEEP PHYSICIAN FOR THE PACERS. BY

NIKO VERCELLETTO

SLEEP is one of the most important biological processes. It’s also the one we most often ignore. For advice on how to snooze—and feel—better, we turned to Dr. Abhinav Singh, the official sleep physician for the Indiana Pacers and co-author of the justpublished Sleep to Heal: 7 Simple Steps to Better Sleep.

Why is sleep so important?

Many reasons. For starters, it’s integral to the growth and repair of muscles and other tissues, restores energy stores, harmonizes your metabolism, and organizes and archives memories.

What can we do that will provide the biggest benefit right away?

Keeping regular bedtimes and wake times is my favorite starting point. Generally, it’ll take three weeks to form the new habit, so you’ll need to consciously make sleep a priority for a while.

How can we make that change easier?

Eye masks and earplugs help some people. But the big step is to avoid using

any device in bed. Keep your phone out of arm’s reach. While reading a book on paper is best, if you like winding down with a TV show, so be it. But set the sleep timer for 20 or 30 minutes max, keep the TV as dim as possible, and let sleep come to you.

What about the bedroom itself?

Keep it dark, quiet, and cool. A temperature of less than 68 degrees is most conducive to sleep.

Snoring is a common sleep-disturber, even if you’re not the one snoring! Yes, snoring is common, but it’s not usually normal. If it’s bad enough to wake your bed partner or comes with choking, breathing pauses, or with excessive daytime sleepiness, then see your doctor. It could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnea, a serious condition if left untreated.

So, how do you approach helping pro basketball players sleep?

The basics are the same, but they have life challenges, even off the court, that the rest of us don’t. We educate them on sleep as an underappreciated performance booster.

( UNWIND )

Magic School Bus

Sauna Social is perfect for parties or just chilling (and sweating) with your besties.

NEED A BREAK from the stresses of everyday life? Three friends— Navi Kaur, Marketa Ruzickova, and Chris Johnson—saw that near-universal need and came up with Sauna Social, a traveling sauna in a school bus. You read that right. “During the pandemic, we were inspired by the travel trend of creating motor homes, which gave us the idea,” says Kaur. For $30, you can experience an hour of tension-free comfort in this unique mini spa. The bus, unofficially called “Schooleesha,” is equipped with a traditional Finnish sauna, cold shower, toilet, two dressing rooms, and a lounge. It’s a restful, judgment-free zone. “We are passionate about creating an atmosphere of peace,” adds Kaur. An online tracker for Schooleesha is coming soon; at press time, she’s parked at 1336 Shelby Street. Head to sauna social.co to book a session. For two-hour parties of more than eight guests, the bus can be driven to you. —N.V.

BODY+ SOUL

A Bluegrass Blast

THE ANNUAL ROMP FEST IS SET TO BE THE BIGGEST AND BEST YET, DRAWING ACOUSTIC MUSIC FANS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. BY AMY LYNCH

FOLKLORIST Alan Lomax famously described bluegrass as “folk music in overdrive, with a silvery, rippling, pinging sound.” Once considered hillbilly music from a bygone era, bluegrass has made a comeback. For many Hoosiers, the personification of the genre is Bill Monroe. The “father of bluegrass” frequently played to packed houses in Brown County, but he was born, raised, and buried in Rosine, Kentucky, just down the road from Owensboro.

Appropriately, then, the celebration of all things bluegrass, ROMP Fest (rompfest.com), is held in Owensboro’s Yellow Creek Park. This year, the performances by nationally acclaimed artists and the battalion of food trucks and craft merchants are coming together June 21–24. Old Crow Medicine Show and Ricky Skaggs will be the headliners. “The festival has more than tripled in size since it began and has expanded program-

ming to include artist-led workshops, kids’ activities, and new vendors,” says Hannah Koller, ROMP marketing director. “We expect 25,000 people.” The best days to go depend on which acts you most want to catch. If you’re flexible, you can beat the crowds by avoiding Friday and Saturday nights. You can save money, too: General admission tickets set you back $90–95 per day on Friday and Saturday; on Wednesday and Thursday those run $35 and $80 respectively. Packages and camping permits are available.

Summer-long, free Friday After 5 (friday after5.com) Sip-and-Strolls let you explore charming downtown Owensboro, including the expansive family-friendly Smothers Park on the riverbank. Don’t skip the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum (bluegrasshall.org). Monroe was the first inductee. Now it’s a snazzy showplace that greets visitors with a wall of guitars, banjos, and Dobros begging to be played. Go on. That’s what they’re there for.

Owensboro, KY

DISTANCE

193 miles

DRIVE TIME

3.5 hours

IF YOU GO

EAT The great mutton barbecue debate (yes, mutton) rages on between the regionally famous Moonlite Bar-B-Q Inn buffet (moonlite.com) and the locally beloved Old Hickory Bar-B-Que (oldhickorybar-b-q .com). Sample both and decide where your loyalties lie.

SIP Established in 1885, Green River Distilling Co. (greenriverdistilling .com) offers tours and tastings of their proprietary “Whiskey Without Regrets.”

GET MORE INFO at visitowensboro.com

June is the month to make a splash. South Bend, aptly named for the local twist in the St. Joseph River, has great whitewater rafting. Grab a paddle and conquer class-two rapids and drops on the EAST RACE WATERWAY , open June 3. The first rafts go out at noon, so you have time to grab breakfast on the way. eastracewaterway.com —CHRISTINA

TRAVELER

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON MAE

The Gate of Heaven

WHEN A RARE ITALIANATE WENT ON THE MARKET IN ZIONSVILLE, ONE LUCKY COUPLE JUMPED ON THE OPPORTUNITY. BY

AS THEY prepared to move from Minnesota and leave the Land of 10,000 Lakes for life in the Hoosier state, Rachel and Adam Wardlow had a short, straightforward wish list—they wanted to live in Zionsville and, more specifically, in the charming neighborhood of Stonegate. The only problem? Homes in Stonegate don’t hit the market often, and when they do, they go quickly.

The neighborhood’s popularity can be attributed to many things, like its 70 acres of parks and green space, an elementary school located in the neighborhood (plus a bike trail to the middle school), an impressive clubhouse and pool, holiday-themed events, and its own restaurant and bar. It’s the best of both worlds: a small community feel with all of Zionsville’s amenities just minutes away.

JEANA HARRIS

So when a gorgeous Italianate went live at $1,495,000, their agent, Traci Garontakos, sent the listing to them immediately. Within hours, they’d done a FaceTime tour of 7612 The Commons with Garontakos and had fallen head-over-heels in love with it. With no hesitation, they put in their offer sight unseen.

Rachel recalls the first time they could finally tour the home. “It was even more stunning in person,” she says, “I love that we can stand in our front yard and see the school and so much green space. Our house is in the heart of the neighborhood.”

With more than 6,000 square feet of living space, five bedrooms, and fiveand-a-half bathrooms, it may seem like it would be difficult to choose only one favorite feature, but for the couple, it’s not. An incredible addition by Christopher Scott Homes made for a jawdropping indoor–outdoor space off the

front living room. A retractable wall reveals a covered lanai, large fireplace, wet bar, and Gunite pool. Rachel and Adam knew they wanted a pool for their water-loving daughters, but this setup was beyond anything they’d imagined. “It’s unforgettable,” Rachel says. Because the home is so incredibly suited to their wish list, the young family doesn’t have any major changes planned. The only update on tap is adding a projector screen in the basement for cozy family movie nights in the home of their dreams.

REALTY CHECK

Finding the best care for you starts with a conversation between you and an Ascension St. Vincent doctor. What sets us apart is our unrelenting commitment to advanced and high-quality care in our community.

• The most advanced heart and vascular care

• Cancer care specialists and navigators with you from diagnosis through recovery

• The Gold Seal of Approval from The Joint Commission for brain tumor and stroke care

• Highest level NICU for babies and advanced specialty care for all children at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital

• 24/7 ER care for adults and children, with Indiana’s only care navigators that connect you to the right follow-up care

And you’ll find we excel just as much in the things that can’t be measured — listening more closely and caring more compassionately.

Your first choice for leading care

ImagesProvidedBy ErinFeldmeyer,ErinKayPhotographyLLC

THE DISH

SWOON Market Watch

A onetime mini mart and smoke shop just a few blocks from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was nowhere on the radar for restaurant veterans Josh Kline and Zoë Taylor when they were researching locations for their next dining concept. But when KennMar president, CEO, and founder Brent Benge bought in as their sole investor and talked up his favorite part of the city, Taylor, a well-traveled chef and baker known for her creative pastry boxes, quickly fell in love with the neighborhood.The result is Borage, the 7,400-square-foot market, cafe, and patisserie they hope to debut in October. It will feature a glassedin bakery where customers can watch dough being rolled out as well as an open kitchen with a view of Kline’s crew whipping up everything from dolled-up daily sandwiches to vegan tagine stew to dirty rice spiked with chicken liver mousse. 1609 N. Lynhurst Dr., Speedway —TERRY KIRTS

Photo by JES NIJJER

ROAD TRIP )

Vine Dining

A REIMAGINED GREENFIELD EATERY RAISES A GLASS TO WINE-INSPIRED DISHES. BY

TERRY KIRTS

IT TOOK a retooled concept and a new chef to get things right, but entrepreneurs Tim and Denise Hexamer have uncorked a winning formula in the historic Bradley Hall building in the heart of downtown Greenfield. After taking over the space that housed homey cafe The Greenfield Grind with partner Will Worley last July, offering brunch and coffee drinks through midday, the Hexamers decided to go it alone after a few months. They renamed their place Vine: A Wine Bistro and turned their focus toward their love of wine and the elevated dishes of chef Bryan Wilson. That means polished fare such as rich and creamy gnocchi crowned with confit duck, tender venison medallions, lush charcuterie platters, and an outsized shrimp cocktail. A Northern Kentucky native with creds at Sullivan’s Steakhouse in Indianapolis, as well as restaurants in Lake Tahoe and Vail, Wilson reimagines classics such as a Dover sole roulade with lump crab and a crispy risotto cake, and sous-vide pork steak with fingerlings and crispy onions. Be sure to opt for one of the solid vintage bottles from Vine’s list, and save room for amaretto cheesecake with Oreo crust. 2 W. Main St., Greenfield, 317-505-0552

PINCH OF WISDOM

Leaving your eggs

for

–Youssef Boudarine , The Moroccan-born pastry chef who baked in Paris and Barcelona before landing at Anthony’s Chophouse and Bluebeard

( NEW IN TOWN ) Cheers Squad

Drink to your heart’s content at Indiana’s first alcohol-free cocktail and coffee lounge.

WHEN FISHERS NATIVES Shwa Hall and Max Gavin were still in their late teens and starting a recording business, they often found themselves working on their creative collaborations over laptops at local coffeehouses. But in the evenings, when those shops closed, there wasn’t a place for the under-21 duo to go. Years later, they’re tapping into a national trend toward lower-alcohol and booze-free drinks at Memento Zero Proof Lounge, with Hall matching the barista and bartending creds he’s earned at places like Noble Coffee & Tea Company and The Avenue Coffeehouse & Cafe with Gavin’s managerial savvy. Their self-described “modern gothic lounge” serving zero-proof cocktails, espresso drinks, and snacks will open this summer. 8701 E. 116th St., Fishers, mementoretail.com –T.K.

ROLL PLAY Sushi counter Rolli is the newest food concept to join The Garage food hall’s lineup. PROPER COCKTAILS From the owners of The Bulldog Bar & Lounge, The English moved into the former Cornerstone Coffee House in March, showcasing tequilas, bourbons, and champagnes from around the world. BOILING HOT On-trend DIY cooking and robot servers are the big draws at Indy’s new K-Town Korean BBQ & Hot Pot.

(

“When a pastry recipe calls for roomtemperature eggs, don’t be tempted to use eggs straight from the refrigerator.

out

at least three hours will give you a better texture in the baked good.”

ROAD TRIP PHOTO BY TOM RUSSO; BOUDARINE PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS; NEW IN TOWN PHOTO COURTESY MEMENTO

Ball of Fire

THE LOW-AND-SLOW COOKING METHOD HANDED DOWN THROUGH BRENDON HUTTON’S FAMILY MAKES AN APPEARANCE IN HIS NEW FRANKLIN BARBECUE JOINT.

BY AMY LYNCH

BRENDON HUTTON knows that where there’s smoke, there’s usually great barbecue. The owner of the recently launched Smoke Hutt in Franklin aims to carry the torch his parents lit in the same spot with Jibs BBQ four years ago.

“When they first got started, I was here full-time helping out,” he says. “Then, I had to leave for another job. It just worked out that they were ready to retire and I was ready to step up.”

Growing up in Indy and Southport, Hutton learned to cook and to ’cue with his family, following in the footsteps of his dad, his uncle, and his grandfather—all seasoned pitmasters. He’s kept his hobby alive these past few years with a Texas-style barbecue food truck he plans to keep operating for local events, but his main priority right now is putting his own stamp on the

brick-and-mortar eatery. Ascribing to a less-is-more philosophy, Hutton’s a big believer in letting the flavors of the brisket, pork, ribs, and turkey he smokes on a massive commercialgrade J&R Oyler machine stand out on their own merits. “It all starts with the kind of wood you use. I like oak and maybe a little bit of mesquite,” he says. “Then it’s all about cooking the meat low and slow. Good barbecue really comes down to two things, patience and time.”

That said, Hutton has spent about a decade perfecting a quartet of sauces he serves on the side and sells by the bottle, including a hot variation made with Carolina reaper, ghost, and scorpion peppers that he promises isn’t as incendiary as it sounds. “Ketchup makes my wife start to sweat, and she likes it,” he says.

FAVORITE THINGS

(1) Brisket. “I use the simplest rub ever—just salt and pepper. When you get it right, it’s a work of art.” (2) Cajun food. “Locally, Zydeco’s in Mooresville is my favorite place to eat.” (3) Dexter knives. “I cut a lot of meat. You’ve got to have a good knife to work in this industry.” (4) Jack Hamilton (@runnrecipes on Instagram). “He makes all of our desserts for the restaurant. They’re very upscale and mostly gluten-free, not something you’d typically expect to find in a barbecue restaurant.” (5) Butter. “It makes everything better. I usually use unsalted.”

FOODIE

French Twists

BUTTER AND SYRUP ARE FINE, BUT THESE DECADENT RIFFS ON FRENCH TOAST TAKE THE MORNING DISH TO A HIGHER LEVEL.

BY AMY LYNCH

PETITE CHOU BISTRO AND CHAMPAGNE BAR

The Parisian-inspired eatery gives French toast—or pain perdu—the classical treatment, using housemade enriched white bread. The burnished slices are garnished with the likes of candied pecans, lemon curd, and macerated berries. 823 Westfield Blvd., 317-259-0765, petitechoubistro.com

LOUVINO RESTAURANT & WINE BAR

Thick slices of cinnamon-dusted baguette are stuffed with vanilla mascarpone and presented with bourbon maple syrup, jam, and whipped cream in this delicious stand-in for dessert. 530 Massachusetts Ave., 317-744-9955; 8626 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-5985160; louvino.com

GOOD MORNING MAMA’S

CAFE

Slices of pillowy challah bread get a dip in Kahlua-laced batter for the colorful cafe’s Java French Toast that arrives topped with pecans, powdered sugar, and cinnamon butter.

1001 E. 54th St., 317-255-3800, goodmorningmamas.com

Yolk

Between its two Indy locations, Yolk served up 2,400 orders of its sumptuous signature Red Velvet French Toast last year. Rich slabs of cake swirled with cream cheese are dunked in batter and griddled before getting a top layer of strawberries, whipped cream, and Vermont maple syrup. Multiple locations, eatyolk.com

Gallery Pastry Shop

This brunch darling subs in buttery croissants to create its French toast that evolves with the seasons, transitioning from a dreamy chocolate-orange iteration to a strawberriesand-cream version inspired by summertime shortcake. 4573 N. College Ave., 317-820-5526, sobro.gallerypastry.com

Photo by TONY VALAINIS

Chill Zone

HOVITO ULTRA LOUNGE BRINGS ELEGANCE AND SWAGGER TO ONE OF DOWNTOWN’S ROWDIEST CORNERS.

BY JULIA SPALDING

IF SOMEONE were to design a walking tour of downtown Indy’s South Meridian Street, they’d have plenty of material.

The Wholesale District’s dense commercial bustle dates back to our earliest days as a Midwestern metropolis packed with turn-of-the-century storefront merchants and warehouses in the shadow of the sprawling Union Railroad Station. Those sepia-toned urban blocks eventually became ground zero for nightlife in the heart of Indianapolis. In addition to the historic Slippery Noodle Inn, you had places like Ike

& Jonesy’s, Hollywood Bar & Filmworks, Cadillac Ranch, Tiki Bob’s, and Taps & Dolls—notoriously nocturnal and sometimes questionable. (The latter two businesses shut down last year amid multiple incidences of violent crime.) For better or for worse, that edgy, gritty, sleepless stretch of downtown is our own little Las Vegas strip. And for Long Island Tea–sippers of a certain age, what happened on the Bartini’s dance floor stayed on the Bartini’s dance floor. But that was then.

Hovito Ultra Lounge—the sleek new Black-owned business right in the middle of it all—is now.

HOVITO ULTRA LOUNGE

234 S. Meridian St., 317-969-6909

HOURS

Sun.–Wed. 11:30 a.m.–midnight, Thurs.–Sat. 11:30 a.m.–1 a.m.

VIBE

Casual chic

TASTING NOTES

Fancy, crowdpleasing fare with show-stopping cocktails set to a clubby beat.

NEIGHBORHOOD

Wholesale District

MUST-ORDER

Grilled lamb chops with the perfect combination of tenderness and chew, empanadas filled with Cuban beef, a side of Brussels sprouts, and an espresso martini. Splurge on the cheesecake upgraded with Italian cherries.

3-STAR RATING

Hovito Ultra Lounge transformed a former downtown pub into a handsome, laidback retreat with a DJ, ticketed live performances, and events such as Ladies Night. The menu, which features a sugarrimmed Blackberry Lemon Drop made with vodka, brandy, and blackberry-infused agave; decadent Buffalo chicken rolls; and exquisitely grilled lamb chops, invites guests to stay for dinner and drinks.

A latte-toned oasis of low sofas and curvaceous leather chairs, the 4,700-square-foot bar and restaurant opened in February, taking over the Claddagh Irish Pub & Restaurant location that closed permanently in the midst of Covid-19 stay-at-home orders. The massive wooden bar that was handmade in Ireland is gone, of course. Starburst chandeliers dangling from a blacked-out exposed ceiling replaced the pub’s glowing, lantern-style light fixtures. Dramatic white curtains cover the windows from ceiling to floor, and several clamshell booths turn the open room into a series of intimate vignettes. Owner Will Edwards is also involved with the upscale Havana Cigar Lounge in Fishers District, and you can see the family resemblance—in their muted color schemes, and their big chairs pulled up to small tables.

At the bar that backs up to a wall of illuminated amber, Espresso Martinis are shaken; Spicy Pineapple Margaritas get poured into chili-rimmed glasses; and Hovito Midnight Blu cocktails are mixed with Smirnoff lemonade vodka, cranberry juice, and Hovito’s own Blue Guava Moscato. A simple, two-page food menu checks all the boxes for loungebased dining.

Buffalo chicken rolls are basically egg rolls indulgently filled with Super Bowl party dip and served with ranch dressing. Crispy empanadas stuffed with velvety shredded Cuban beef are deliciously coated in aji cream and romesco sauces that intensify the meat’s garlicky richness. Teriyaki-glazed salmon comes with grilled asparagus and seasoned rice. Fried Brussels sprouts billed as a side make an excellent entree. And well-marbled lamb chops arranged in a pyramid are smoky and tender with a crispy char along their edges. You’ll want to tear into them like savory little lollipops. Pace yourself.

All of these artistically plated dishes— plus mahi mahi tacos, mac and cheese spiked with jalapeño puree, Wagyu beef sliders, and signature chicken wings— pass through a pick-up window in the farthest corner of the room, beyond the DJ table, the sculpted metal barstools,

the wall with the built-in linear fire feature, and the flowered selfie wall where a woman dressed to the nines posed with a mylar balloon “30” during her birthday brunch one Sunday morning. All of her friends, equally pulled-together, joined the photo session. I was eating waffles and chicken wings, along with some Southernstyle shrimp and cheesy grits with cremini mushrooms, squeezing in a downtown breakfast at the end of a morning road trip. My hair in a messy ponytail and the front of my shirt dribbled with maple syrup, I felt embarrassingly underdressed. As I should.

You don’t show up for brunch here with your bed head or wrinkled traveling clothes—even though those faux pas don’t technically go against Hovito’s dress code. Yes, there is a dress code, albeit a no-brainer that prohibits ball caps; do-rags; skull caps; bandanas; excessively baggy or sagging clothing; offensive language on clothing; athletic wear, sweats, or tank tops; or see-through clothing. “Management will enforce such code after 7 p.m.,” the etiquette states.

I’m okay with that, just as I don’t mind showing my ID to a bouncer at the door for brunch.

It comes with the (uncharted) territory. Hovito has set out to create something timely, unique, and lovely in downtown Indianapolis, something this neighborhood could use. And that’s worth showing up for—in your Sunday best.

LAKE HOUSES WE LOVE

An expansive bank of windows allows plenty of natural light into this living space.

SUNNY SIDE

Step inside five wonderful waterfront retreats that offer their inhabitants scenic views, inspiring decor, and peaceful leisure time. We also provide details on the realestate markets, acreage, and recreational activities in this selection of freshwater lake communities, from Michigan to Bloomington.

by MICHELLE MASTRO

SUCH GREAT HEIGHTS

The Maxinkuckee home soars above the shoreline and includes a pathway down to a stone patio, where friends and family can gather around a seashell-themed firepit.

MAXINKUCKEE

VIEW FROM THE TOP

pERCHED on rolling hills, this Lake Maxinkuckee home rests on a high point above the shore. While other abodes nearby descend down into walkout basements, this new build stands tall to blend in with a soaring landscape. It replaced an original tiny cottage that once languished there, torn down to make way for the new homeowners’ dream house. It faces the lake, and many rooms have windows peering out onto the water.

Ali Marten, lead designer and owner of Marten Design, was instrumental in giving her clients a serene setting where they can relax and unwind. She collaborated with architect Steve Zintel of Summit Design Group to maximize the lake views and allow ample natural light into the space. Marten and Zintel—along with Marten’s husband Tom of Marten Construction, who was brought on as the builder—teamed up to tailor the space and make it light and airy with a classic coastal vibe. Nautical-stripe penny tile covers the floor in the basement bathroom, for example, while color choices everywhere else hint at the lakefront, with splashes of blue hues.

Marten also worked with Nathan Alan Fine Cabinetry and Design to customize cabinets in the kitchen, pantry, and elsewhere in the home. The blue-gray kitchen island creates a focal point with its quartzite countertop in a wavelike pattern reminiscent of water moving over a sandy lake bed.

In the living room, 10-foot-tall built-in cabinets conceal the TV behind antique mirrored fronts that reflect lake scenes from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Overhead, the ceiling is paneled with pecky

A new build on Lake Maxinkuckee was designed with lakeshore views in mind.

cypress from Florida to add a natural, organic element to the room.

The aforementioned basement bath was designed with a key convenience feature: a pass-through cabinet connected to the laundry room that makes it easy to transfer washer-ready beach and bath towels.

Having five bedrooms, five-and-ahalf bathrooms, and 6,989 square feet, the new home affords a much larger footprint ideal for the growing family who didn’t care to make a crosscounty trek every time they wanted to dip their toes in water. The homeowners had a vacation house in Florida, but sold it once they realized they could do without a trip to the airport for a plane ride, opting instead for the hour-and-a-half drive from their permanent home (a farm northwest of Indianapolis) to Maxinkuckee’s nearby town of Culver.

The area in Culver is laidback. And yet, there is always something to do, especially during winter when ice festivals and ice fishing capture local interest. The homeowners say they use the home year-round and pop by for a weekend or just a day trip. Life on the water is a completely different feel, they say, and they like to go to the lake to relax and unwind. “My husband always dreamed of owning a Chris-Craft boat and wanted to learn how to sail,” says the homeowner. But much of the time, they just like to sit back and take in those spectacular lake views.

HOMES ON THE MARKET 6 AVERAGE PRICE $818,483 ACTIVITIES The second-largest natural lake in Indiana, 1,864-acre Maxinkuckee is great for motorboating, fishing, swimming, skiing, and tubing.

“There is a public fishing pier in the town park on the north shore for anglers to enjoy,” says Glenn S. Phillips, CEO of Lake Homes Realty.

Photos by TONY VALAINIS

When Life Gives You Lemons

dAVID GORIS and Michael Klitzing enjoyed taking long drives around lakes. They had driven around Lake Lemon and loved its charm and proximity to Bloomington. Unlike popular and overcrowded Monroe Lake, Lemon felt homey, so Goris snapped a picture of a local real estate agent’s sign, not thinking he’d ever follow up.

But one day in 2015, on a whim, he decided to give her a call. She showed the couple three properties, but Goris asked to revisit the first, whose sunporch caught his attention. Goris and Klitzing ended up buying the house. Then in 2017, they bought the home next door to it, thinking they’d expand their property. Realizing it would be too costly to build the large garage they wanted, they pulled down the old house and built another instead. It would be their dream home, with floor-to-ceiling glass patio doors looking out on the water and a soaring, 12-foot ceiling. They were about to finish the home in 2020 when the coronavirus hit and construction stopped.

To make matters worse, the couple was in the midst of wedding plans. “At that time, you could only have a gathering of 30-some odd people, and we had to switch gears to something much more casual,” says Goris. Catering, invitations, and the location all had to be adjusted. Luckily a minister from Bloomington was willing to come out to the home, and so the couple decided to have the wedding there. They got the lake house finished at the last second, when a batch of materials the builder had been awaiting miraculously arrived just in time.

Later, as the wedding ceremony was about to conclude, a bald eagle flew overhead, and Goris and Klitzing realized how serendipitous it had all been. Everything had fallen into place. They had their lake home, and they could use it to escape the hustle and bustle of their busy lives in Indianapolis. “Here, the pace just slows down, and all the stresses of the normal work week fade away,” says Goris. The couple say they can breathe and

A couple built the perfect home during the pandemic.

decompress in this beautiful setting. Woods flank either side of the home. Across from the house, a tiny island beckons, and their dog, Doey, a 10-yearold yellow Labrador retriever, takes to the water almost every waking moment. “We’re actually known as the guys with a dog,” Klitzing says with a laugh. She swims so much they call her their polar bear because even cold waters won’t deter her from jumping in the lake. They thought she’d need dock-diving lessons,

but Doey took to the water on her own without hesitation.

Today, other homebuyers have discovered the pleasures of Lake Lemon. But for Goris and Klitzing, the home remains a tranquil retreat. Goris brings in statement decor pieces to juxtapose against the light and airy minimalist aesthetic they craved in a lake home.

“We wanted our home to feel casual and sophisticated and not detract from the lake views,” says Klitzing.

HOMES ON THE MARKET 4

AVERAGE PRICE $489,725

ACTIVITIES At 1,650 acres, Lake Lemon boasts 24 miles of shoreline. Average depth is 10 feet, but can be as deep as 28 feet. “The beautiful stretch of water permits all kinds of lake activities, including boating, fishing, sailing, water skiing, tubing, and paddleboarding,” says Phillips.

Just as Doey jumps fearlessly from the dock, her owners took a big plunge on the lake retreat of their dreams.

LEAP OF FAITH

Photos by ANGELA JACKSON

BACK TO NATURE

Materials like stone, wicker, and stained wood create an upscale outdoorsy effect inside the house.

MICHIGAN

THE LIFE AQUATIC

fOR DESIGNER Tiffany Skilling of Tiffany Skilling Interiors, the secret to a cohesive space is repetition. Therefore, she knew exactly what to do when an Indianapolis client solicited her help in redesigning an older home with seven bedrooms on Lake Michigan. The clients asked Skilling if she could blend their strong design aesthetic with some nautical touches. While others might lean head and shoulders into full beach-house mode, Skilling pulled back, recalibrated, and pared down.

Skilling pulled together lakeshore elements—things you might easily discover on the beach—but in an understated way. In other words, no surfboards, crab pictures, or jars of seashells here. The job seemed particularly apt since Skilling had grown up in Grand Rapids and spent her youth scampering on the Lake Michigan shoreline. All in all, Skilling was the perfect designer for the project.

The first thing she did was take the client on a treasure hunt to local antique shops. Over a period of two years, Skilling helped handpick moody paintings of windblown ships or rough waves in storms at sea, all of which would eventually appear on the main living space’s two gallery walls.

Elsewhere, more subtle references to the life aquatic pepper the open-concept home. In the entryway, a chandelier is comprised of weathered wood, bending and cascading downward like flowing brown ribbons. In one of the bedrooms,

A Lake Michigan abode leans nautical without being kitschy.

Photos by SARAH SHIELDS

REACH THE BEACH

a bed frame is lined with rope akin to what you’d see on a ship’s mast, and a bathroom mirror—along with the tile in that room—offers a curious resemblance to fish scales. “The point was to gesture to the home’s environment without feeling overpowering,” says Skilling. “The client didn’t want the home to feel like a kitschy beach house.”

While repetition is key, Skilling forbore using the exact same element over and over to make the nautical motif work. “I touched on the seashore theme in a really classic way. Think one or two vintage ships in a bottle— but not overdoing it with 20.” The resulting look was perfect for clients who’d been taking summer trips to Saugatuck for more than a decade. When the clients’ kids were little, they started vacationing in the area with neighborhood friends and continued to visit every year. They enjoyed the area so much, they eventually landed on the idea of a purchasing a lakeshore summer home.

“My client looked for years, and then they found this lot and loved it because of how private it was,” says Skilling. “I wanted to help make the home feel like it had always been there, waiting to be found.”

The lot affords not only seclusion and privacy, but also close, easy access to the Lake Michigan shoreline.

HOMES ON THE MARKET 25 AVERAGE PRICE $993,987 ACTIVITIES The Saugatuck section of Lake Michigan has 12 miles of coastline and six public beaches. “Oval Beach was voted as one of the Top 25 beaches in the world,” says Phillips. The lake is 150 miles from Chicago and has a depth of 925 feet. “Motorized boats are allowed, and the lake has five marinas, several of which rent boats.”

Water Borne

GROWING UP, Tricia Trick-Eckert lived a stone’s throw from Lake Wawasee. The body of water sat about 45 minutes away from her home in North Manchester. During her childhood, her paternal grandparents owned a cottage on Morrison Island in the southeast part of the lake, among an oval-shaped configuration of houses with an open field in the center. “This is where we always got to play,” Trick-Eckert recalls. “It was a huge grassy area with some really big pine trees, and we would hide and play. We’d run around or play ball out there.”

For as long as she can remember, Trick-Eckert spent most summer weekends at the cottage with her family. “My grandfather would pick up my sister and me after school on Friday, and we’d drive to the lake. Sometimes we would take friends. Sometimes it would just be us. There would always be people in and out, and we’d just hang out and do lake stuff.”

Lake stuff included activities like boating, swimming, and skiing, but it also meant getting in touch with nature and having friendly encounters with water creatures. “We’d go turtle hunting,” TrickEckert says. “Not to hurt the turtles, but to keep them and look at them. You know, play with them as pets for the weekend. And then we’d put them back in the lake. They would sun, so if the sun was out, the turtles climbed out onto branches or wood sticking up out of the water.”

Tricia and her older sister, Kacy, got a taste of freedom during these weekend retreats. In the environment of the lake community, they explored their surroundings and pushed their boundaries more than they could at home. “It was a bit of independence because we could go out on a little aluminum fishing boat when we were younger. I can’t remember exactly when we started to drive it ourselves—maybe age 10—but it was something to do on our own. We could go out and just go slow through the channels.”

The family also had a ski boat, which Grandmother Trick often steered through the water. “My grandmother did a lot of the driving on the boat. I don’t ever remember seeing her ski, but I do remember her giving instruction on skiing. My grandmother and my dad are really the ones who taught me how to ski, and we started when we were very little. I remember trying and trying to get up on two skis, and then one ski. I even tried to barefoot ski, but I was not very successful.”

Describing her grandmother as “pretty hip,” Trick-Eckert recalls a retro-style swimsuit that made a splashy fashion statement. “It was onepiece, red with black plaid and a little bit of yellow. I will never forget it. I just remember thinking she looked so cool. I loved it. Those bathing suits should come back.”

In the days before tablets and smartphones, analog activities like

reading books and playing cards provided entertainment during the evening hours. “My grandparents were really good friends with both sets of neighbors, and they would have card parties. I wish we still did card parties.”

Trick-Eckert feels a strong sentimental attachment to the formative years when she visited her grandparents weekly. Her trips to Wawasee started to become less frequent when she was in college, and she now visits once a summer. Following her graduation from Purdue University in the ’90s, Trick-Eckert moved to Indianapolis, got married, and started a family. These days, the principal with Luminaut (formerly Rowland Design) has two teenage sons who accompany her and husband Matt when they travel back to Northern Indiana to see family.

The original cottage her grandparents owned has changed hands, but her uncle still keeps a house on the lake. While her immediate family savors time at the lake, her sons’ experience on Wawasee differs from her own. “My kids went to the island a time or two, but not quite to the same degree we did. More often, they went fishing off the back dock.” Over the course of a generation, Trick-Eckert has also seen water sports on Wawasee shift. “Now, it seems like tubing is what they do when we go to the lake. It’s all wake surfing and wakeboarding and not really even skiing anymore. It’s totally different.”

While some aspects of lake life can be challenging, like putting the boat into storage or closing up the cottage for the winter, Trick-Eckert manages to find the silver lining in less-than-ideal situations. “In college and as a young adult, it happened more than once that the boat stopped working when it was full of people. The good thing is the lake is the kind of environment where people are happy to help. It’s very nostalgic and gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling. I know that sounds maybe a little cliche, but it’s real. It is a happy place for me. And just driving to the lake always brings back memories. I get emotional about it.” —ANDREA

RATCLIFF

REFLECTIONS ON A LIFETIME OF WAWASEE WEEKENDS.

“In college and as a young adult, it happened more than once that the boat stopped working when it was full of people.”

WAWASEE

Hidden History

past.

when an Indianapolis couple purchased a property on Lake Wawasee, the whole house had been gutted. The prior owner was in the middle of a renovation on the 100-year-old home, even though his wife hated the lake. Both were from Goshen, and lakeside life was still new to them. The contractor the prior owner hired stripped the home, taking down all the doors and stacking them in the garage. The roof had a leak, and someone eventually draped a tarp over it. Then the owner and the builder got into a spat, the latter walked off the job, and the home sat abandoned for 18 years, incomplete and open to the elements. “The entire place was horrible,” recalls the current homeowner. “Every kid on the lake and every raccoon had been in there.”

When the new buyers first crossed the threshold, there was no kitchen and everything else was out of date. Whatever was good— like nice doors with milk-glass knobs still attached—had been cast into the garage. The prior owner by this point had died, and his daughter was ready to sell the abandoned house. For the husband, the buy was a no-brainer, but the wife was unsure. Though they had been renting on the south shore of the lake for nearly 25

A couple resurrects a home and uncovers its secret

CHARACTER STUDY

Original features, such as the stone fireplace, were carefully restored and preserved.

years, she knew the home would need a lot of restoration and wasn’t too keen on the purchase. But she saw the big porch and dreamed of how the house might look someday.

Knowing it needed work, the couple bought the home with eyes wide open, salvaging what they could. They took board and batten left abandoned in the garage and added it to the hallway stairs, living room, and front hall. They pulled the original wood floors out of two of the bedrooms to renovate the floor in the larger living room that had been damaged from exposure to the elements. They restored the home’s two fireplaces; the one in the living room had granite rocks painted lime-green. The couple power washed it to uncover beautiful original stone. They added on a new kitchen, and the entire home renovation took a year to complete.

Then the secrets began to pour out. A neighbor next door remembered the original owner, William H. Noll. The woman’s parents attended dances in the property’s boathouse, where Noll (who marketed his father’s coughsyrup concentrate, Pinex) invited mobsters like Al Capone. The story goes that since Noll’s home didn’t have a kitchen, he ate all his meals at the famed Spink Wawasee Hotel, where he first met Capone.

HOMES ON THE MARKET 6

AVERAGE PRICE: $2,366,333

ACTIVITIES The largest natural lake contained within Indiana, this body of water is about 3,000 acres. Visitors can kayak, canoe, boat, sail, fish, swim, camp, tube, ski, and ice fish on this famously blue-green water. For more seasoned anglers, there are multiple fishing tournaments on Lake Wawasee and the surrounding lakes throughout the year.

Unbeknownst to the couple, they bought and restored a home an ancestor had built, as the husband’s grandmother was cousin to William H. Noll. “We don’t know for sure if the stories are true, but we like to think we salvaged a little bit of history by saving this house,” says the wife.

From the front porch to the patio, the Wawasee home offers a variety of serene spots to relax and while away lake days.

Photos by TONY VALAINIS

SWEETWATER

THE SWEET LIFE

what do you do when you lack the time to go on vacation, but want an escape? In 2003, the owners of this house were in the mortgage business and had to be available 24/7 because they didn’t have any employees who could help shoulder the workload. They did, however, have a 3-year-old and 6-month-old, and the couple didn’t want to miss out on precious family moments. “We had been looking for about 18 months before we found the house,” says the homeowner.

What drew them to the lake house, built in the 1970s and situated in an isolated cove on the private lake of Sweetwater, was the commute from Carmel, where the couple worked and had their primary home. Not to mention, the lake water had spectacular clarity. “The lake is consistently ranked highest in the state for being the cleanest. We didn’t want to just look at the water. We wanted to play in it too,” says the homeowner.

Because of the lake’s depth, piers don’t have to be taken in and out during summer. The dock’s charm wasn’t lost on the couple, who liked the construction material—Brazilian Ipe hardwood that required little upkeep.

With 120 feet of private lakefront, the property’s expansive view is spectacular. When you drive up, the home looks like a “saltbox,” according to the homeowner. One side of the home feels “like a big square,” but an A-frame on the other side faces the water. “From a style standpoint, an architect might cringe, but from a livability perspective, it totally works.”

While the location and structure mattered, the home inside proved lackluster, chiefly due to its 1970s vibes. The basement especially showed its age with velvet curtains, black faux-leather edging around the bar, and disco-ball speakers—round, wood speakers that hung from the ceiling. “The original owners must have really liked music because these were full-size floor speakers hanging from the drop ceiling. It was like an early form of surround sound.” The family lived

Tender memories were made in this lakeshore home.

GLOW UP

The lakeside exterior of this multilevel manse practically shimmers when fully illuminated at night.

with this basement for five years. As a summer home, the house didn’t have to be immediately perfect.

But they changed other features right away, like a winter kitchen that became a bunk room for the kids. They kept the two-story black iron staircase that was original to the home. Inside the house, the owners went with clean, simple lines and a bit of midcentury-modern vibe.

By 2021, the interior and exterior changes were finalized, and the home

is now ready for another new owner. While the lake house was the family’s only getaway for a number of years, the couple has retired from business, and they are ready to move on to new adventures. The family enjoyed being so close to Nashville and Bloomington, and they spent many hours climbing up and down Brown County State Park hills and visiting the small town of Story. How sweet it was—and how sweet it might be for new owners.

HOMES ON THE MARKET 8

AVERAGE PRICE $904,912

ACTIVITIES “Sweetwater Lake is known for its water clarity and cleanliness,” says Phillips. The 320-acre lake is open only to home or lot owners. “Sweetwater lake offers a large, designated swimming area, beach area, fantastic fishing, and a boat patrol to ensure the safety of anglers and boaters.”

The teal water conveys a sense of tranquility throughout the property, from the upper-level deck down to the dock.

BLUE MOOD

Photos by CHRISSY RAMSEY

by Mary Milz

Terence Kahn was not known for living large or doling out even small sums of money. When he died a very rich man, it surprised almost everyone who knew him, especially those tasked with the job of giving away his fortune.

Illustration by Anna Godeassi

Photos by Jay Goldz

MARGARET SHEEHAN describes the phone call as one of those too-good-tobe-true offers that nonprofits get from time to time. It came out of the blue, late in the afternoon on an unseasonably warm day in October 2021. Sheehan, executive director of the volunteerbased Teachers’ Treasures, had just arrived at her northside condo and parked her car. As she walked toward the back entrance, her cellphone lit up. She didn’t recognize the number, but she answered anyway.

The caller introduced himself as an Indianapolis attorney and proceeded to ask Sheehan if Teachers’ Treasures (which provides free school supplies to more than 6,000 Marion County teachers) would be able to handle “a transformational gift.” How much of a gift? The man informed her that the amount would be anywhere from half a million to a million dollars. Sheehan took a deep breath and told him to hold on. She needed to sit down.

“He called at the perfect time, just as we were engaged in conversation about how to grow the organization,” Sheehan recalls. As she eased herself into a patio chair, two questions immediately came to mind. First ... what if this is a scam? And second ... what if it’s not?

Three months later, Diane Markle, then a personal banker at the downtown Star Financial Bank, received a similar spiel from the same mysterious caller. Her unsolicited offer came on a blustery morning in late January 2022 after she pulled into a parking garage off Monument Circle, on her way to a meeting. The person on the other end of the line was calling about a potentially large donation to Folds of Honor Indiana, a veterans’ organization where Markle volunteered.

To Markle, the conversation felt a little too far-fetched, a little too “Oh

yeah, I have a buddy who’s got millions,” she says. Yet she, too, wondered if this unexpected proposal could be legit. Either way, she wasn’t about to hang up. Folds of Honor is a national nonprofit that provides scholarships to spouses and children of fallen service members. The Hoosier chapter is a bare-bones operation where volunteers carry out this mission without a brick-andmortar headquarters—just a post office box. “I didn’t care how much money it was,” Markle says. “If it was $100, we’d be blessed.”

Sheehan and Markle weren’t alone in their sudden good fortune. Over the course of roughly a year, more than a dozen Indianapolis nonprofits would hear from the same attorney saying he was distributing funds on behalf of an estate. Each organization was assured that there would be no lengthy application process to slog through, no need to turn in annual reports or financial disclosures. They needed only to submit a few pages describing how the money would be used and sign a simple onepage agreement.

There had to be a catch, right? In fact, a few of the nonprofits that received messages from the attorney with the no-strings-attached offer never even returned his calls. Sheehan and Markle, on the other hand, were among the donees who did their homework and quickly discovered that the caller, Dwayne Isaacs, was indeed an attorney with the firm Dentons Bingham Greenebaum. More importantly, he represented a 78-year-old benefactor from the south side of Indianapolis who had recently died, leaving instructions to give away all of his money.

A Modest Life

ISAACS MET Terence Kahn in the mid1990s through The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, a grant-making entity formed in 1985 from proceeds of the Metro Health HMO sale. Isaacs was the foundation’s new attorney. Terry Kahn was a founding board member, representing Roudebush VA Medical Center, where he served as chief of human resources. The attorney, whose focus was on business and tax-planning services, quickly picked up on Kahn’s reputation as a strong personality— stubborn, opinionated, socially awkward, and somewhat of a loner. He was also known to be notoriously frugal.

Former foundation president and CEO Betty Wilson described Kahn as a committed board member who was “always kind, in a curmudgeonly way,” though someone you would swear “doesn’t have two nickels to rub together.” What a shock it would be to find out, years later, just how many nickels Kahn had squirrelled away.

While Isaacs engaged in small talk with Kahn, knowing enough to stick to sports and steer clear of politics, they never socialized outside of foundation meetings and events. When Kahn left the board in 2010, Isaacs wished him well, doubting their paths would cross again. He was wrong. A few months later, Kahn called, suggesting they have lunch. Isaacs agreed, thinking it would be one and done. He was wrong again.

Kahn called every month for the next 10 years, and the two became regular lunch companions. They always went Dutch. Kahn chose the restaurants, often selecting places that took coupons. Isaacs would get a call from an unknown number if his lunch companion was running late. Kahn never owned a cellphone, something he considered a crazy expense, especially when he could just borrow a phone from someone else in a pinch, even a complete stranger.

Their lunches typically lasted a good two hours. Kahn usually ordered either a burger and fries or bacon and eggs while Isaacs stuck to salads. Over the course of these lunches, Kahn shared

When asked where he wanted all of his money to go, Kahn merely stipulated that he did not want it given to his alma mater, USC. “they have enough money.”

details about his life, beginning with his parents who fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s and settled in the United States. He and his sister grew up in Tucson, where their father was a doctor at the VA hospital. He went to the University of Southern California, earning degrees in psychology and public administration while lettering in tennis. After graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving three years in Vietnam as a captain assigned to the supply chain. When his tour of duty ended, Kahn worked for the VA Medical Centers, first in New Orleans and then in Nashville, Tennessee, before landing at Roudebush in 1976, where he would spend the last 27 years of his career.

The man lived in an unassuming bi-level home in the solidly middle-class Holly Hills subdivision off Southport Road. He never married and never had kids. His sister, who wound up in the Chicago area, died in her 40s, leaving behind a son and a daughter. Kahn was estranged from them for reasons unknown to Isaacs, and he never mentioned any other relatives.

One day a few years into this lunchtime routine, Kahn announced that he needed what he described as “a simple will.” When Isaacs asked how much he had, Kahn told him that he was probably sitting on $3 million to $4 million. The amount came as a surprise to Isaacs. Yet, he knew his friend was tight with his finances, and that he had inherited some money from his parents. It would not be beyond the pale that there would be a considerable amount of money stashed away.

When Isaacs asked where he wanted all of his money to go, Kahn merely stipulated that he did not want it given to his alma mater, USC. “They have enough money,” he said. When pressed, Kahn suggested that his fortune find its way “to charity,” perhaps organizations that help kids and teachers.

Only after Isaacs suggested that Kahn do some research and consider doling out chunks of his money while he was still alive did he reluctantly reach out to a few schools, offering to fund some teachers’ projects and shop for supplies (while also taking advantage of the tax write-offs). The endeavor didn’t last long, though. Principals stopped returning his calls after Kahn began micromanaging his charitable contributions, buying things on sale—things he thought teachers needed instead of

the things they had specifically asked for. Isaacs told him to stop nickel and diming. “You’ve got $4 million,” he told him. “You’ll never give it all away at $2,000 a pop.”

LESSON PLAN

In the meantime, Isaacs continued to push his client to name some beneficiaries. Kahn remained defiantly noncommittal. “I don’t care,” he would insist. “You decide. I’ll be dead.” There were, however, three stipulations: He wanted to be cremated. He did not want a funeral. And he absolutely did not want money spent on an obituary.

Isaacs accepted the challenge. It seemed no one else was close enough to the multimillionaire to tend to his affairs. However, time would reveal that a handful of people in Indianapolis had Kahn’s back.

The Allies

ONE OF THOSE people was Vance McLarren, a healthcare executive currently based in Denver. He met Kahn in 1988, the year that McLarren began a fellowship at Roudebush, and later worked at the IU School of Medicine

before his career took him out west. While Kahn could be a handful, McLarren says he also had a good sense of humor and, like him, a passion for sports.

While they weren’t best friends by any stretch, the two men became “sports buddies,” driving to South Bend for USC-Notre Dame games. They hit the road together several times for March Madness, once watching 28 straight hours of live basketball. A longtime volunteer with the Indiana Sports Corp, Kahn was quick to sign up when the city hosted amateur sports events, especially the swimming and diving championships. He also splurged on season tickets to the Colts, Pacers, and Butler men’s basketball games, selling any extra seats he bought to cover the cost of his own.

McLarren bought several of the Butler tickets, which were mid-court, 10 rows up, prime spots for catching all the action. As a bonus, Kahn was a member of the donor-based Bulldog Club. Just before halftime, he would leave for the hospitality suite and return carrying two jumbo sodas, his pockets stuffed

Margaret Sheehan of Teachers’ Treasures says the call from attorney Dwayne Isaacs came at the perfect time, “just as we were engaged in conversation about how to grow the organization.”

with complimentary bags of peanuts and pretzels.

In addition to being a rabid sports fan, Kahn was an enthusiastic Costco member. McLarren says he remembers going to Kahn’s house, which was well-stocked with paper towels, toilet paper, and other household supplies he had purchased in bulk from the warehouse chain, and thinking, “Man, if the apocalypse ever happens, I’m going to Kahn’s.” He doubts that the purchases were prompted by any fear of impending disaster, but rather by deals too good to pass up. “Terry was beyond frugal,” he says. “He was squeaky frugal.”

eral regulatory meetings. She acknowledges that working with Kahn took a special kind of person. “You had to have a little patience,” she says, adding that he loved his job and treated her well, sometimes bringing her an apple pie or other random things he had picked up at Costco.

Three-and-a-half years into her job, Helm left the VA for nursing school. The two lost touch for a while but eventually reconnected. By then, Helm was married with a son and working as a nurse practitioner. She and Kahn developed a friendship, meeting for

FRIENDS TILL THE END

As a new Butler grad, Alexa Helm worked as Kahn’s human resources assistant (right). They reconnected years later. “He really trusted her,” Isaacs says. “She was truly an angel for him.”

the executor, met for the first time in the months that followed. Together, they urged the ailing Kahn to finalize his will, in spite of his oft-repeated response: “I don’t care. You decide. I’ll be dead.” They wouldn’t know about Alexa Helm until the final year of Kahn’s life, when his health took a substantial turn for the worse and he was in and out of the hospital. Helm, ever the devoted friend, helped set up medical and hospice care, looking out for him until the end—all during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when patient visits were either virtual or separated by a plexiglass barrier. By the time restrictions were lifted in the last weeks of his life, Kahn was no longer aware of where he was or why he couldn’t go home. But in the months before that, the man never known to reveal his vulnerable side made a point of telling Helm how much he appreciated her help and friendship. Helm still gets emotional talking about her former employer and friend. “He was a lot of work, but in a sweet way,” she says. “I really had a fondness for him.”

Outrageous Fortune

During his time in Indy, he had those same monthly lunches with Kahn that Dwayne Isaacs had, coupons and all. After McLarren left Indiana in 2014, he doubted their paths would cross again … until Kahn called a couple years later asking him to serve as the executor of his estate.

Alexa Helm also played a significant role in Kahn’s life, especially toward the end. After she graduated from Butler in 1999, Kahn hired her as a human resources assistant. Helm says that job title meant “doing a bit of everything,” including traveling with Kahn to Washington, D.C. a few times for fed-

dinner four to five times a year, often inking in the discounted Devour Indy dates on their calendar. She knew Kahn’s prickly persona. She also saw his soft, kind-hearted side. “He wanted to share in his own way,” she says. “It just looked different from the way other people do it.”

A couple years later, Kahn’s health started to decline. Helm says he had non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, which he managed for a time but would ultimately lead to his death. In 2018, he was also diagnosed with kidney cancer, having one kidney removed.

Isaacs, the attorney, and McLarren,

ALTHOUGH KAHN had already instructed Isaacs on where to find his documents once he died, he wouldn’t reveal his net worth until pressed to do so in the last month of his life. While Isaacs and McLarren knew that Kahn was a prodigious saver, they were floored when they saw the numbers. Kahn was worth more than $13 million. A small portion of Kahn’s fortune stemmed from his inheritance, but he had also been a savvy investor. “It blew my doors away,” McLarren says.

Isaacs’s reaction was, “Dammit, Terry. Why weren’t you honest with me?”

Kahn died on January 31, 2021, alone in a nursing facility. He was 78 years old. Isaacs, McLarren, and their wives spent two days going through his house, a physically and emotionally exhausting task. It looked as if time stood still in the 1970s-era home. Most of the furniture and decor were original. The closets, drawers, and storage space were packed to the gills with random surplus

items, such as 20 brand-new boxcutters or 100 toothbrushes. They came across half a dozen unopened boxes shipped from Vietnam in 1972. Wondering what treasures they’d find inside, they opened one of the parcels to find “water glasses, like the ones that cost $2 apiece,” McLarren says. The rest of the boxes were filled with more of the same.

They also found Kahn’s Army uniform, medals, and the letters of commendation he earned, along with his USC letterman’s jacket and photos from long ago. They were personal things that speak to the man, things a family member would have found value in keeping. Kahn, however, had no close relatives. McLarren recalls thinking Kahn “had all this wealth and no one to share it with. At the end of the day, it goes into a dumpster.”

They still had no idea what to do with their friend’s ashes. Or the vast remainder of his money.

Isaacs says having to distribute Kahn’s portfolio initially weighed heavily on him. He and McLarren wanted to do right by Kahn by giving to organizations he would have identified with and by seeking out channels where his money would have the most meaningful impact. It involved a good deal of time and research. In the end, they decided to distribute “unrestricted gifts” ranging from $500,000 to $2 million to a dozen nonprofits. By the time recipients picked up the phone, Isaacs was done vetting and ready to ask, “If I give you a million dollars, how will you use it?”

Isaacs’s first call was to Coburn Place, which provides transitional housing and assistance to families impacted by domestic violence. Vice president of development Julie Henson was overwhelmed, not just by the size of the million-dollar gift but by how it could be used. “It felt like the answer to our deepest dreams and worries,” she says.

Coburn Place’s 100-year-old, threestory flagship building was “falling apart at the seams.” Their two elevators constantly broke down and required repair, as did the building’s 35-yearold HVAC system. These were vital yet “invisible needs” that donors don’t always line up to fund. Henson says the board had already met multiple times to debate whether they should pull from cash reserves or turn to a capital campaign. She says word of Kahn’s gift “felt miraculous. It addressed two truly

unsolvable problems we had.” It also seemed in line with Kahn’s practical approach to life—as well as his soft spot: watching out for kids. While he wasn’t interested in having his name on things, there is a plaque honoring Kahn next to one of the elevators he replaced.

Margaret Sheehan with Teacher’s Treasures says it could have been easy for Isaacs to “call up the big dogs”— the marquee organizations with a lot of name recognition. On an entirely different scale, Kahn’s gift enabled Teachers’ Treasures to establish its first endowment, with its first million-dollar gift. “At that level, you’re taken very seriously,” Sheehan says. Eight months later, Teachers’ Treasures received another $580,000 from Kahn’s estate, adding to the endowment. Sheehan says if she could thank Kahn in person, “I’d be crying, and I’d hope he’d be happy

$1.2 million for upgrades and renovations to its sports facilities, “a game changer,” says executive director John Schwentker. It is also fitting, given Kahn’s passion for youth and sports.

The gift will pay for two artificial turf soccer parks, with lights and bleachers, as well as a 40-yard open turf field, all of which can be used for multiple sports and summer camp. Plus, the donation covers maintenance of the fields and allows someone else to pay for naming rights, opening the door to further enhancements. Schwentker calls the gift “immeasurable.” He says it’s not just the Y that benefits, but “the kids without fields and our partners in the community. It will have an impact for many, many years.”

McLarren also wanted to recognize those committed to medical research and philanthropy. He reached out to the Indiana University Foundation, providing $2 million to establish the Terrence P. Kahn Liver Disease Program of Excellence Fund and $1.5 million for a Professorship of Nephrology in Kahn’s name. He also gifted the Rocky Mountain Adventist Healthcare Foundation, which sends medical teams to developing nations, with $1 million for an endowment. Other organizations receiving gifts from $500,000 to $1 million include Little Red Door Cancer Agency, Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, HVAF of Indiana, Pathway to Recovery, and The Advancement Center for Washington Township Schools and North Central Alumni.

with his legacy. It’s one that will live on for a long, long time.”

Diane Markle also “cried like an idiot” when she found out the $1.1 million gift to Folds of Honor was indeed for real. The largest prior donation had been $50,000, but this gift allowed the allvolunteer organization to hire Markle as its first full-time employee. And it came just as Folds of Honor expanded the program to include first responders. Its scholarships, which average $4,800 a year, cover everything from private preschool and trade school to tuition for college and graduate school. And for the first time, Folds of Honor will be able to fund 10 scholarships a year in perpetuity. Markle calls the gift “the answer to all our prayers.”

One of the last calls Isaacs made was to the Baxter YMCA, just two miles from where Kahn lived. It received

The Multimillion-Dollar Question

RECIPIENTS WEREN’T the only ones surprised to hear the donor’s backstory. Longtime neighbors were astounded to learn of the multimillionaire next door. “Oh my, I wish I’d been friendlier,” jokes one of them, Carol Templeton. She described Kahn as a nice neighbor who was always congenial, always had treats for the neighborhood dogs. She says, given his position at the VA, “I knew he probably had some money and was fairly rich, but not that rich.”

Beth Jenkins and Lisa Stevenson, who lived across from Kahn for years, were also blown away at his net worth. They remember one Halloween when, instead of candy, their neighbor gave away school supplies left over from some of his ill-fated shopping excursions. Kahn’s CONTINUED ON PAGE 132

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76 THE BIG PICTURE

A neutral color scheme and modern accents showcase the owners’ art collection in this Jackson’s Grant townhome.

BY LORI ROBERTS

Homefront

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TURN OF THE CENTURY

Thoughtful updates made a 100-year-old house attractive to a family relocating from out of state.

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TUDOR REVIVAL

A Texas transplant locates a northside house that perfectly complements her family’s existing decor and style.

BY MICHELLE MASTRO

Resources

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MEET THE PROS

Whether you’re building, remodeling, buying, or selling,the right team can help you achieve your home goals.

102 FIXTURES & FINISHES

84 ROOM TO GROW

It was the land that sold a Fishers couple on their waterfront property, so they drew up a blueprint to revise the floor plan and make more space for their active family.

BY BAILEY BRISCOE

From appliances to windows and doors, these suppliers outfit and customize all your indoor and outdoor spaces.

114 ACCENTS & DECOR

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A TEXAS TRANSPLANT LOCATES A NORTHSIDE HOUSE THAT PERFECTLY COMPLEMENTS HER FAMILY’S EXISTING DECOR AND STYLE. BY

THERE’S SO MUCH to consider when moving a family to a new locale. What’s the best school district? How close is the neighborhood to the city’s cultural hotspots? When planning a move to Indy, homebuyer Courtney and her husband wanted a low-fuss abode in a central location. They dreamed of a beautiful, personalized space that wouldn’t require a complete overhaul. “We had spent the last four years in Austin, Texas, fixing up a home to bring in some charm. So, we were hoping for a house that didn’t need as much work,” Courtney says.

The solution to their problems was a property for sale in historic Forest Hills. “We wanted a house that had a built-in community for families, but wasn’t too far from downtown,” Courtney says. Their realtor, Kelly Todd, had the inside track into the area and showed them a home reimagined by Jodi Pierrot of Jodi Pierrot Design. Pierrot had previously purchased the Tudor-style house built in 1923 and completely gutted and redesigned it (even going as far as reorienting the staircase to improve the second story’s flow). “But I wanted the home to keep the historical aesthetic and be true to the neighborhood,” Pierrot says. So, she leaned into classic design with modern influences.

The renovation took about seven months to complete and required the help of numerous local subcontractors and vendors. Brothers Furniture Design built the custom mantle and shelving, Brothers Floor Covering installed the flooring, Drapery Street

hung the window treatments, and Meridian Closets reconfigured the closets. As a final touch, Neat Method Indy saw to all the kitchen and garage’s organizational needs.

No detail, however small, was ignored. “Even the toilet-paper holders are extravagant,” says Courtney. “They are these nice, heavy metal pieces that hold and anchor the roll in place—and I know it sounds silly that would even be a thing, but I’ve never been inside any place except maybe the Peninsula Hotel in Chicago that does that.”

All this speaks to the level of commitment Pierrot put into styling and redesigning every room. “It’s funny, but Jodi’s style is basically what I have on my Pinterest board,”

Courtney says—from the herringbone floor in the master bath to the millwork. Pierrot even installed the same aged-brass knobs Courtney had envisioned in her future kitchen.

The family moved in all their furnishings and decor, a collection of antique finds mixed with modern pieces, “and everything just fit.”

“I came in with my furniture, and it felt like my family and I have always lived here,” she marvels. But the house was designed to accommodate a variety of tastes and styles. Pierrot meant the home to look welcoming with all its warmth and lovely details. “This house already had a heart. I’m bringing the soul in with all our stuff,” Courtney says.

MICHELLE MASTRO

The century-old Forest Hills house retained key historic features like arched doorways and wall molding.

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A neutral color scheme and modern accents showcase the owners’ art collection in this Jackson’s Grant townhome.

THE BIG PICTURE

by

LORI ROBERTS

photography by TONY VALAINIS

A two-story fireplace is the dramatic focal point of the main living room.

When Rob and Terri Oyler were ready to downsize, they checked out a lot of the usual alternatives for empty nester couples. The Carmel home where they raised their three children had served them well, but they were ready for something simpler, like a onestory condo or ranch-style house. After their Realtor connected them with a couple who wanted to buy their home, the process sped up considerably. The Oylers sold the house, let go of a few decades worth of extraneous stuff, and started looking for their next neighborhood.

Rob had visited the townhomes at Jackson’s Grant in Carmel early in their search, but the couple wasn’t sure they were brownstone people. The available McKenzie Collection townhouses were big and included elevators and extra amenities the couple didn’t need. But traditional homes in the area didn’t appeal to them, either. While Terri was on a business trip, Rob ventured by Jackson’s Grant again and noticed smaller McKenzie townhomes under construction.

The Oylers liked the layouts with all the main living areas on the first floor, as well as the second levels for extra gathering space or accommodations for visiting children and grandchildren. They were ready to start fresh, with a new interior design to complement the new home they share with a collie named Cooper.

“We didn’t want to move things here that we didn’t want,” Terri says. “We knew we were going to pretty much start over with our look.”

The new abode is dramatically different from the traditional setting the couple left behind. When they moved, the Oylers brought their bed and a few lamps. The rest of the furniture was chosen with the assistance of Kittle’s Design Studio interior designer Tom Myers.

With its strong lines and neutral walls, there was potential for the home to be almost austere or museum-like, but Myers worked with Terri and Rob to add soothing textures and quiet tones, punctuated by pops of color inspired by the couple’s art collection. The result is a welcoming setting that’s cozy enough for easy meals at the island countertop and spacious enough for family gatherings in the adjacent living and dining areas.

Gold-toned cabinet hardware, light fixtures, and accent pieces play off the range of neutral shades in the combined kitchen and dining room.

ARTISTIC DISPLAYS

The Oylers may have left behind furniture, but their art collection made the move and was incorporated into the home’s design. This is apparent in the large painting by Tim Christensen hanging in the hallway across from the main bedroom suite. The warm colors of the piece, titled “Treescape by the Lake,” bring vibrance to the space and are mirrored in an Alexander Girard throw draped across the king-sized bed. Five blown-glass plates by artist Robert Ward hang above the headboard, their varying shapes and sizes arranged to form their own design.

The beauty of the couple’s art collection is that it often reflects shared experiences from their life together. Much of the artwork has been customframed by Jeff Pettigrew of Editions Limited in Carmel, while other pieces come from sources like Eckert Fine Art at 56th and Illinois streets and Dianne Wright of Coats Wright Art & Design on 54th Street.

The hallway outside the couple’s bedroom displays an aluminum art print by Zionsville photographer Tom Casalini, who captured a scene at an outdoor restaurant in Rome called Ritorno al Passato, where the Oylers sat and ate together many years ago. The eatery is gone, but the memory captured by Casalini is preserved on the wall above a farmhouse print that harks back to Rob’s rural childhood in Northern Indiana. Casalini is also responsible for the family portraits hanging in the second-story loft—part of a gallery wall that includes contemporary artwork by Nashville-based artist Hillary Howorth. Myers and his clients intentionally chose a soft, putty-colored wall hue known as Gypsum for the entire home, allowing the furnishings and artwork to tell a visual story. Even the bathroom has its own art collection. Across the hall from the main bedroom, the powder room includes a framed photograph by Andy Chen and two Michael Aram floral shadow boxes. With striped wallpaper hung horizontally, the bathroom makes its own artistic statement. There’s still a spot for more art, but the couple is waiting for the right piece to find them.

The entry features a vessel by Paul Chaleff, while a set of “Moon Bowls” hangs on the wall in the living room (below right).

The powder room in the main hallway includes both real flowers and metal sculpture as accents.

“I encourage my clients to not be in a hurry to finalize everything,” Myers says.

The home’s light fixtures could stand as gallery pieces on their own, such as LED abstract globe chandeliers by Kuzco Lighting hanging over the kitchen island, an aluminum-and-metal circular fixture over the dining area, and an abstract pendant in the entryway. Each was chosen for its look as well as the illumination.

“We have always taken the approach that lighting was the jewelry of the house,” Rob says.

CREATING SPACE

From the outside, a 2,800-squarefoot home may seem narrow and close, but the intentional layout offers plenty of space for gathering and entertaining.

The two-story living room is outfitted with a pair of Lee Industries upholstered couches with waterfall cushions. Rob admits he never imagined fitting more than one sofa in the area, but the smooth silhouettes of the couches delineate the perimeter of the room. Between the twin sofas sits a sleek, white coffee table,

and two comfortable chairs cap off the U-shaped furniture arrangement. Matching ottomans were an afterthought, albeit a convenient one for resting your feet at the day’s end.

While creamy neutrals dominate the living room color scheme, Myers worked in pops of color that stand out in the unobtrusive palette. A gold glass bowl by Michael Wainwright is perched upon the coffee table. Two console tables by Charles DeForest are topped with soothing aqua glass. A collection of four “Moon Bowls” by Bruce McDonald hang on the far wall, framed in black boxes that partner with the two-story fireplace. There’s even room for Terri’s workspace, which includes a small, simple desk topped by a Tizio lamp designed in 1957. A Paul Chaleff porcelain vessel rests on a pedestal in the entryway, a sophisticated greeting for guests and homeowners alike.

The kitchen and dining area allow for extended family dinners or meals for two at the island. The couple knew they wanted a large island and elevated counters, and they chose to top it with a honed quartzite countertop in a white pearl hue. With its hardness and natural finish, the countertop lends a hardy texture to the

“We have always taken the approach that lighting was the jewelry of the house.”

A vintage Alexander Girard throw in the main bedroom coordinates with the colorful landscape painting in the hall.

kitchen area. It is complemented by backsplashes in more quartzite, as well as ceramic tile above the Wolf range. Comfortable bar stools by Lee Industries abut the island, promising to provide eating space for the couple’s grandson and future grandchildren.

Myers sourced the Oylers’ dining room table—an impressive wood-topped piece with a geometric metal base—from Hickory Chair.

“The base is what sold me on this table,” Myers says. “The base is more contemporary, and it offers good chair access so there’s room to push the chairs under the table.”

Upstairs, the home’s floor plan includes an open loft space overlooking the living room. While this area could have been used as another spare bedroom, the couple opted to keep it open for additional living space. They chose a large, comfortable sectional for ample seating. A collection of gray, orange, and cream throw pillows inspires the colors on the gallery wall behind the sofa.

The room needed additional seating, but the couple didn’t want to go with a generic bar area or raised table. Instead, they opted for a custom-made elevated table by Iron Timbers in Oslo, Indiana. The solid structure is made of one piece of walnut, with black resin

poured into the wood’s voids to create an oneof-a-kind natural piece of art.

OUTDOOR PURSUITS

There’s no need to worry about yard maintenance in these townhomes, but there’s still just enough space to create a patio that becomes an outside oasis. The couple worked with Myers to choose sturdy pieces from Woodland Outdoor Furniture that beckon visitors to enjoy a warm summer evening or grab drinks under the patio umbrella. It’s also the perfect spot for canine companion Cooper, who serves as the Oylers’ official watchdog.

The downsized townhouse has become home for the Oylers. The artwork reflects their tastes and shared experiences, and the furniture is built to look elegant while remaining durable and comfortable. Creating a new interior from scratch wasn’t always easy, but the couple’s partnership with Myers paid off.

“Tom has been absolutely wonderful and a major part of this,” Terri says. “He knew our tastes, and we were able to align on them.”

“Tom has been absolutely wonderful and a major part of this. He knew our tastes, and we were able to align on them.”

The townhome’s patio is adorned with potted annuals to create a mini-landscape in the private outdoor area.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The upstairs loft offers plenty of seating for gatherings and TV nights.

ROOM TO GROW

It was the land that sold a Fishers couple on this waterfront property, so they drew up a blueprint to revise the floor plan and make more space for their active family.

by BAILEY BRISCOE

photography by TONY VALAINIS

The arched entryway gets abundant natural light from windows that mimic the shape of the room. At night, the massive chandelier and backlit wall art make the space glow.

OPPOSITE PAGE: The adjacent hallways and dining room feature art and lighting that coordinates with the decor in the entry.

HAVING GROWN UP ON A LAKE, SARAH

Meneghini envisioned a similar upbringing for her children, and her husband, Michael, was fully on board with her plans. For 10 years, they lived happily on less than an acre of land on Geist Reservoir. Though the property lacked greenery, the couple relished in the proximity to the water and the bustling neighborhood that fit their newlywed lifestyle at the time. However, once their four young children grew old enough to run about, they craved an upgrade with more space for the kids.

The Meneghinis toured another house on Geist and were immediately enchanted by its seven-acre lot, most of which stretches out behind the house in a downward slope to its own sliver of the reservoir. Tall, full trees form wooded areas that frame either side of the backyard and light up with vibrant hues in the fall months. Both Sarah and Michael felt at home when they laid eyes on the view.

There was just one minor issue. The house wouldn’t fit their blended family of eight. Instead of cutting ties with the land that stole their hearts, they decided to tear down the walls—almost entirely—and rebuild around the dreamy backyard oasis.

FAMILY MATTERS

When architect Mark Demerly saw the existing footprint of the Meneghinis’ new home, his first course of action was to open up the interior. The house was built in the early 2000s, before open-concept floor plans took off. So many walls—and even an elevator—were removed that steel beams had to be added for reinforcement in certain areas.

The couple purchased the home at the end of 2019, at which point it had four bedrooms. Over the next year, every inch of the structure would be altered to fit Sarah, Michael, their four young offspring spanning ages 4 to 8, and Michael’s two older children. They worked with Demerly to add square footage and bring to life a more spacious abode with more bedrooms, more indoor play areas, and more open living space.

Today, the Meneghinis’ compound features five bedrooms upstairs—all claimed by the kids—a master bedroom on the main level, and entertainment space, including a guest bedroom, in the fully finished basement. Also on the first floor is an open kitchen and living and dining area with French doors that lead to an attached enclosed patio overlooking the backyard. Outfitted with ceiling fans, a TV, a fireplace, multiple grills, and ample seating and dining space, this area was designed for hosting friends and family.

“We had a distinct vision of what we wanted our forever home to be, and this structure was able to accommodate that,” Michael says.

A gray sectional offers seating for evenings in front of the fireplace.

ABOVE: An intimate quartet of white chairs behind the sofa overlook the backyard and reservoir.

“J.D. is great at understanding our needs. He’s worked with us in two different stages of life and goes right to work on what we want.”

BLUE CRUSH

Unfortunately, this wasn’t Sarah and Michael’s first time remodeling a home. They experienced a fire in their first house that required extensive repairs, which is how they initially met kitchen and bath designer J.D. Dick with Cabinetry Ideas. The Meneghinis knew they wanted to work with the same team on this house.

“J.D. is great at understanding our needs,” Michael says. “He’s worked with us in two different stages of life and goes right to work on what we want.”

One of those must-have items was a big statement island for the kitchen. Blue is the couple’s favorite color, so when they spotted the quartz countertop with thick, deep-blue veining through the white backdrop, they had to have it. Over the course of this remodeling project, it provided some challenges.

Because the homeowners wanted such a sizable island, they needed to secure a large quantity of the rare countertop material from Cathedral Marble & Granite. It took two slabs for the center island alone, plus more for the rest of the kitchen and adjoining pantry. A lengthy search led them to enough stone, and Dick perfectly designed the rest of the kitchen around this centerpiece.

Playing off the veining, they selected a similar color for the island cabinets. The blue anchors the room and gives it a down-to-earth feel. Gold accents like large cabinet pulls, bar stools, and pendant lighting add the right amount of glam. Behind the stove, the same quartz travels up the wall as a backsplash, flanked on either side by gray-and-white geometric tile. Packaged together, the colors evoke a sense of peace—much like the water that can be seen from anywhere in the space—in a room that is presumably anything but calm come dinnertime.

A nautical color scheme and repeated design elements set the tone for the kitchen and adjacent dining area.

The master suite’s expansive nature views and soothing, neutral palette create a peaceful retreat for Michael and Sarah.

Any toddler parent knows that there are few moments of true privacy‚ even in the restroom, which is why there are a couple of rooms in the Meneghini household that are kept hidden from the kids. Genius, huh?

SECRET HIDEAWAYS

Although the children were major influences in the more functional design decisions of the home, it was important to Michael and Sarah that they have their own spaces to escape, just the two of them. With demanding schedules and six children between them, you can imagine why the couple might need some kid-free zones. Any toddler parent knows that there are few moments of true privacy‚ even in the restroom, which is why there are a couple of rooms in the Meneghini household that are kept hidden from the kids. Genius, huh?

A secret door in the master closet leads to a speakeasy of sorts, where Michael and Sarah go for date nights to unwind. A spiral staircase leads to the “red room,” modeled after their favorite New York City cocktail bar. Outfitted with plush red loveseats, leopard-print carpet, and moody black decor set against bright-red walls, it’s all dramatic enough to distract from the trials of parenthood and transport the couple back to the Big Apple. It’s a stark contrast to the classic feel and neutral color scheme in the rest of the home. Because it’s meant to be hidden away from public view, it doesn’t have to blend with the rest of the decor.

Although not a secret, another adult-friendly space that was added to the home is an expansive wine cellar in the basement. Shrouded in stone and concrete ceilings and lit mostly by lanterns, it feels akin to a European alleyway. While these aren’t everydayuse spaces, rooms like these are integral parts of Michael and Sarah’s vision for this home.

When it’s time to duck downstairs for athome date night, the couple can opt for a glass of wine in the European-inspired cellar or a cocktail in the carefully concealed scarlet hideout.

OUTDOOR OASIS

Also high on the Meneghinis’ priority list? Entertainment space. With Michael hosting colleagues often, the kids loving nature, and extendedfamily members living nearby, the couple needed not only ample outdoor space, but versatility to accommodate many different activities.

The entire backside of the home, from the lake-facing pool to the walk-out patio and poolside lounge sets, was designed to be the spot where everyone comes to hang out. The family collaborated with Circle City Outdoors to make

the landscape beautiful, serene, and inviting. Industrial-style fountains scattered throughout the grounds sourced from P.J.E. Lawn Care & Landscaping add a visually interesting touch of nature-friendly style.

Like most remodels, this project pushed beyond original expectations in all areas—time, money, and challenges. However, the finished product is an interior just as captivating as the rest of the property, and one sized to fit the active family. Now, they can enjoy lake living in this stage of life and many more to come.

CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: The enclosed patio provides a weatherproof area for barbecues; a crisscross turf pattern adds visual interest to the pool deck; and a brick-and-metal fountain in front of the house greets visitors in modern, industrial style.

MEET THE PROS

Architects

Blackline Studio

317-803-7900 blacklinestudio.net

David Rausch Studio 317-873-4970 davidrausch.com

Demerly Architects

317-847-0724 demerlyarchitects.com

Gary Nance Design 317-605-2196 garynancedesign.com

Goldberg Design Group, Inc.

317-582-1430 goldbergdesigngroup.com

HAUS | Architecture for Modern Lifestyles

317-652-2828 haus-arch.com

Luminaut

317-636-3980 luminaut.com

MW Harris

317-250-3921 instagram.com/ mwharrisdesign

NEON Architecture

317-332-7174 neonarchitecture.com

One 10 Studio

317-501-6021 one10studio.com

RATIO Design

317-633-4040 ratiodesign.com

Rottmann Collier Architects Inc.

317-721-2724 rottmanncollier.com

Still Architecture + Design

317-450-3208 still-arch.com

StudioAxis

317-264-8162 studioaxis.com

Trade Design Studio

317-514-3352 tradedesignstudio.com

Developers

Chatham Park Development

317-295-2622 chathamparkdev.com

Henke Development Group

317-439-8803 henkedevelopment.com

Inglenook Cottage Homes

317-767-9760 inglenookcottagehomes.com

Langston Residential Development

317-590-5687 langstondev.com

The Marina Limited Partnership

317-845-0270 marinalimitedland.com

Re-Development Group 317-281-0482 redev.net

Homebuilders aaNovo

317-597-2262 aanovo.co

AR Homes

800-274-6637 arhomes.com

BBG Construction

317-250-8522 bbgconstruction.com

Beazer Homes 888-623-2937 beazer.com

Becley Building Group 317-514-6130 becleybg.com

Bedrock Builders 317-770-3900

bedrockbuilders.com

Bennett Custom Homes 317-414-3780 bennett-customhomes.com

Bridgenorth Homes 317-318-1105 bridgenorthhomes.com

Carrington Homes 317-336-8002 carringtonhomes.com

Cedar Street Builders 317-942-0859 cedarstreetbuilders.com

Christopher Scott Homes

317-408-4853, 317-590-7961 cshomes.com

Compendium Group

317-506-6367 cg317.com

Custom Homes by Cory 317-859-8309 customhomesbycory.com

Dan Elliott Custom Homes 317-849-9138 danelliotthomes.com

Dave Sego Builders 317-462-8806 davesegobuilders.com

David Weekley Homes 765-516-6815 davidweekleyhomes.com

Davis Homes 317-548-4663 davishomes.com

DB Klain Construction

317-846-9992 dbklain.com

Drees Homes

317-347-7300 dreeshomes.com

Duke Homes 317-422-9000 dukehomes.com

Eaton+Stipp Custom Homes 317-979-4304 eatonandstipp.com

Ennis Custom Homes

812-287-1878 enniscustomhomes.com

Estridge Homes 317-932-8785 estridgehomes.com

Executive Homes

317-843-2740 executivehomesindy.com

LISTINGS ARE COMPILED at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff. No company or organization has paid to be included. A listing may not include every service or product a company offers, and some businesses may fit into multiple categories. Inclusion should not be considered an advertisement, recommendation, or endorsement by Indianapolis Monthly Businesses are located in Indianapolis unless otherwise noted.

Fischer Homes 317-348-4135 fischerhomes.com

G&G Custom Homes

317-418-7665 ggcustomhomes.com

Golden Ratio Homes 317-777-1723 goldenratiohomes.com

Gollner Homes 317-432-7364 gollnerhomes.com

Gradison Design Build 317-594-7575 gradisonbuilding.com

Green Square Design Construct, Inc. 317-431-8056 greensquareinc.com

GuyCo Homes & Remodeling

317-272-2236 guycohomes.com

Hamilton Homes

317-570-1331 builtbyhamilton.com

H•E Homes 317-759-3001 he-homes.com

Heuer Homes

317-518-2993 heuerhomes.com

Homes by C.M. Watson 317-863-5335 buildwithwatson.com

Homes by Design 317-228-0058 hbdbuilder.com

Homes by Rex Brown 317-587-1388 homesbyrexbrown.com

Hoss Homes 317-823-9788 hosshomes.com

Indy Mod Homes 317-913-9127 indymodhomes.com

Integra Builders 317-426-7807 integrabuilders.com

JB Partners 317-777-0435 jbindy.com

Joyner Homes 317-468-2330 joynerhomesonline.com

J.R. Lazaro Builders 317-271-0331 jrlazarobuilders.com

Kent Shaffer Homes 317-903-3087 kentshafferbuilders.com

Kourtney Homes 317-522-3970 kourtneyhomes.com

Madison Custom Homes 317-363-3242 madisoncustomhomesinc.com

Mark S. Adams Building Corporation 317-590-3690 msabuildingcorp.com

Matt Beecher Builders 317-535-7348 mattbeecherbuilders.com

McKenzie Collection 317-574-7616 mckenziecollection.com

M/I Homes 317-207-6777 mihomes.com

Michael & Associates 317-858-9644 michaelandassociatesinc.com

Mitford Homes 317-945-7538 mitfordhomes.com

North Homes 765-482-2444 northhomes.net

Old Town Design Group 317-816-3151 oldtowndesigngroup.com

Phil Myers Custom Homes 317-849-5097 instagram.com/ philmyerscustomhomes

Pulte Homes 317-575-2350 pulte.com

Pyatt Builders 317-593-9797 pyattbuilders.com

WHETHER YOU’RE BUILDING, REMODELING, BUYING, OR SELLING, THE RIGHT TEAM CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR HOME GOALS.

MOBILE BAR TRUCK

Make your next event memorable with the Simply Served Mobile Bar Truck!

Our sparkling white truck comes complete with alcohol, mixers, garnishes, ice, plastic cups, bartenders, licenses and permits.

Perfect for corporate events, weddings, social events, or anytime you want to add some fun!

RESOURCES

Randy Shaffer Custom Homes

317-702-3467 randyshaffer.net

Renowned Builders

317-861-8956 renownedbuilders.com

Richard Carriger Custom Homes

317-846-9221 richardcarriger.com

Rick Campbell Builder

317-752-5469 rickcampbellbuilder.com

Rise Builders

317-680-6444 risebuildersllc.com

RLS Building Corp. 317-718-7574 rlsbuilding.com

Robin Campbell Builders 317-284-1280 robincampbellbuilders.com

Scott Campbell Custom Homes

765-778-2738 scottcampbellcustom homes.com

Shamrock Builders

317-558-8750 shamrockbuilders.com

Sigma Builders

317-203-3070 sigmabuildersllc.com

Silverthorne Homes

317-806-2190 silverthornehomes.com

Skelton, Inc. Builders 317-439-6308 skeltonbuilders.com

SLM Homes

317-281-5224 slmhomes.net

Sobczak Construction Services

317-844-9576 scscustomhomes.com

Steven Sears Building Co. 317-694-4231 stevensearsbuildingco.com

Steven A. Wilson 317-846-2555 sawbuilder.com

Tikal Homes

317-667-6512 tikalhomes.com

TKW Homes

317-450-2345 tkwhomes.com

Viewegh Crafted Homes

317-834-6512 viewegh.com

Waterfront of West Clay 833-525-3466 waterfrontofwestclay.com

Wedgewood Building Company

317-669-6300 wedgewoodbc.com

Westwind Construction

317-578-1168 wcindy.com

Whicker Construction 317-839-8353 whickerconstruction.com

Williams Custom Art Builders 317-577-9904 williamscustomart builders.com

Woodstock Custom Homes 317-506-3568 woodstockcustomhomes.com

Interior Designers

Allison Chamness Interiors

317-670-7454 allisonchamness interiors.com

At Home With Savvy 312-375-3395 athomewithsavvy.com

Bailey & Bailey Interior Design 317-432-7134 facebook.com/ baileyandbaileyinteriors

Blake W. Richardson 317-319-1663 bwrhome.com

Brown Design 317-590-0063

browndesignllc.com

Cathy Chitwood 317-566-6500

cathythedesigner.com

Color Joy Interiors

317-414-3623 colorjoyinteriors.com

Compass Design 317-865-1544 compassdesignservices.com

Constance Vinson Interiors

317-709-0208

instagram.com/ constance.vinson.interiors

Cornerstone Interiors

317-986-6601 csidesignteam.com

Cozy Lifestyle Interiors

646-464-2993 cozylifestyleinteriors.com

D Ray Decor

317-300-1000 draydecorhome.com

Dani Kohl Interiors

317-457-6668 danikohl.com

Dare 2 Design

317-552-9506 dare2designindy.com

DB Interiors 317-410-0085 dbinteriorsusa.com

Decorating Den Interiors

317-660-6421 decoratingden.com

Design Studio Vriesman 317-519-1785 designstudiovriesman.com

Designer’s Market 317-570-9044 designersmarket.us

Diane Hallquist

Interior Design

317-257-9339

Elissa Decker

Interior Design

317-698-5134 elissadecker.com

Elle Designs

317-508-9260 facebook.com/ elledesignsforyou

Everything Home 317-660-1077 everythinghomedesigns.com

Exclusives Inc. 317-681-2578 exclusivesinc.net

G&G Design and Staging

317-565-9224, 513-720-1707 designbygandg.com

Hilari Goris Designs 260-413-3239 hilarigoris.com

Hollander Home Style hollanderhomestyle.com

Home & Willow Design and Decor 317-288-5045 homeandwillowdesign.com

Hoskins

Interior Design

317-253-8986 hoskinsinteriordesign.com

J. Gauker Interiors

317-853-6907 jgaukerinteriors.com

JB Designs

317-435-2779 judybatesdesigns.com

Jeff Sheats Designs

317-357-0155 jeffsheatsdesigns.com

Jenni Egger Designs 317-694-8047 jennieggerdesigns.com

Julie Browning Bova Design

317-580-9775 juliebrowningbova.com

Julie O’Brien Design Group

317-706-0772 julieobriendesign.com

Kalleen & Company 317-987-4233

Kiefer Design Group 317-441-9247 kieferdesigngroup.com

Kittle’s Design Studio 317-849-1163 kittles.com

Lantz Collective 317-569-5972 lantzcollective.com

Lehner Designs 317-888-7086 lehnerdesigns.com

LKS Interior Design lksinteriordesign.com

Marika Designs

317-439-1136 marikadesigns.com

Marten Design 317-435-5520 marten.design

Mary Sue Klinkose Interior Design 317-313-3946

MBK Design 317-442-8222 mbkinteriordesign.com

Michael Jeffrey Design 317-627-5431 instagram.com/ michaeljeffreydesign

Misch Bobrick Design 317-430-1835 mischbobrick.com

Polish Interior & Art Design 317-929-1109 polishinteriors.com

Rosalind Brinn Pope 317-475-1906 popeinteriors.com

Sanctuary Homes sanctuaryhomesdesign.com

Sassy Green Interiors 317-344-0258 sassygreeninteriors.com

Savvy Decor 317-848-0020 savvydecor.com

Shine Design Interiors 317-572-5546 shinedesigninteriors.com

So Chic Home Design & Staging 317-397-7947 sochichomedesigns.com

Stephanie Wiott Designs 630-267-0440 stephaniewiottdesigns.com

Studio 687 Interior Design 317-260-9139 studio687design.com

TB&J Interior Design 317-626-7512 tbandjinteriordesign.com

Thomas & Jayne Interior Design 317-582-2727 thomasjayne.com

Tiffany Skilling Interiors tiffanyskillinginteriors.com

Walker Designs 317-431-6240 walkerdesignsonline.com

Whetstone & Associates 317-852-7041 whetstoneandassociates.com

Landscape Designers

317 Grow 317-251-4769 317grow.com

Accent Landscapes 463-213-3878 accentlandscapes.com

Arkenau Landscapes & Lighting 317-294-1588 arkenaulandscaping.com

Aspen Outdoor Designs 317-774-0156 aspenoutdoordesigns.com

BAM Outdoor, Inc. 317-896-1414 bamoutdoorinc.com

BPI Outdoor Living 317-259-4062 bpioutdoorliving.com

Brownsburg Landscape Company

317-852-8440

brownsburglandscape.com

Calvin Landscape

317-247-6316 calvinlandscape.com

Capehart Landscape & Design

317-439-0778

capehartlandscape anddesign.com

Circle City Outdoors

317-257-7518

circlecityoutdoors.com

Country Gardens

Lawn & Landscape

317-339-7847 countrygardens landscaping.com

DeVries Design & Landscape

317-620-3040 devries-designs.com

Eagleson Meadows

317-997-4803 eaglesonmeadows.com

Engledow Group 317-575-1100 engledow.com

Fiano Landscapes 317-318-1015 fianolandscapes.com

Franco Landscaping 317-858-3858 francoland.com

Green Vista Landscaping

317-773-7911 greenvistalandscaping.com

Greenleaf Landscaping

317-881-4566 greenleaflandscapeinc.com

Greenscape Geeks

317-801-5833 greenscapegeeks.com

Heath Outdoor 317-420-4636 heathoutdoor.net

Hittle Landscaping

317-896-5697 hittlelandscape.com

K.D. Landscaping

317-967-9048 kdlandscapinginc.com

Lemcke Landscape

317-875-8267 lemckelandscape.com

Mark M. Holeman

317-849-3120 holemanlandscape.com

Midwest Landscape Industries

317-672-3788 mli-in.com

Mosier Landscape 317-271-8957 mosierlandscape.com

Mr. Green Jeans Landscape & Irrigation

317-289-6801 mrgreenjeanslandscape.com

Nature’s Choice Landscape & Supply

317-852-2647 natureschoice landscaping.com

The Noll Landscape Group

317-841-7559 nolllandscape.com

Oasis Outdoor Living & Landscapes

317-485-6514 myoasisoutdoor.com

Outdoor Environments Group

317-292-9776 oeggroup.com

Precision Outdoors

317-691-8663 precision-outdoors.com

Primary Grounds

317-422-9755 primarygrounds.com

Pro Care Horticultural Services

317-872-4800 facebook.com/ procarelandscapers

Progressive Lawnscaping

317-780-6619 progressivelawnscaping.com

Property Pros Land Management

317-482-3111 propertyproslm.com

Salsbery Brothers Landscaping

317-843-0100 salsberybros.com

Spotts Garden Service

317-356-8808 spottsgardens.com

Start to Finish Landscaping

317-769-2211

starttofinish.com

Surroundings by Natureworks

317-575-0482

choosesurroundings.com

Vive Exterior Design

317-773-9933

viveexterior.com

Watson Construction

317-606-0147

watsonconstruction anddesign.com

Real Estate Companies

@properties Indy

317-489-3441 atproperties.com/ indianapolis

Berkshire Hathaway Home Services

Indiana Realty

317-595-2100 bhhsinrealty.com

Carpenter Realtors

800-630-1727 callcarpenter.com

Century 21 866-732-6139 century21.com

Coldwell Banker

Kaiser Real Estate

800-875-8445 coldwellbanker.com

Compass 317-563-5051 compass.com

Encore Sotheby’s International Realty 317-660-4444 encoresothebysrealty.com

Engel & Völkers

317-585-3575 indianapolis.evrealestate.com

Everhart Studio 317-916-1052 everhartlistings.com

F.C. Tucker Company 317-954-4768 talktotucker.com

GB Landrigan Realtors

317-255-0255 gb.house

Good Living Indy 317-747-9131 goodlivingindy.com

Highgarden Real Estate

317-205-4320 highgarden-indianapolis.com

Keller Williams 317-981-8020 kw.com

Litz Real Estate

317-882-8600 instagram.com/litz_realestate Maywright Property Co. 317-210-0624 maywright.com

MS Woods Real Estate 317-578-3220 mswoods.com

RE/MAX remax.com

United Real Estate

317-439-8777

indyrealtysource.com

Remodelers

Bespoke Construction

317-688-1060 bespokein.com

BHI Group

317-862-9917 gobhigroup.com

Booher Remodeling Company 317-852-5546 booherbuilding.com

Centennial Construction & Remodeling Services 317-848-7634 centennialconstruction remodeling.com

Central Construction Group 317-213-6246 ccg-indy.com

CMH Builders 317-714-6536 cmhbuilders.com

Corinthian Fine Homes 317-578-0237 corinthianinc.com

Custom Living 317-626-7393 customlivingusa.com

Dukate Fine Remodeling 317-736-9961 dukate.net

Dwelling Indy 317-893-3617 dwellingindy.com

Emergent Construction

317-572-7227 emergent-group.com

Gannon & Co. 317-432-2051 gannonandcompany.com

Gettum Associates 317-350-6643 gettum.com

Green Trade Contracting 317-413-6600 greentradecontracting.com

The HomeWright

317-223-3070 thehomewright.com

Indiana Residential 800-601-4050 indianaresidential.com

Jensen Design

317-716-7462 jensendesignllc.com

Legend Design Build 317-922-6248

legenddesignbuild.com

The Lifestyle Group 317-352-9022 lifestylegroup.com

MJ Brown Renovations 317-623-0444 mjbrownrenovations.com

Nicholas Design and Build 317-779-3929 nicholasdesignbuild.com

RL Hahn

Residential Design 317-450-9445 rlhahnresidential.com

Simpson Construction Services 317-660-5494 simpsonconstruction services.com

Spivey Remodeling 317-786-4200 spiveyremodelinginc.com

Steve Gray Renovations 317-596-0928 stevegrayrenovations.com

Stewart Construction 317-831-1303 stewartconstruction group.com

Stilwell Design & Remodeling 317-254-9098 stilwellremodeling.com

T. Morgan Construction 317-955-8984 tmorganconstruction.com

Thomas J. Pearson Inc. 317-861-9778 thomasjpearson.com

Tremain Corporation 317-849-8453 tremaincorp.com

White Oak Remodeling 317-243-7140 whiteoakremodels.com

William Gordon Group 317-361-3191 williamgordongroup.com

Worthington Design & Remodeling

317-846-2600

worthingtonindy.com

WrightWorks 317-925-7106 wrightworks.net

FIXTURES & FINISHES

APPLIANCES

Ferguson Appliance Showroom

You’ll find a large selection of appliances from major brands, such as Jenn-Air, Thermador, Viking, GE, and Bosch, at this northside showroom. Friendly, knowledgeable product experts can help you make the right choices for your home. 4705 E. 96th St., 317-6896667, fergusonshowrooms.com

Grand Appliance and TV

This family-owned chain of 28 Midwest showrooms sells indoor and outdoor appliances from names such as Café, Frigidaire, KitchenAid, Subzero, and Miele. Mattresses, TVs, and electronics are also available. 4025 E. 82nd St., 317-863-4580; 8010 U.S. 31, 317-5344266; 10101 E. U.S. Hwy. 36, Avon, 317-203-4867; grandappliance.com

CLOSETS & ORGANIZATION

The Baer Minimalist

Obsessed with organization since childhood, Maria Baer brings order to chaotic closets, cabinets, pantries, and drawers. Baer and her team consult with clients to cut through clutter, categorize must-keep items, and dispose of or donate the discards. The end result is easy access to all your sorted, color-coded, and labeled collections. thebaerminimalist.com

California Closets

If you’re tired of wasting time in the morning looking for your favorite sweater, California Closets can draw up a perfectly arranged closet system that puts everything in its place. Consultants also help organize garages, entryways, playrooms, laundry rooms, and home offices. 1 Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 463-426-5601, californiaclosets.com/ indianapolis

Closet Concepts

Get a more organized life, starting with your closet. Designers plan, build, and install innovative systems for master suites, laundry

rooms, kids’ play areas, home offices, craft rooms, pantries, and garages. 4211 W. 96th St., 317-8498444, closetconceptsinc.com

Garage Theory

A garage is often the most underused area of a home, which presents opportunities to maximize and take advantage of extra storage space. Garage Theory designs and installs shelving and cabinet arrangements with its Gorgeous Garage system to make good use of the space. Floor coatings and easyto-clean tiles are also available. 9402 Uptown Dr., 317-296-7441, garagesolutionsindianapolis.com

Hoosier Closets

Hoosier Closets aims to provide organizational solutions for your laundry room, home office, closet, basement, pantry, or garage. Consultants can bring product samples to your abode and draw up a custom design right then and there. 317-440-6964, hoosierclosets.com

Innovative Cabinets and Closets

Find the cabinet solution you seek in this 3,000-square-foot showroom. View product displays, color options, finishes, and hardware available for custom cabinetry projects that can be installed in closets, home offices, media centers, bars, and more. 17401 Tiller Ct., Westfield, 317-516-6497, inncorp.com

COUNTERTOPS & SURFACES

Architectural Brick & Tile

Though its roots are in the brick business, Architectural Brick & Tile carries a wide array of gorgeous glass, ceramic, metal, and porcelain tiles; natural-stone flooring; customcarved stone items like fireplace surrounds and range hoods; and clay pavers. 8610 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-842-2888, archbricktile.com

Artistic Marble and Granite

Give countertops, vanities, bathtubs, or fireplaces a new look with one of Artistic Marble and Granite’s in-stock stone materials, which include travertine, slate, soapstone, granite, limestone, and

onyx. 1308 W. Troy Ave., 317-7804422, artisticmarbleandgranite.net

Carmel Countertops

Owner Per Laigaard oversees each project to make sure you get the best finish and fit. The showroom displays numerous types of granite, quartz, marble, and tile for any application in your home. 904 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel, 317-843-0331, carmelcountertops.com

Cathedral Marble & Granite

Cathedral has a wide selection of marble, granite, porcelain, and quartz from around the world. Homeowners are welcome to visit the company’s fabrication facility to see all the slabs and chat with sales consultants about their projects. 208 Trout St., Whitestown, 317-769-5900, cathedralmarble.com

Chance Brothers

Marble & Tile

Running the family business since 1969, two sets of Chance brothers spanning two generations have helped customers create countertops, fireplace hearths, and vanities with choice granite, natural stone, marble, and recycled materials. 114 W. McCarty St., 317-635-7531, instagram.com/ chancebrosmarbleandtile

Circle City Copperworks

In addition to its durability, copper can bring a unique element to your kitchen, whether it’s used in a sink, backsplash, range hood, or countertop. Smooth or hammered styles are available in different patinas for one-of-a-kind looks. 4337 W. 96th St., 317-337-9800, circlecitycopperworks.com

Classic Kitchen & Granite

You’ll find many colors and styles of granite and quartz from Color Quartz, Santa Margherita, Mont Surfaces, and Zodiaq that are perfect for your home bar, kitchen, or vanity. The Westfield business strives to install orders within seven business days of the final sale. 17408 Tiller Ct., Westfield, 317-575-8883, classickitchenandgranite.com

Classic Stone LLC

As a custom stone-fabrication and installation company, Classic Stone has customers covered when it comes to granite, quartz, marble, and wood by Cambria,

Caesarstone, HanStone, and more. Schedule an appointment and check out all the colors and edge profiles in its expansive facility. 3525 W. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-804-5170, classicstonellc.com

Concrete Tailors

Stenciled, stamped, colored, or stained, concrete has many applications. Concrete Tailors can customize the material for patios, kitchen countertops, vanities, flooring, or pool decks. They also resurface existing concrete. 5000 E. Conner St., Noblesville, 317-773-1504, concretetailors.com

Cornerstone

Marble & Granite

Dubbed the “Granite Twins,” brothers Matthew and Mark Wadman transform marble, granite, quartz, glass, soapstone, and onyx into pieces that exceed traditional countertops. They work on outdoor kitchens, fireplace surrounds, walls, water fountains, and specialty projects. 1327 W. Main St., Greenfield, 317-468-1327, cornerstonetops.com

Cutting Edge Countertops

Based in Ohio, this small chain of surface retailers focuses on superior quality, reliability, and competitive pricing in its design and delivery services. Cutting Edge offers customization options such as chip minimization, safety corners, sealing, and overhang calibration. 7375 Company Dr., 317-888-8550; 14425 Bergen Blvd., Noblesville, 317-774-8888; cectops.com

Emser Tile

This northeastside business has a wide assortment of tiles in stone, glass, ceramic, porcelain, and metal. Several eco-friendly collections are available as well. The visualizer tool on Emser’s website allows users to preview different materials for both indoor and outdoor settings. 8700 Roberts Dr., Fishers, 317-576-4740, emser.com

Global Granite & Marble

Find stone from countries around the world in this northwestside showroom. Global Granite & Marble sells granite, travertine, limestone, marble, onyx, and quartz for all kinds of surfaces. 8138 Woodland Dr., 317-228-9952, globalgranite.com

FROM APPLIANCES TO WINDOWS AND DOORS, THESE SUPPLIERS OUTFIT AND CUSTOMIZE ALL YOUR INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES.

VISIT

Kitchen design by Cabinetry Ideas

Granite Transformations

Solid overlays are made to fit over your existing countertops for a new look without a lengthy time commitment. Choose from more than 50 colors and patterns of granite, recycled glass, quartz, and mosaic tiles. Cabinet refacing is also offered. 3880 Pendleton Way, 855-454-0454, granitetrans formations.com

Greenwood Marble & Tile

Update your kitchen countertops and backsplash, bathroom vanity, shower wall, fireplace, or floor with choices in marble and tile. Showroom displays provide inspiration and ideas. 248 Market Plaza, Greenwood, 317-881-4180, greenwoodmarbletile.com

Indy Custom Stone

Indy Custom Stone offers a wide range of granite, marble, porcelain, soapstone, and quartz countertops, as well as sink bowls and fixtures. The live-inventory feature on the website shows homeowners the full selection, quantities, and dimensions of available materials. 564 Industrial Dr., Carmel, 317-8771000, indycustomstone.com

Just For Granite

The countertop possibilities surpass simply granite and include marble, quartz, onyx, and travertine. Experienced designers can assist with kitchens, bathrooms, home bars, hearths, outdoor areas, and tabletops. 5277 Emco Dr., 317-842-8255, justforgranite.com

Louisville Tile

This Fishers showroom features displays of porcelain, ceramic, stone, glass, wood, and concrete tiles for floors, showers, backsplashes, fireplaces, accent walls, and other applications. 9906 North by Northeast Blvd., Fishers, 317-537-6923, louisville-tile.com

Marble Uniques

Select the perfect slab of quartz, soapstone, onyx, marble, or granite from a vast supply. Consultants guide you through choices of sinks, faucets, and surface edges for your new countertop, table, bar top, or hearth. 815 W. Jefferson St., Tipton, 317-596-9786, marbleuniques.com

Mont Surfaces by Mont Granite

Do you like having lots of options?

Hundreds of varieties of granite, marble, travertine, limestone, onyx, sandstone, porcelain, and recycled glass in a range of colors and patterns fill Mont’s northwestside showroom. 5945 W. 84th St., 317-875-5800, montsurfaces.com

Natural Stone & Tile

Whether your taste leans toward modern or traditional, you’ll find the latest materials to fit with your style. Drawing on global inspiration, Natural Stone & Tile works

with ceramic, natural stone, and porcelain. 8875 Bash St., 317-8635926, naturalstonetilegallery.com

Natural Stone Creations

Custom design and attention to detail are at the heart of the matter for Natural Stone Creations. Its choices in granite, marble, recycled glass, and quartz can bring new life to your countertops, vanities, bar tops, or fireplace surrounds. 500 International Dr., Franklin, 317-736-0021, naturalstoneindy.com

Olympia Stone

Choose the natural stone that fits your project best with cuttingedge design tools and modeling software. Consultants create a digital template of your project to help you pick the right surface and ensure successful installation. 870 Lennox Ct., Zionsville, 317-8727625, olympiastoneindy.com

Peak Stone Company

Improve any surface in your home with the Peak Stone Company stock of granite, quartz, and marble. Owners Josh and Tiffany Woods are dedicated to ensuring customer satisfaction by offering direct, in-home consultations. 3220 S. Arlington Ave.; 886 N. State Rd. 135, Greenwood; 317-352-1630, peakstonecompany.com

Plutus Marble

This stone importer’s showroom displays dramatic slabs of granite, engineered quartz, quartzite, marble, large-format porcelain, and dolomite in dramatic patterns that resemble leather, ocean waves, tortoise shells, and works of art. 5021 W. 81st St., 317-734-3862, plutusmarble.com

Rabb and Howe

Cabinet Top Co.

This local business has provided custom solid-surface and laminate countertops and casework since 1959. Get the look you want from a brand roster that includes Pionite, Staron, Wilsonart, and Formica. 2571 Winthrop Ave., 317-926-6442, rabbhowecabinetry.com

Santarossa

What started as a terrazzo flooring and mosaics company in 1924 has evolved into one of Indiana’s largest suppliers of natural stone slabs. Santarossa still provides flooring, and its services include concrete staining, fabrication, and restoration and repair. 2707 Roosevelt Ave., 317-632-9494, santarossa.com

Sims-Lohman

Get inspired with possibilities for your project by touring kitchens on display and inspecting slabs of granite, quartz, and marble. Sims-Lohman is the largest Masterbrand cabinetry distributor in the nation. 7113 Mayflower Park Dr., Zionsville, 317-870-8011; 725 E.

Main St., Greenfield, 317-467-0710; sims-lohman.com

Stone Artisans

Using traditional stone, such as granite, marble, quartz, and soapstone—or modern materials like IceStone and stainless steel—Stone Artisans can create a surface to suit your specific needs. Custom furniture is also available. 7952 Zionsville Rd., 317-874-8955, facebook.com/stoneartisans

Stone Design

Granite, quartz, and other natural materials are sold here, but you’ll also find dozens of nontraditional offerings, such as extra-large NeoLith porcelain tiles by The Size and semi-precious surfaces like labradorite and jasper. 2185 N. Sherman Dr., 317-546-2300, stone-design.com

Stone Spectrum

Stone can go anywhere, from countertops, flooring, and fireplaces to chair rails, fountains, and lawn-and-garden accents. Stone Spectrum can craft just about anything out of granite, marble, and quartz. 8585 E. 249th St., Arcadia, 317-984-1400, stonespectrum.com

Stonesmiths

Stonesmiths deals in marble, granite, glass, recycled stone, and quartz to bring a fresh look to your home, whether you want a new kitchen countertop or bathroom vanity. Its recycled granite is an eco-friendly alternative for backsplashes and fireplace surrounds. 12244 State Rd. 32 E, Noblesville, 317-770-1333, stonesmithsindy.com

The Tile Shop

Turn your dwelling into a dream home with kitchen and bathroom ideas displayed throughout The Tile Shop’s showrooms. You’ll be able to browse a large range of glass, ceramic, and natural-stone flooring; backsplash and wall tiles; and countertops. 5531 E. 82nd St., 317-845-4241; 8014 S. U.S. 31, Greenwood, 317-616-3925; tileshop.com

Tremain Tile, Marble & Granite

“A family tradition since 1921,” Tremain provides goods and services that include custom marble and granite fabrication for flooring, countertops, and fireplaces; ceramic tiles; bathroom design and remodeling; plumbing, sinks, and fixtures; and doors and mirrors. 8101 E. 47th St., 317-549-1991, tre-main.com

Triton Stone Group

Stop by this 25,600-square-foot showroom and browse the large collection of granite, marble, onyx, travertine, limestone, soapstone, slate, porcelain, and quartzite. By importing stone from countries around the world, Triton Stone serves up thousands of unique patterns and colors. 6025 W. 80th St., 317-644-1200, tritonstone.com

Victory Surfaces

From kitchen and bathroom countertops to custom furniture and art pieces, Victory Surfaces sells and fabricates stone to fit any project. The southside warehouse is fully stocked with marble, granite, quartzite, travertine, and limestone from the finest suppliers around the globe. 5720 Kopetsky Dr., 317405-9538, victorysurfaces.com

FLOORING

Adam’s Flooring

The staff at Adam’s can help homeowners sift through a host of carpet, hardwood and laminate flooring, and vinyl options. Custom and manufactured area rugs from Milliken complete the look. 1063 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-575-9967, adamsflooring.biz

Albert Griffith & Sons Inc.

In the flooring business since 1946, Griffith & Sons is the source for quality unfinished, pre-finished, and engineered hardwood floors. Numerous brands are available for the pros to install, but dedicated do-it-yourselfers can also find help. Services include sanding, finishing, screening, and recoating. 3507 Sheridan Rd., Noblesville, 317-841-9365, griffithfloors.com

America’s Floor Source

All the usual suspects are here, including myriad brands and styles of carpet and accent rugs, hardwood and laminate flooring, and ceramic and stone tiles. You’ll also see more unique substances like rubber, cork, and bamboo. 7676 Zionsville Rd., 317-356-3181, americasfloorsource.com

Blakley’s Flooring

Originally founded as a granite monument company in 1898, family-owned Blakley’s evolved and expanded into the residential flooring realm. Today’s products include carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, cork, bamboo, and tile flooring. 8765 Hague Rd., 317-5768200; 2184 E. 116th St., Carmel, 317575-0440; blakleysflooring.com

Brewer Custom Floors and More

Its spacious showroom features flooring for all tastes: carpet, vinyl, hardwood, laminate, ceramic, marble, cork, bamboo, and stone. Versatile rock carpet can be used indoors and out, and epoxy floors and concrete stamping are offered. 166 Vista Pkwy., Avon, 317-272-4010, brewercustomfloorsandmore.com

Brothers Floor Covering

Serving Central Indiana since 1952, the Brothers staff is well trained to help you choose the best materials for your floors, be it ceramic tile,

Welcome H O M E

HERE TO HELP YOU WITH ANY PROJECT LARGE OR SMALL

HOT SPOTS

When Home & Willow Design founder, Stacy Stater, realized she was brave enough to open her own studio, she knew there’d be no turning back. The seed had been planted in April of 2021 and was taking root. The Showroom opened in the Hub & Spoke Design Center in Fishers early January 2022. Stacy designed it like all her projects. She put a ruler to paper and kept her client and new homeowners in mind. H&W was cultivated to be a meeting space for designers and clients, alike to create amazing spaces.

Home & Willow is staffed with a supertalented, energetic team of core designers who are ready to help you with any project as you get settled into your new home. We consider it a high honor to be invited into someone’s home ... their most private and prized asset. Our ‘Willows’ listen carefully in order to come up with unique and creative solutions to any problem that a homeowner may have. Stacy says, “Our job is to create a home personality ... not ours!”

The Nature of Design is symbolic for H&W. Stater remembers her late mother planting a Willow tree in the backyard, because nothing else would grow there. Deep rooted, the Willow grows in less than perfect conditions. With graceful and forgiving limbs, the Willow withstands the storm. Proud of her team for weathering the busiest season the home industry has ever encountered; Stacy says she leaves most days misty-eyed. “It’s so inspiring to spend your day with ‘Creatives’ and to see their passion to help people”.

Concentrate on family hang out areas. As designers, we’d like to draft a spatial plan, first and foremost. Even if clients can’t buy everything, they at least have a plan to avoid making costly mistakes. Clients who buy one perfect sofa for the Family Room are ahead in the long run. By the way, end tables with USBs and charging stations are all the rage.

KITCHENS & BATHS

Yes, they are important...but expensive. These projects might not happen immediately...but again, get the plan in order before doing anything major. A well-designed treatment at the window and counter stools can give a boost.

FLOORING

Again, an expensive update, but flooring only stays current 15 years. Unless you live in a classic or mid-century house, 2-inch solid wood planks with a lustrous red cherry finish are probably ready to be replaced.

PAINT

We paint last, but we get it. Paint rejuvenates like none other. We recommend an overall paint schedule, so that even when doing one room at a time, it all makes sense in due time.

Put down new roots and get settled into your new home with a little help from some friends

RESOURCES

hardwood, carpet, laminate, or vinyl. 8550 Michigan Rd., 317-5939755, brothers-floorcovering.com

Brown’s Flooring

Owners Bob and Shannon Workman specially select the best flooring choices to offer in their showroom, with brands such as Mohawk, Armstrong, Mannington, Shaw Floors, and Viking. Samples are available to take home before you make the final decision. 8517 Westfield Blvd., 317-253-1942, facebook.com/brownsflooringindy

Burton’s Flooring Center

Burton’s has helped Johnson County homeowners with their flooring needs for more than 30 years. Products include carpet, hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl, bamboo, cork, and area rugs. Check out its radiant heating options to avoid cold floors. 565 Banta St., Franklin, 317-7380001, burtonsflooringcenter.com

Carpet Country

Carpet may be the first word in its name, but this Greenwood vendor also sells solid and engineered hardwood, tile, laminate, natural stone, and luxury vinyl. 280 S. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-8861923, carpetcountry.net

Carpet One Floor & Home

Two area locations make it easy for Central Indiana homeowners to find new flooring. Exclusive brands include Lees, Tigressa, Invincible hardwood and luxury vinyl tile, Bigelow, Laminate for Life, and Resista. 894 N. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-800-7141; 11230 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-8701261; carpetone.com

Claghorn Custom Flooring

Kitchen & Bath

Claghorn has served the Zionsville area for more than three decades, carrying a variety of products for any budget—hardwood, luxury vinyl, custom tile, and carpet. The store also offers full kitchen and bath remodeling services. 100 N. 1st St., Zionsville, 317-873-6202, claghorncustomflooring.com

Clay’s Flooring & Interiors

Start from the floor and work your way up with Clay’s inventory, which includes quality brands of carpet, stone, hardwood, and tile. Look through the selection of window treatments, wallpaper, and custom furniture to pull any room together. 16462 Southpark Dr., Westfield, 317-804-2263, claysflooring.com

Custom Floors

Custom Stone

This impressive showroom exhibits merchandise for your home, including carpet, hardwood, tile, and stone from major manufacturers. Cold feet? Consider installing radiant heating. Find ideas for countertops and backsplashes

from a large selection of stone slabs. 11777 Exit 5 Pkwy., Fishers, 317-827-0986, customfloors.com

Drexel Interiors

Set aside plenty of time to browse Drexel’s stock of carpet, hardwoods, vinyl, laminate, tile, and stone, as well as cabinets, backsplashes, and countertops. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling services are also available. 3217 N. Shadeland Ave., 317-545-2174; 14570 River Rd., Carmel, 317-405-9073; drexelin.com

EF Marburger Fine Flooring

Since 1913, this local merchant has carried top brands of flooring, including carpet, area rugs, hardwood, bamboo, cork, laminate, natural stone, and tile in porcelain, glass, and ceramic. Finish off your room with custom cabinetry, a new shower enclosure, window treatments, or drawer hardware. 9999 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317841-7250, efmarburger.com

Floor & Decor

Homeowners and professional contractors have access to a huge selection at warehouse prices with this Atlanta-based chain of showrooms. Choose from tile, wood, stone, laminate, and vinyl flooring. Decorative items, fixtures, and installation materials are also sold here. 8310 Castleton Corner Dr., 317-558-5101; 1049 N. Emerson Ave., Greenwood, 317-851-1024; flooranddecor.com

Floortech

Southsiders visit Floortech for its large array of carpet, laminate, stone, tile, and hardwood flooring. Browse its website to see the variety of brands available. 3115 Meridian Parke Dr., Greenwood, 317-887-6825, floortechcorp.com

Full Circle Flooring

Whether you want to replace or restore your current wood floors, Full Circle offers new flooring installation, sanding and refinishing, and hardwood maintenance to keep your surfaces looking fresh. 17767 Sun Park Dr., Westfield, 317-596-1777, fullcirclefloors.com

ICC Floors

An extensive collection of flooring, including hardwood, cork, carpet, tile, and luxury vinyl, shares space with home accents like Benjamin Moore paint, Cambria countertops, and area rugs. 7226 E. 87th St., 317813-0931; 3245 E. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-436-0462; iccfloors.com

Jack Laurie Home Floor Designs

Since 1950, Jack Laurie has sold quality flooring products. Its Clearwater Shoppes showroom displays ceramic and stone tile, hardwood flooring, synthetic and wool carpet, and vinyl from leading brands. 3857 E. 82nd St., 317-550-1594, jacklauriegroupindy.com

Kermans Flooring

Design consultants help shoppers wade through many brands and styles of carpet; resilient vinyl, cork, and hardwood floors; and tiles made from ceramic, porcelain, glass, stone, and metal. Founded over a century ago, Kermans also sells, designs, produces, and cleans rugs. 4505 E. 82nd St., 317-842-5700, kermans.com

Kinsey’s Floor Coverings

With more than three decades of flooring industry experience, Kinsey’s sells premium labels in hardwood and laminate floors, ceramic tiles, carpet, and vinyl. 16222 Allisonville Rd., Noblesville, 317-9604825, kinseysfloorcovering.com

Mainstyle Flooring

Two Indy-area locations show an array of brands for carpet, hardwood, vinyl, laminate, tile, stone, and area rugs. 5505 S. Meridian St., 317-782-1213; 1601 E. Main St., Plainfield, 317-839-2986; mainstyleflooring.com

McCool’s Flooring

Serving Central Indiana since 1967, McCool’s presents a wide range of flooring, whether you’re looking for new carpet, hardwood or laminate floors, or porcelain or ceramic tiles. 598 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-810-9377; 8105 Kingston St., Avon, 317-561-1675; mccoolsflooring.com

RiteRug Flooring

Providing flooring since 1934, RiteRug unites fashion with function in various options of hardwood, laminate, carpet, and all manner of tiles. 888-261-6060, riterug.com

Tish Flooring

What better way to choose your new flooring than to have samples of hardwood, carpet, tile, stone, or vinyl delivered? Select your favorites, and a consultant will bring them to you for a free inhome estimate. 4625 W. 86th St., 317-202-1631, tishflooring.com

GLASS & MIRRORS

Carmel Glass & Mirror

At 9,000 square feet, this showroom offers just about every product related to glass and mirrors. Window-glass replacement, custom-cut mirrors and framing, shower enclosures, and interior and furniture glass are a few of its services. 500 E. 106th St., 317-846-4864, carmelglass.com

Cook’s Glass & Mirror

Upgrade your bathroom with a shower door or enclosure featuring patterned, etched, or vented glass. Cook’s also provides custom

mirrors and tabletops, heatstrength glass for fireplaces and wood-burning stoves, screen repair, and privacy and safety glass. 5703 W. Morris St., 317-241-9344, cooksglassmirror.com

Dr. Shower Door

Give your bathroom a muchneeded upgrade with one of Dr. Shower’s customized shower doors. The possibilities are endless: bifold, sliding, swinging, steam-tight, framed, and semi-framed. New door handles are available, too, as are custom-made mirrors in any shape or size. 7936 E. 46th St., 317-545-6767, drshowerdoor.com

Gilpin Glass Service

Founded in 1972, family-owned Gilpin Glass provides residential and commercial repair and installation service on glass, mirrors, windows, doors, and screens, including insulated glass, sash-rot repair, and replacing window parts. 2908 E. Washington St., 317-635-7256

GRT Glass Design

GRT has created architecturalglass designs for hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and public spaces, and they can design and install custom doors, water features, shower doors, and much more for your home. The company specializes in blown, etched, fused, and slumped glass. 6400 Brookville Rd., 317-353-6369, grtglassdesign.com

Kelly Glass & Mirror

Shower doors, mirrors, storefront glass, and custom tabletops—Kelly pretty much does it all. Its repertoire also includes window repair, glass shelves, handrails, and even glass boards on which you can write and wipe clean. 317-3560400, kellyglass.net

Mirror & Glass Concepts

Bring your glass or mirror idea, and Mirror & Glass Concepts can make it a reality. Custom mirror framing, safety glass, decorative mirrors, glass etching and tinting, and mirrored walls and doors are among its products and services. 950 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel, 317-8431204, mirrorglassconcepts.com

Northside Glass & Mirror

No matter your glass or mirror challenge, Northside Glass can handle it. The shop provides glass shower installation, beveled and framed mirrors, repair, glass shelves and tabletops, and custom picture frames. 7206 N. Keystone Ave., 317-251-8244, northsideglass.com

Suburban Glass Service

Stop in and see Suburban’s showroom full of glass, mirrors, and shower doors in a variety of materials and styles. Emergency repair services are offered, as are other glass enclosures. 5999 U.S. 31, Whiteland, 317-535-5747, suburbanglass.net

MODERN ENTERTAINING

HOUSEWORKS. AN INDY STAPLE SINCE 1985.

Every year we continue raising the bar, bringing you the most innovative, functional and beautifully designed pieces to love the spaces you do life in. At HOUSEWORKS, you’ll find the best in modern furniture, lighting and accessories. Our experienced staff is eager to help you make your house a home.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR VISIT.

KITCHENS, BATHS & CABINETRY

ACo

Whether it’s your kitchen or bathroom that needs a makeover, ACo can help. The trained staff can design and install new cabinets, countertops, and flooring, or reface your current cabinetry for a fresh look. Visit the showroom in Hub & Spoke or connect online for a virtual consultation. 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-659-9591, liveaco.com

Adam Gibson Design

Adam Gibson brings his expertise as a general contractor and architectural designer into transforming kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas with practicality and creativity in mind. You’re likely to see clean lines, an appreciation for natural light, and efficient use of space. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-345-1311, adamgibson.com

ADS Cabinets

Find a wide range of custom, semicustom, and stock cabinet options for your whole home. Finish off your space with granite, quartz, and solid-surface countertops and decorative hardware. 5720 Pebble Village Ln., Noblesville, 317-8670483, adscabinets.com

Barber Cabinet Co.

For more than 60 years, familyrun Barber has been dedicated to crafting quality cabinets for Central Indiana kitchens. Its products are constructed, painted, and finished on site, and the showroom lets homeowners see their myriad options. 2957 S. Collier St., 317-2474747, barbercabinet.com

Beehler Kitchens & Bath

Cabinets for your kitchen, bathroom, or other spaces are designed and installed by Christine Beehler and her team. The pieces are built to order in Southern Indiana, ensuring quality at the right price. 745 W. Hawthorne St., Zionsville, 317-716-1851, beehlerkitchens.com

Cabinetry Ideas

Bring your plans for your kitchen, bathroom, entertainment room, laundry room, or home bar to fruition with this company’s lines of custom and semi-custom cabinetry. Owner Nancy Barbee is certified as a master designer through the National Kitchen & Bath Association. 6113 Allisonville Rd., 317-722-1300, cabinetryideas.com

Carmel Kitchen Specialists

Several lines of cabinetry, countertops in a range of materials, and a wide selection of decorative hardware give customers lots of choices for updating bathrooms, kitchens, home bars, or other spaces. Services include design, plumbing, electrical work, and

drywall and flooring installation. 606 Station Dr., Carmel, 317-8443975, carmelkitchenspecialists.com

Carter Cabinet Co.

Quality craftsmanship is at the heart of Carter’s work. Its Southern Indiana–made cabinetry can be installed in your bathroom, kitchen, basement, closet, laundry room, or home office. Custom vanities are available as well. 5839 S. 600 W, New Palestine, 317-935-8677, cartercabinets.com

Chapman Custom Baths

Owner Jon Chapman is an authorized dealer of The Onyx Collection of shower bases and wall panels, tub surrounds, vanities, and accessories, so you can turn your bathroom into the retreat you’ve always wanted. 601 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-456-4567, chapmancustombaths.com

Chateau Kitchens & Home Remodeling

Custom-designed and hand-carved cabinetry can be installed in your kitchen, bathroom, bar, laundry room, or game room. Top-rated designers can help you with any kitchen, bath, or home remodel. 301 E. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-8180497, chateaukitchens.com

Concepts the Cabinet Shop

Concepts has many favorite cabinetry brands, including KraftMaid, Aristokraft, and Waypoint, along with countertop, sink, and hardware options. 7599 E. U.S. 36, Avon, 317-272-7430; 508 S. Bloomington St., Greencastle, 765-6531080; conceptsthecabinetshop.com

Conceptual Kitchens

The award-winning design team at Conceptual Kitchens is known for highly customized and detailed kitchens, bars, bathrooms, and libraries. Focused on creating beautiful, functional spaces, CK delivers completely unique and holistic designs. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-846-2090, conceptualkitchens.com

The Corsi Group

Find the perfect fit with custom and semi-custom styles from Corsi brands Siteline and Greenfield Cabinetry. Choose the style, finish, and materials, and Corsi will create cabinetry that goes perfectly in your home. Accessories like indrawer knife storage and drawer dividers are available, too. 6111 Churchman Bypass, 317-786-1434, thecorsigroup.com

Distinctive Kitchen & Bath

If you’re considering a new look for your kitchen, bathroom, closet, or home office, bring your vision to the designers at Distinctive Kitchen & Bath, who can outfit your space with custom cabinetry and vanities.

1480 Olive Branch Park Ln., Greenwood, 317-882-7100, distinctivekb.com

Finish Alternatives

Give your cabinets a brand-new look without replacing them. Update the appearance with different colors and glazed or distressed finishes. Concealed hinges, decorative moldings, and island embellishments such as panels, corbels, beadboard, and molding are additional services offered. 317-440-2899, finishalternatives.com

Indiana Kitchen Company

The experienced pros at Indiana Kitchen Company can help you choose the ideal cabinetry for any application. Select countertops, lighting, hardwood floors, and drawer hardware, all on display in the company’s Noblesville showroom. 925 Conner St., Noblesville, 317-7734000, indianakitchencompany.com

Kitchen Master

This one-stop shop offers quality countertop and cabinetry brands, including KraftMaid, Fieldstone, and Cambria. Staff designers can help you select complementary countertops, flooring, and hardware for your kitchen or bathroom project. 1531 E. Northfield Dr., Brownsburg; 789 U.S. 31, Greenwood; 317-843-1500, gokitchenmaster.com

Kitchens by Design

Calling on years of design expertise, the team of KBD specialists can draw up a kitchen, bathroom, or other space exactly the way you want it. The Nora showroom lets clients sift through hundreds of cabinetry, countertop, hardware, tile, and flooring choices. 1001 E. 86th St., 317-815-8880, mykbdhome.com

Kline Cabinetmakers

In the industry for 46 years, Kline Cabinetmakers focuses on handcrafting quality products made from locally supplied woods. Choose from many different grains and styles to create cabinetry for your kitchen, bathroom, office, or library. 16 S. Main St., Maxwell, 317-326-3049, klinecabinets.com

Lockerbie Square Cabinet Co.

Founded in 1978, Lockerbie Square Cabinet Co. has designed and installed premier cabinets in residential and commercial settings. From mudrooms to kitchens and office spaces, they’ve done it all. 4350 W. 10th St., 317-635-1134, lockerbiesquarecabinets.com

Madison County Cabinets

Bathrooms, kitchens, home bars, entertainment centers: No space is too big or small for customdesigned cabinetry by this familyowned business. Services include special features like under-cabinet lighting and unique storage ideas. 9592 W. 650 S, Pendleton, 765-7784646, madisoncountycabinets.com

Miller Cabinets

This company’s tradition of custom kitchen cabinets dates back to the 1920s, when founder Paul Miller started transforming friends’ and neighbors’ homes. Today, Miller’s grandson and greatgranddaughter continue the legacy of providing quality cabinetry and hardware. 4805 Hardegan St., 317786-0418, millercabs.com

Myers Architectural Millwork

Roy Myers founded his woodwork operation in his garage in 1995. The ever-expanding company that focuses on creating custom cabinetry and millwork was built on dedication to quality and client satisfaction. 4954 Fieldstone Dr., Whitestown, 317-769-5323, myers architecturalmillwork.com

Myers Design Inc.

Myers Design specializes in unique custom cabinetry and furniture creation. Other services include interior design, millwork, restoration and refinishing, and fine-art consultation and installation. 317-955-2450, myersdesigninc.com

N-Hance

Kohler

Signature Store by Crescent Supply

This showroom displays the latest in smart fixtures. Demo cuttingedge, high-tech bells and whistles like touchless and voice-activated faucets. There’s a bathtub that fills to a preset capacity and temperature, a kitchen faucet that can measure a cup of water, and a toilet that can cue up your playlist on built-in speakers. 4335 E. 82nd St., 317-854-5999, kohlerindy.com

Limpus Cabinet Sales

An eastside institution, familyowned Limpus has been in business since 1948. Experienced installers and designers committed to service and satisfaction will guide you through every step of your kitchen or bath renovation. 8606 E. Washington St., 317-8970373, limpuscabinets.com

If your beloved cabinets are looking worn and shabby, it may be time for refacing. N-Hance can bring new life to your kitchen or bathroom woodwork with a deep cleaning and touch-up, brand-new color, or fresh finish. Renewal services are available for flooring, too. 1601 Country Club Rd., 317-2738500; 8215 Zionsville Rd., 317-4071368; nhance.com

Nathan Alan Fine Cabinetry and Design

With a background in design and room layout, Nate Slabaugh hand draws each kitchen and bathroom renovation plan with a keen eye for detail. Installation of Amish-made custom cabinetry is performed by the company itself, and services are offered for libraries and home bars as well. 7501 Westfield Blvd., 317-672-3499, nathan-alan.com

Pioneer Kitchens

Transform your kitchen or bath with the guidance of this southside business that sells cabinetry by KraftMaid. Designers help homeowners choose the right cabinets, countertops, and hardware to create the ideal space. 5755 S. Belmont Ave., 317-784-8006, pioneer-kitchens.com

Tremain Corporation

The experienced team at familyowned Tremain proffers kitchen and bathroom remodeling services, including cabinet replacements, backsplash and under-counter lighting; glass installations; sink replacements; and ceramic, porcelain, or natural-stone flooring installations. 9337 Castlegate Dr., 317-849-8453, tremaincorp.com

Trillium Cabinet & Design

Revamp your kitchen cabinets, island, or bathroom vanity with one of Trillium’s custom or semi-custom creations. It can also provide wooden and butcher-block countertops; appliance garages; one-of-a-kind furniture or millwork pieces; and entertainment centers, libraries, or home bars to meet specific needs. 4357 W. 96th St., 317-471-8870, trilliumcabinet.com

Zionsville Custom Cabinets

Turn the kitchen into your family’s favorite room with the help of owners Ron Wagle and Carl Mihalus, who design, build, and install custom and semi-custom cabinets just as you envisioned. They can also create cabinetry for bathrooms, pantries, wet bars, basements, home offices, and more. 10830 Bennett Pkwy., Zionsville, 317-339-0380, zionsvillecustomcabinets.com

OUTDOOR MATERIALS

Artisan Outdoor Craftsman

Transform your outdoor-living space with a deck, patio, pergola, arbor, or kitchen. The company designs and builds composite, Trex, waterproof, and wood decks, as well as pavilions and other exterior structures that provide shelter and shade. 11071 E. 126th St., Fishers, 317-342-5955, artisanoc.com

Brickworks Supply Center

Fine detailing makes all the difference. The two area locations supply homeowners with brick, cut limestone, sandstone, granite, clay pavers, masonry, and other products for walkways, murals, and other building projects. 430 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-597-8767; 1580 E. Epler Ave., 317-779-1670; brickworkssupply.com

Brickworks Supply Center

Edgewood Landscape

Enhance your outdoor spaces with

built-in grills, fireplaces, decorative pool decking, exterior lighting, stone seating, and more, installed with products from Unilock, Belgard Hardscapes, Pine Hall Brick, Techo-Bloc, Advantage Light Source, and Firegear Outdoors. 5007 W. 96th St., 317-7512334; 5518 Shelby St., 317-779-3090; brickworkssupply.com

Cutting Edge Hardscapes

Make your outdoor area look like it belongs on the cover of a magazine with high-quality bricks, pavers, and stones in different colors and patterns from Cutting Edge Hardscapes. The possibilities for your patio, deck, fire feature, pergola, outdoor kitchen, walkway, or driveway are unlimited. 8444 Castlewood Dr., 317-790-3257, cuttingedgehardscapes.com

The Deck Store

Founded 17 years ago as an alternative to big-box stores and lumber yards, The Deck Store is dedicated to carrying the largest selection of decking products from brands like TimberTech, Trex, Lumberock, Armadillo, and Clubhouse. Hardware, railings, lighting, and stains are also available. The staff assists with site consultations, design advice, material selection, and quantity estimates. 4322 W. 96th St., 317-471-0400, deckstore.com

General Shale

With hundreds of types of brick in many colors, textures, and shapes, you can find the right one for any application. Supplies for your outdoor-living space, thin brick and stone, and Arriscraft brand building materials are on display as well. 105 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-846-2566, generalshale.com

Green Stone Architectural Landscape Supply

This Noblesville supplier provides all manner of natural stone, decorative gravel, mulch, and soil products for your landscaping needs. Whether you are building a retaining wall, paving a patio, edging a garden bed, creating a pathway, or building a set of steps, Green Stone will help you find the surface materials and accessories to complete the job. 4455 Conner St., Noblesville, 317-414-6881, greenstonecompany.com

Stone Center of Indiana

A two-story, 100-yard “great wall” of architectural stone and brick samples displays materials for your home projects. Numerous vignettes showcase merchandise to help you find what you need for your patio, outdoor kitchen, fireplace, or stone wall. 5272 E. 65th St., 317-849-9100; 19653 Six Points Rd., Sheridan, 317-867-1996; stonecenterofindiana.com

PLUMBING & LIGHTING

Economy Plumbing Supply

Family-owned since 1932, Economy Plumbing operates two locations with self-serve aisles filled with plumbing fixtures, countertops, cabinetry, decorative hardware, and other home-improvement supplies. The showrooms contain plenty of inspiration for your next remodel. 625 N. Capitol Ave.; 9755 Hague Rd., Fishers; 317-264-2240; economy plumbingsupply.com

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery

Browse hundreds of plumbing and lighting fixtures in Ferguson’s state-of-the-art showroom, which is open to trade professionals and homeowners alike. Tubs, toilets, sinks, and appliances are on display, as well as outdoor styles. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317705-0794, fergusonshowrooms.com

Heinzman Lights at Night

Since 2001, business owner Mark Heinzman has designed professional outdoor-lighting systems to fit all budgets. He’ll start with an onsite consultation to discuss your needs and wishes and then draw up a plan to highlight the finest aspects of your home and landscape. 317-435-9444, facebook .com/heinzmanlights

Indiana Lighting Center

Quality lighting makes any room come to life. Two area showrooms carry a full complement of fixtures, from chandeliers and floor lamps to wall sconces and outdoor styles. The 50-year-old business also sells home accessories, ceiling fans, and mirrors. 8060 N. Shadeland Ave., 317-915-7000; 645 U.S. 31 N, Greenwood, 317-888-5025; indianalighting.com

Landscape Illumination

Purdue grad Darrin Selking and his team can transform your home’s exterior and landscape. Enhance the entrance, bring more beauty to the garden, add security, or set the atmosphere for your outdoor-living spaces. 8070 Castleton Rd., 317-8519172, landscape-illumination.com

Lee Supply Corp.

Whether you need one new faucet or accessories for an entire home, Lee Supply has a large selection that includes plumbing fixtures, appliances, shower doors, bath products, countertops, cabinets, hardware, mirrors, and exhaust fans. 415 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-844-4434; 3025 Madison Ave., 317-783-4161; 10640 E. 59th St., 317-863-2684; gotolee.com

Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting and Audio

Accent your home and yard with

the services of Lighthouse Outdoor Lighting and Audio. The company specializes in landscape- and exterior-lighting design and installation, specialty garden and patio lighting, wireless outdoor audio systems, and repair and maintenance. 317-2148716, lighthouse-lights.com

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

Brighten your night with custom landscape illumination. Flaunt your garden; add festive string lighting; showcase your porch, deck, gazebo, or patio; or highlight pathways with low-voltage, highimpact installations. 8070 Castleton Rd., 317-649-8800, outdoorlights.com/ indianapolis

Plumbers Supply Co.

Louisville-based Plumbers Supply Co. offers the latest innovations and designs for your kitchen and bathroom. Displays of showerheads, sinks, faucets, and bath accessories showcase brands like Delta, Kohler, Brizo, and Moen. 3849 E. Raymond St., 317-783-2981; 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-842-8787; 2785 N. Morton St., Franklin, 317-738-2777; plumbers-supply-co.com

TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS

AV Designers

Build the home theater or media room of your dreams, play music throughout your home, or dim the lights at the touch of a button with AV Designers. Since 1992, the company has installed systems at local restaurants, sports bars, and corporate venues. 8742 Robbins Rd., 317-876-3753, avdesigners.com

Bravas Indianapolis

The local Bravas network partner has served Central Indiana since 1989. Turn to the pros for design and installation of dedicated home theaters, media rooms, security, home automation, and multi-room audio systems. 612 Station Dr., Carmel, 317-580-1922, bravas.com/ indianapolis

Digital Sight & Sound

Located in the Fishers Hub & Spoke complex, Digital Sight & Sound helps homeowners sort through screens, receivers, speakers, and settings to get the best quality out of their entertainment rooms. DSS also offers alarm and security systems, custom lighting, and home-networking services. 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-8480101, dssindy.com

Edwards Security Services

Get high-quality protection services without corporate prices when you sign up for a monitoring plan with Edwards Security. Its

coverage relies on cellular connections, making it more reliable than internet-based programs and nearly impossible to hack. 317-2717940, edwardssecurityservices.com

Exceptional Home Technologies

Reinvent the theater experience right in your own home. This company can create the perfect setting for your family movie nights with the best seating, optimal audio and video, easy-to-use controls, and sound that doesn’t leave the room.

1630 S. Green St., Brownsburg, 317-520-3268, exceptionalht.com

Indiana Audio Video

Simplify your life by consulting the experts for your residential and commercial technology needs. Indiana Audio Video provides unique solutions for home theaters, networking, lighting control, cable management, security systems, media servers, music, and more.

11316 Abbitt Trail, Zionsville, 317292-8802, indianaaudiovideo.com

Intelligent Living Solutions

This Zionsville-based firm strives to deliver efficient, aesthetically pleasing automation installations to its residential and commercial clients. Product lines include Loxone, Qolsys, Control4, Luma, Seura, and Sonos, among others. 317-942-0502, intelligentlivingindy.com

Millennium Sounds

Take your home entertainment to another level with a golf simulator and state-of-the-art home theater. Use your iPhone to control audio, video, lighting, and security all in one place. Check out lights that double as speakers, automated blinds, and home-networking services. 3949 E. 82nd St., 317-8459484, millenniumsounds.com

Nelson Alarm

Nelson Alarm has installed fire and motion alarms, video surveillance, and other security measures since 1991. It also offers automation services controlled straight from your phone. Knowledgeable salespeople, friendly office staff, and 24-hour service are available to help serve you. 2602 E. 55th St., 317-255-2125, nelsonalarm.com

One-Touch Automation

With so much technology in our lives, it’s good when we can simplify things. One-Touch can help control all of your home systems— security, lighting, audio/video, and temperature—via one device, even if you’re not at home. Showroom consultations are by appointment only. 139 Penn St., Westfield, 317896-1393, one-touchautomation.com

Ovation AV

Founded in 1987, Ovation offers high-performance stereo brands and smart-home technology solutions. The showroom features

dedicated listening rooms to help you choose the best products and systems. Customer satisfaction is the goal with audio/video, homeintegration, theater, and security systems. 12345 Old Meridian St., Carmel, 317-682-8466, ovationav.com

The Premier Group

This showroom is an essential stop for tech-savvy homeowners. Here, you can gather information on home theaters, audio and security systems, and lighting controls. Premier takes clients through all phases of their projects, from consultation to maintenance and support. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-580-1032, premier-group.com

Technology Interiors

Create your dream theater with Technology Interiors, which builds customized designs to fit your needs. It gives the same attention to home audio, security, lighting, network, and automation services.

8977 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-2841084, technologyinteriors.com

TRIPhase Technologies

The TRIPhase showroom in Zionsville contains 28,000 square feet of state-of-the-art amenities and technologies, including a lighting lab and listening lounge. The expert staff can help you with all your audio, video, network, security, and automation needs.

10960 Bennett Pkwy., Zionsville, 317-845-0236, triphase-tech.com

WINDOWS & DOORS

Apex Energy Solutions

Keep your home at a comfortable temperature—and money in your wallet—with Apex’s Insignia windows, which come in a variety of colors and styles to suit any home.

11644 N. Michigan Rd., Zionsville, 317-733-2828, apexenergygroup.com

Bee Window

Beyond its selection of window styles for all rooms, Bee also offers homeimprovement products and services like siding, entry doors, porch and tub-to-shower conversions, attic insulation, and gutter protection. 115 Shadowlawn Dr., Fishers, 317-751-9623, beewindow.com

Blair Windows & Doors

With 68 years of service, Blair sells windows, doors, skylights, and specialty items to fit any project— from a room remodel to a complete home renovation. 440 S. Ritter Ave., 317-356-4666, blairwindow.com

Builders FirstSource

Previously known as ProBuild, this building supplier specializes in interior and exterior trims, baseboards, paneling, windows, doors,

and wood and composite decking. 1717 W. Washington St., 317-6395431, bldr.com

Champion Windows and Home Exteriors

Replace your windows and doors, improve curb appeal with updated surfaces, plan a sunroom addition, and revamp your exterior with new siding installed by Champion. 1435 Brookville Way, 317-735-3613, championwindow.com/indianapolis

Clevernest

Energy efficiency is top of mind at custom-home builder Tom McHaffie’s Carmel showroom, which highlights the full lines of Andersen windows, Therma-Tru entry doors, and James Hardie siding. 240 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-688-8100, clevernest.com

Cox Interior

Fine craftsmanship is what stands out in Cox Interior’s variety of products: interior and exterior hardwood doors, crown moldings, mantels, and stair parts and systems. It can also administer custom millwork and trim packages. 9333 Castlegate Dr., 317-896-2227, coxinterior.com/indianapolis

D&D Mouldings & Millwork

Set your home apart from your neighbors’ digs with a brand-new front door, decorative moldings, columns, door hardware, and stair parts. Brands include Koetter Woodworking, Masonite, JeldWen, Simpson Door, White River, Emtek, Schlage, and Kwikset. 15509 Stony Creek Way, Noblesville, 317-770-5500, ddmouldings.com

Dealers Wholesale

The inventory at Dealers Wholesale includes doors by Perma-Door and Plastpro and hardware by Schlage. Its showroom features mantels in a variety of materials and nearly 30 working indoor and outdoor fireplaces. 7845 E. 89th St., 317-849-4336, dealerswholesale.com

Exterior Building Products

Updating the outside of your home? Exterior Building Products delivers windows, doors, vinyl and fiber-cement siding, roofing, porch rails and columns, and composite pavers and decking materials. 7695 E. 21st St., 317-894-5300, extbp.com

Garage Doors of Indianapolis

For more than 40 years, Garage Doors of Indianapolis has handled maintenance, insulation, replacement, and repairs, along with residential and commercial installation. Look here for garage doors and seamless gutters, too. 5041 W. 96th St., 317-284-9893, doorstoday.com

The Glass Guru

Make your windows look new with services like moisture and scratch removal and wood-rot repair.

Want to change the look altogether?

Shop windows, shower enclosures, mirrored walls, glass tabletops, and decorative-glass inserts. 545 Christy Dr., Greenwood, 317-350-4512, theglassguru.com/indysouth; 10089 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-3504332, theglassguru.com/indynorth

Glass House Gallery

This showroom in the Indiana Design Center combines Scott and Cori Brown’s ventures, Franklin Window & Door and Lorenzo Finestre, into one space. Specializing in windows, doors, and hardware, Glass House carries products from Marvin Windows, Oikos, and MHB Steel, among others. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-9933660, franklinwindowanddoor.com

Mr. Window

Owner Joe Guzzi brings his engineering and project management experience to the table at Mr. Window, where doors and windows from Pella, Masonite, Okna, and Verde are available. 902 E. 106th St., 317-848-7282, mrwindowco.com

Pella Windows & Doors

Pella features a wide array of wood, fiberglass, and vinyl windows and patio doors, as well as wood, fiberglass, and steel entry doors. Its showroom displays a range of styles and sizes, and nocost consultations allow buyers to see choices right in their homes. 4705 E. 96th St., 317-286-6312, pellabranch.com/indianapolis

Renewal by Andersen

Dedicated to installing attractive, energy-efficient products, Renewal has a broad range of styles, including awning, bay, bow, casement, picture, and specialty windows, plus hinged and sliding patio doors. 801 Congressional Blvd., Carmel, 317-708-7608, rbamidwest.com

Unique Home Solutions

For the past 40 years, Unique has helped customers with energyefficient windows and doors, vinyl siding, roofing, renovations, basement waterproofing, and gutters. 5550 Progress Rd., 317-337-9300, uniquehomesolutions.org

Window Universe

On Window Universe’s website, you can use its virtual custom design studio to preview various colors and styles before making selections. Complementary entry, hinged, and sliding-patio doors are also available. 5112 W. 79th St., 317520-9820, windowuniverseindy.com

Window World of Indianapolis

Find all you need to replace windows, with styles like double-hung, bay, bow, casement, slider, and garden, as well as patio, entry, and garage doors, and vinyl siding. 1229 Country Club Rd., 317-209-0008, windowworldindianapolis.com

ACCENTS & DECOR

IN THE MARKET FOR NEW FURNITURE, ART, DRAPERIES, OR ENTERTAINING SUPPLIES? FILL YOUR HOME WITH INSPIRED PIECES FROM THESE EXQUISITE ENVIRONMENTS.

ANTIQUES & RESALE

African Plum Home & More

There’s a little of everything at the eclectic African Plum, including blankets, new and restyled furniture, and decor like clocks, signs, and lamps. Can’t find what you’re looking for? The owners keep a clientele book and will hunt for something more in line with your tastes. 120 W. Main St., Plainfield, 317-627-7761, africanplumhome.com

Architectural Antiques of Indianapolis

Most pieces date from the 1860s to 1950s, and styles include Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Mission. You’ll enjoy browsing the many salvaged pieces, including light fixtures, backbars and cabinets, fireplace mantels, doors and doorknobs, and colorful stained-glass windows. 5000 W. 96th St., 317-873-2727, antiquearchitectural.com

Beauchamp Antiques

This showroom features one of the nation’s largest selections of 18thto 19th-century European antique furniture, accessories, and lighting fixtures. For the outdoors, peruse urns, statuary, fountains, and furniture just waiting to be placed in your backyard. 16405 Westfield Blvd., Westfield, 317-896-3717, beauchampantiques.com

Consigned by Design

This shop offers gently loved, preowned fine furniture and accessories at affordable prices. Expect to find a constantly rotating selection of brand names and quality, of-themoment items for every room of the home. Main store: 7035 E. 96th St.; Annex: 9323 Castlegate Dr.; 317436-7167, consignedbydesign.com

The Corner Bazaar

Located in the Solomon-Paris Antiques building, The Corner Bazaar brings a treasure trove of gorgeous glassware, quirky collectibles, funky home furnishings, and framed art to SoBro. Owner Sheryl Selvey prides herself on her midcentury-modern sensibilities, but the inventory also includes vintage vinyl, rock posters, and OG audio equipment. 1105 E. 52nd St., 317-377-4639, thecornerbazaar.com

FiveThirty Home

Erica and Jim Carpenter fix up and repurpose furniture and other goods to give them a new lease on life. You’ll find nautical accents; decorative maps; refurbished chests, trunks, and dressers; and throw pillows in various shapes and sizes. 205 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-567-7781, fivethirtyhome.com

Flux—Mid-Century Modern + More

In its new location on the west side, Flux opens the first and third Saturdays of each month with offerings of midcentury modern furniture and accessories from the likes of Herman Miller, Dunbar, Broyhill, and Monarch. 515 N. Luett Ave., 317-490-9437, fluxindy.com

French Pharmacie Flea

Hairstylist Danny Cheshire curates a lifestyle shop in the space next to his French Pharmacie Salon with offerings of midcentury-modern furniture and vintage accessories. Great finds include faux taxidermy, majolica tableware, and cute watering cans. 823½ E. Westfield Blvd., 317-251-9182, facebook.com/frenchpharmacieflea

Hoosier Sister Life & Style

Sisters Heidi Heldt and Gretchen Harter built a following with pop-up shops to sell their supply of both vintage goods and new home accessories. Inside their Clay Terrace space, the design-savvy duo keeps customers coming back for furniture, handmade products, European antiques, unique plants, and bags. Clay Terrace, Carmel, 765-891-1580, hoosiersister.com

Logan Village Mall

An old-time general store full of retro candies should be your first stop here. As you venture farther back, you’ll find around 40 vendors proffering new, refurbished, and vintage goods, like furniture, kids’ items, pottery, paintings, and party supplies. 977 Logan St., Noblesville, 317-776-9999, instagram.com/ loganvillagemall

Midland Arts & Antiques

This east-of-downtown mainstay has more than 150 vendors from around the Midwest, ensuring a wide variety of furniture, glassware, metal signs, and lamps. The two-story antiques emporium is

well loved by interior designers and homeowners alike. 907 E. Michigan St., 317-267-9005, instagram.com/midlandarts

The Mix Marketplace

Strolling through The Mix Marketplace is akin to visiting a museum. But here, if you find a vintage movie projector or midcentury chair you love, it can go home with you. More than 35 creative vendors showcase unique, one-of-a-kind finds destined to become your favorite conversation pieces. 940 E. Logan St., Noblesville, 317219-6739, themixmarketplace.com

Noblesville Antiques on the Square

Formerly known as Noblesville Antique Mall, this downtown spot was purchased, freshened up, and renamed in 2020. Three floors of antiques and collectibles include dolls, furniture, ceramic items, metal signs, and assorted vintage memorabilia. 20 N. Ninth St., Noblesville, 317-678-8150, instagram .com/noblesville.antiques.square

Red Ranch Shoppes

When you walk into Red Ranch Shoppes, you’re not sure where to look first. This boutique-flea market hybrid has nooks and rooms galore to explore, all filled with well-priced rare and fun finds waiting to be discovered. 214 S. Main St., Fortville, 317-214-6657

Rewired Antiques

Searching for just the right chandelier, pendant, or lamp to convey the age and style of your home?

Rewired Antiques in the Circle City Industrial Complex focuses on meticulously restoring vintage light fixtures and curating a wide variety of unique antiques for discerning homeowners, collectors, and designers. 1125 E. Brookside Ave., 317-512-9362, rewiredantiques.com

Roots to Wings Barn Market

Browse an extensive collection of shabby-chic antiques and salvaged items, like old windows, picture frames, and refurbished chairs. Custom kitchen islands with builtin wine storage, heirloom-quality hutches, farmhouse-style kitchen tables, and sideboards are available. 3744 N. Raceway Rd., 317-3841949, rootstowingsbarnmarket.com

Salvage & Co.

Shopping is online only for this pair of discount furniture outlets, with deep cuts on everything from couches and tables to wall decor and area rugs. In addition to standard items, you can also score incredible deals on designer pieces. 6565 Coffman Rd., salvagecoindy .com; 8700 Roberts Dr., Fishers, salvagecofishers.com

Sheafer + King Modern

Partners Andrea Sheafer and Andrew King both have an eye for exceptional vintage art and furniture from the 1950s through 1990s. Their space showcases rotating works of abstract art, as well as furniture items like Herman Miller and Knoll chairs. Vases, sculptures, and lighting rest on swoon-worthy credenzas and side tables throughout. 1103 E. 52nd St., 317-983-3575, sheaferking.com

Solomon-Paris Antiques and Interiors

Whether you’re buying or seeking an appraisal, you can trust the pros at Solomon-Paris. Ben Solomon is a past curator of decorative arts for the Indianapolis Museum of Art and is well versed in European and art history. The store’s 5,000 square feet are dominated by 18thand 19th-century furniture, art, and decorative accents. 1103 E. 52nd St., 317-475-0203, solomonparis.com

Southport Antique Mall

Let the friendly staff help you find what you’re looking for, or independently browse the 200-plus booths at this 36,000-square-foot southside destination. Check out furniture, jewelry, lamps, pottery, collectibles, and clothing. The mall even has a wish-list feature on its website for collectors in search of specific items. 2028 E. Southport Rd., 317786-8246, southportantiquemall.net

Surroundings

This bright, light-filled boutique can help you outfit your home with stylish, tasteful furniture and accents. Vignettes display artwork, lighting, vases and sculpture, books, mirrors, plants and florals, and dishware arranged in perfect harmony. Textiles like throw pillows, blankets, and kitchen towels are also available. 1101 E. 54th St., 317-254-8883, instagram.com/ surroundingsindianapolis

Thistle & Thyme Home Store

Just south of Noblesville’s courthouse square, Thistle & Thyme fills its space with antique and vintage wares, handmade goods, wall art, architectural pieces, garden decor, gifts, candles, and more. The shop carries a large selection of ornaments, wreaths, signs, and holiday novelties. 29 S. Ninth St., Noblesville, 317-219-7119, thistle andthymehomestore.com

Tim & Company’s Another Fine Mess

On the city’s east side, salvage veteran Tim Harmon sells bones and joints, such as doors, windows, decorative trim, doorknobs, and hardware sourced from soon-to-bedemolished homes and businesses around Indiana. 2901 E. 10th St., 317-627-0498,instagram.com/ timandcompanys

Vintage 54 Collective

Browse booths filled with a mix of goods from artists, crafters, and antiques dealers at this Broad Ripple shop. Find everything from home decor and furnishings to art and clothing. Check out vintage typewriters, cameras, and all manner of glass pitchers and beverage sets to add some whimsy when you entertain. 5335 Winthrop Ave., 317-737-2146, vintage54collective.net

AREA RUGS

Capel Rugs

North Carolina–based Capel has thousands of rug colors, patterns, sizes, and shapes for both indoor and outdoor use, all made in its American factories. Sift through traditional, contemporary, transitional, Oriental, and Persian styles, among others. 8603 Allisonville Rd., 317-813-7847, capelrugs.com

Fine Estate Art & Rugs

Established in 2002, Fine Estate Rugs carries hundreds of floor coverings, ranging from large, palace-size rugs to smaller scatter and runner styles. Antique and semi-antique varieties available include Mashad, Esfahan, Tabiz, Heriz, Bidjar, and Maymeh. 2158 N. Talbott St., 317-253-5910, fine estateart.com

Joseph’s Oriental

Rug Imports

Variety and quality are at the forefront of Joseph’s, in business since 1949. This respected rug authority offers thousands of antique, semiantique, and modern options in its spacious showroom. Conservation and restoration, cleaning, padding, and appraisals are also provided. Joseph’s can also make a custom rug to fit your specifications. 4230 E. Fall Creek Pkwy. N. Dr., 317-2554230, josephsimports.com

ARTWORK & ACCESSORIES

317Home

This studio combines home decor with hands-on art instruction.

Customers can pick up Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, as well as cute coffee mugs, painted trays, wall signs, seasonal decorations, and selfie frames. If you’re more ambitious, sign up for a workshop covering art techniques like decoupage or molding. Carmel City Center, 317-519-3795, 317home.square.site

Art in Hand Gallery

This gallery is also a co-op, run by the 20-plus local crafters whose goods are featured. All artists must work at least one day a month, so there’s a chance you might purchase a piece directly from its creator. Stop in to check out pottery, art glass, paintings, and prints. 211 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-733-8426, artinhandgallery.com

Art on Main Gallery & Gifts

This Carmel collective offers a feast for the eyes with its abstract, oil, watercolor, and acrylic paintings; fine-art photographs; contemporary mosaics; fused glass; and pottery made by local artisans. Jewelry and fiber creations are also available. 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-564-4115, artonmain galleryandgifts.com

Beth Clary Fine Art Gallery

In her Irvington studio, Beth Clary Schwier displays original acrylic and oil paintings depicting sailboats, floral bouquets, landmarks, beach scenes, and cows. She also sells limited-edition giclee prints in her storefront. Several of the artist’s works have been spotted in homes featured on HGTV’s Good Bones 5636 E. Washington St., 317439-7143, bethclaryschwierfineart. com

CCA Gallery

Established in 1978, the Center for Creative Arts—Indiana’s original artist cooperative—displays works from over 30 professional makers. The selection includes paintings, woodturning, pottery, glass art, textiles, printmaking, pen and ink, and more. 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-844-2388, ccaartgallery.com

Custom Picture Framing of Brownsburg

Family-owned since 2004, this full-service custom frame shop in the heart of Brownsburg produces one-of-a-kind conservation frames that showcase and protect your artwork, photographs, and certificates. The shop also offers personalized laser engraving, plaques, and awards. 640 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-852-8044, facebook.com/brownsburgcpf

CV Art and Frame

This is a one-stop shop to transform artwork and photography. There are both custom and readymade frames. The pros here can also convert photos into paintings; digitally replicate or restore original artwork; print one of your images onto canvas, paper, or acrylic; or find the best piece of art for your home. 110 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-873-2976, cvartandframe.com

Easter Conservation Services

Certified with the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Easter Conservation works with architects and interior designers on both residential and commercial spaces and corporate collections. They offer a complete, holistic approach to art, from selection to installation and preservation. 1134 E. 54th St., 317396-0885, easterconservation.com

The Frame Shop and Franklin Barry Gallery

Serving Indianapolis for more than 50 years, The Frame Shop uses acid-free and ultraviolet-filtering products in its preservation framing process. The shop also offers museum wrap, canvas stretching, floating frames, and shadow boxes. The accompanying gallery showcases a variety of art, from alabaster sculptures to handblown glass. 617 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-8455, theframeshopindy.com

Gallery 6202

Located in a Broad Ripple bungalow, Gallery 6202 features a variety of “fine art and fun stuff” by local, national, and international artists. The mix of mediums includes art glass, metal sculptures, oils, watercolors, prints, and more. The shop displays one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces by Heidi Mandich, Libelle Jewelry Studio, and Kelli Design. 6202 N. College Ave., 317-602-2185, gallery6202.com

Gravesco Pottery

Gravesco Pottery expanded to a bigger space near downtown last year, allowing Rebecca Graves more room to showcase her signature grooved mugs, tumblers, tableware, and home accessories alongside blankets, gourmet food items, and personal-care products with the same contemporary, earthy spirit. 1501 E. Michigan St., 567-694-4750, gravescopottery.com

Home Details of Savvy Decor

Just about every size and style of decorative knobs and pulls is represented here. The super-luxe Edgar Berebi line, sparkling with Swarovski crystals, adds a touch of glam. Additional hardware brands include Emtek, Richelieu, Cache, Atlas, Schaub, and Di Lusso. 41 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-8483377, savvydecor.com/home-details

James R. Ross Fine Art

Filled with curated works from artists across Indiana, James R. Ross Fine Art is an elegant gallery of impressive oil paintings, sculptures, and more. From vivid still lifes to thought-provoking portraits, the pieces are poised to become hallmarks in the homes of local tastemakers. 5627 N. Illinois St., 317-255-4561, jamesrrossfineart.com

Lantz Collective

The retail shop fronting the studio of interior-design powerhouses

Barry and Amanda Lantz looks modern and glamorous, but the artwork is what really stands out. It’s displayed everywhere—on the walls, leaning against tables, propped up in open drawers. Carmel City Center, 317-569-5972, lantzcollective.com

Petrov Frame Atelier

Anatoly Petrov is the pro you call for high-end custom framing and repairs. He uses old-world techniques to create frames with intricate closed corners that conceal joints. Petrov offers museumquality handcrafted frames, along with gilding, restoration, replication, and conservation services. 5172 N. College Ave., 317-293-2122, petrovframe.com

Walter Knabe Studio

Walter Knabe’s fine art goes functional in the form of handmade wallpaper, patterned pillows, screen-printed napkins, coasters, tea towels, canvas cosmetic bags, scarves, phone cases, and cuff bracelets. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-9866900, walterknabe.com

BEDDING

Holder Mattress

Home Collection

Each bedding set is made by hand at the Holder factory in Kokomo, so homeowners can custom-order mattresses in a range of styles to ensure a fit for every need. The showroom features bed frames and furniture by Outré Upholstery, Bernhardt Interiors, and Universal Furniture. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-8482939, holdermattress.com

Parkside Linen

Dress your bed luxuriously with dreamy sheets and blankets by Matouk, Ann Gish, Annie Selke, Peacock Alley, Pine Cone Hill, and Quadrille from this northside spot. Your dining table can receive the same treatment with exquisite linens, napkin rings, and serving accessories. Personalize your powder room with monogrammed carved hand soaps and single-use guest towels. 1762 E. 86th St., 317-844-6320, parksidelinen.com

Journalism Hall of Fame member Dale Wright Burgess that were compiled in an award-winning book, Just Us Hoosiers and How We Got That Way, in 1966. To say the book is politically incorrect would be a massive understatement. “We’re glad our takes wound up coming across quite freely, but that was actually the episode we prepared the most for,” Murphy recalls. “It was certainly impossible to explore it without tackling some of the more inflammatory sections, which were uncomfortable for us to even read out loud. We tried to be very aware of not elevating the book or creating ‘reaction theatre’ around it.”

The pair has a 20-page Google list with ideas for future episodes, which are being recorded and aired monthly. One idea that’s likely to make the cut is the story of the temperance movement that swept through Westfield in the days before prohibition and led a mob of more than 40 women to destroy the town’s saloon. Twice.

Murphy says Conner Prairie’s leadership has complete trust in them, giving them carte blanche over podcast content—even when they’re stripping away some of the heroic sheen of the museum’s own namesake, William Conner.

For decades, an elementary school field trip to Conner Prairie was a rite of passage for thousands upon thousands of Central Indiana children. If you grew up here, you almost certainly have fond memories of a sunny day off from school, visiting the volunteers in period dress reenacting life in a 19th-century prairie town. When Conner was referred to by those volunteers, it seemed to be in an almost reverential tone. In one podcast, Murphy mentioned that she was surprised so many people, from staff and volunteers to adult visitors, have such an emotional attachment to

Conner, forged by those annual school trips. “Back in the day, you didn’t take William Conner’s name in vain here,” Phillips says. “He was painted as this noble symbol, but in many ways, he really represents the myth of the frontier … a lot of the credit given to him was likely misallocated.”

When the property on which Conner Prairie sits first became a livinghistory museum in 1934, historical accuracy wasn’t at the forefront of the founders’ minds. The museum’s original depictions of Conner were taken from the sources at their fingertips, including a book written by a family member. Because Conner didn’t leave much behind in the way of formal records, Phillips says, the original museum historians likely inferred many of his more mythical attributes, exaggerating his war exploits and business accomplishments.

But as researchers dug into Conner’s past, some uncomfortable truths came to light. The museum had always heralded Conner’s close relationship with the Lenape Tribe. So close, in fact, that he was married to a Lenape woman named Mekinges, who was the daughter of Chief Anderson, after whom the nearby town is named. But what wasn’t known until recently was that the 26-year-old Conner may have married Mekinges when she was 12. Eighteen years later, he would help negotiate a treaty that forced the Lenape out of Indiana—including Mekinges and their six children. Three months after their departure for Missouri, William Conner, now age 43, would marry Elizabeth Chapman, 18, and father an additional 10 children.

“People want to feel good about their history,” Phillips says. “We get that it can be hard to disconnect analysis from emotion, especially when it’s a story you think you know. But no

matter how old we are, we can still learn new things. We need to be open to fresh perspectives.”

While researching the museum’s upcoming Promised Land as Proving Ground exhibit, Phillips discovered how Conner’s life also intertwined with Pete Smith, a free Black man popular in the local community at the time. One of Conner’s Kentucky business associates filed a false claim in out-of-state court that Smith was his escaped slave, and when the Kentuckian returned to Indiana, he captured Smith. The Noblesville townspeople wanted to free Smith and lynch his captor, but Conner talked them out of it. That fall, with Smith conveniently out of the way, Conner would go on to harvest Smith’s corn crop, keeping the proceeds for himself. (These newly uncovered facts are discussed at length in episodes four, five, and six of the first season.)

“Mythologizing historical figures isn’t beneficial for anyone,” Murphy says, tapping her fingers. “We’re not attempting to entirely dismiss William Conner or anyone else from our past; all human beings make mistakes and are problematic in their own ways. We only want to present a more fully formed person to our audience.”

Perhaps surprisingly, given the culture wars that have gripped much of Indiana and the entire country and the pushback against teaching alternative historical perspectives, very little negative reaction has resulted from these podcast reevaluations. Volunteers and staff members have expressed more concern than the public, Phillips says, but not because of devotion to William Conner. They simply hate the idea that they may have been giving their visitors wrong information for all these years. “The public wants simple, objective answers,” says Jody Blankenship, Indiana Historical Society president and CEO, “but when we’re looking at history, that’s almost never the case. People are complicated, so history is complicated.”

The “This is Problematic!” podcast can be streamed now on ConnerPrairie .org/this-is-problematic, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

“THE PUBLIC WANTS SIMPLE, OBJECTIVE ANSWERS, BUT WHEN WE’RE LOOKING AT HISTORY, THAT’S ALMOST NEVER THE CASE. PEOPLE ARE COMPLICATED, SO HISTORY IS COMPLICATED.”

BILLIARDS & GAMES

Family Leisure

Find a huge selection of pool and game tables here, alongside spas, saunas, swimming pools, high-end patio furniture, and even stand-up paddleboards and inflatable kayaks. The expansive selection also includes bars, outdoor fireplaces and kitchens, play gyms, and arcade games. 11811 Pendleton Pike, 317-823-4448, familyleisure.com

Orner Billiards

This westside store makes it easy to add more fun to your rec room. Browse the game and pub tables, poker accessories, jukeboxes, theater seating, ping-pong tables, and much more. Manufacturers include Olhausen, Legacy Billiards, Brunswick, and California House. 6333 Rockville Rd., 317-243-0046, ornerbilliards.com

DECOR & GIFTS

The Accent Shop

Decorative and functional home decor, dinnerware, and kitchen goods fill this perennial favorite, where seasonal decor is big. Make occasions special with The Accent Shop’s vast selection of shiny silver Nambé and pearly Julia Knight serving pieces. 1480 E. 86th St., 317-844-4150, theaccentshopinc.com

Addendum Gallery

This longtime Carmel boutique— with a second location in The Fashion Mall—focuses on lifestyle and entertaining goods, such as Richard Ginori Italian plates, Estelle Colored Glass barware, Anke Drechsel silk velvet pillows, Julie Vos jewelry, and Lafco candles. Carmel City Center, 317-253-3400; The Fashion Mall, 317-797-5557; addendumgallery.com

Artifacts

Searching for a unique gift? You’ll likely find it at Artifacts, a shop focused on American artists and their works. Picture frames, pottery, wooden serving spoons, glass vases and drinkware, and baby gifts are just a few other items you’ll see. 6327 Guilford Ave., 317-255-1178, artifactsindy.com

BE The Boutique

This boutique is the perfect place to purchase gifts for girlfriends, kids’ teachers, neighbors, and your babysitters. The bevy of options includes scented candles, wine and beverage accoutrements, home decor, serving pieces and linens, flower vases, baby items, and stationery. 5607 N. Illinois St., 317-257-3826, betheboutique.com

Black Sheep Gifts

A staple in Irvington, Black Sheep Gifts carries greeting cards, books, games, decorations, food and drink accessories, and novelty items. Halloween is the best-loved holiday in the shop’s eastside neighborhood, and Black Sheep is always prepared with tricks and treats to meet shoppers’ seasonal gift needs. 5626 E. Washington St., 317-6025442, blacksheepgiftshop.com

The Bungalow

This gift-and-home store is stocked with amusing finds for giving or receiving. Check out the Blue Q oven mitts, bird-themed chip clips, Luxe shower steamers and bath soaks, 1,000-piece puzzles, and tees and hoodies for canine companions. 924 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-253-5028, thebungalowinc.com

Charles Mayer & Co.

Packed displays showcase highend crystal, silver, and china from the likes of Juliska, William Yeoward, Simon Pearce, and Christofle. This longtime favorite also offers tote bags, bath products, baby blankets, and gorgeous dinnerware sets for bridal registries. 5629 N. Illinois St., 317-257-2900, shop.charlesmayer.com

Decorate

Fun, quirky, and bright, Decorate brings a dash of playful decor to downtown. Look for brands like Kate Spade, Chilewich, and Scout, along with works by local artists. From floor to ceiling, they have you covered with accessories like pillows, lamps, and doormats, as well as kitchen supplies and dishware. 708 Massachusetts Ave., 317-737-2109, decorateindy.com

Flower Boys

Jake Rupp and Jake Smith brought a whiff of European romance to Fletcher Place when they opened a storefront in March. While their workshops and stem wall have many devotees, the ready-made bouquets have found a cult following among posy-lovers. 702 Lexington Ave., 317-734-9356, flowerboysindy.com

George Thomas Florist

The family-run shop is lush with popular flora, including succulents and exotics like orchids. Alongside the greenery are gifts for gardeners. During “happy hour,” 4:30–5:30 on weekdays and all day Saturday, loose flowers are half off. 5609 E. Washington St., 317-3539161, georgethomasflorist.com

Global Gifts

These fair-trade stores specialize in goods that can’t be found anywhere else. Shoppers love browsing ceramic and wooden items, books, and wall art, crafted by artisans all over the world. We love the recycled sari hampers, Peruvian travel chess sets, and alpaca-blend

gloves. 446 Massachusetts Ave., 317-423-3148; 8519 Westfield Blvd., 317-569-0670; 4233 Lafayette Rd., 317-331-3909; globalgiftsft.com

Hampton Designs Studio and Shop

Fun, funky, colorful accessories fill this Irvington studio, which carries decor items, furniture, lighting, and art. The collection includes whimsical pieces for walls and tabletops, graphic pillows, statuary, and a large selection of geodes, crystals, and gems. Owner Adam Hampton offers home staging and interior redesign services. 5515 E. Washington St., 317-3722372, adamhamptondesigns.com

Homespun: Modern Handmade

Homespun continues to be one of the city’s best sources for creative handcrafted goods. You’ll find greeting cards, sweet treats, wall prints, baby bibs, aromatic candles, bath supplies, pottery, books, and craft kits. 869 Massachusetts Ave., 317-351-0280, homespunindy.com

Indiana Artisan

Gifts & Gallery

Perfectly situated in the Carmel Arts & Design District, Indiana

Artisan showcases the creations of more than 200 artists from all over the state. Browse paintings, woodworking, textiles, pottery, photography, and glass pieces. You can also stock your kitchen with local wine, honey, cheese, confections, and kombucha. 22 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-9649455, indianaartisan.org

Jennifer’s Flower Boutique

While doling out her big, fat bouquets, Jennifer Moss expanded the offerings to include giftables. Pop in and say hi to Moss, who grew up in Fortville, and to see her colorful glassware, totes, windchimes, birdhouses, and plushies. 2 S. Main St., Fortville, 317-485-5512, jennifers flowerboutique.com

Linden Tree

Linden Tree operates two locations filled with a variety of gift items, home accessories, pottery, body products, cards, and books. Product lines include Liore Manne, Company C, Surya, Aromatique, Root, Nora Fleming, and Maple Leaf. 210 N. 10th St., Noblesville, 317-773-3238; Carmel City Center, 317-775-3566; lindentreegifts.com

MacKenzie-Childs

With its signature black-andwhite checkered pattern encasing everything from tea kettles to wind chimes, MacKenzie-Childs is the perfect line of tableware and home accessories for Indy 500 enthusiasts. This sister shop to Addendum Gallery houses displays that mimic the brand’s Soho boutique in New York. Carmel City Center, 317-253-3400, mackenzie-childs.com

McNamara Florist

Known for its lush, gorgeous floral arrangements for any occasion or time of year, McNamara also sells houseplants, holiday ornaments and decorations, seasonal wreaths, home accessories, and sweet gifts like stepping stones engraved with kind words, throw blankets, and themed night lights. Eight Central Indiana locations, 317-579-7900, mcnamaraflorist.com

The Museum & Garden Shop at Newfields

Inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art, this retail gem is stocked with lovely pieces you’d be hardpressed to find elsewhere. Browse handmade pottery and glass vases, artsy wall calendars, and tabletop selections from Michael Graves and Alessi. The Miller House line includes Alexander Girard designs on dishes, mugs, notecards, and more. 4000 Michigan Rd., 317-9552320, discovernewfields.org

Out of the Blue Polish Pottery

& Gifts

This Illinois-based retailer sells handcrafted pottery made in Poland. Pieces are intricately painted in floral patterns featuring shades of blue, and highlighted with yellow, coral, red, and green. In addition to plates and trays, the line includes bakeware, tea sets, water pitchers, salt-and-pepper shakers, vases, and bottle stoppers. Carmel City Center, 317-853-6349, outofthebluepottery.com

Penn & Beech Candle Co.

Indy’s first pour-your-own candle shop has two locations—the original storefront along Mass Ave and a midtown Carmel site just steps away from the Monon. Shoppers can prepare their own custom fragrances, which take about 90 minutes to cure, or opt for a prebottled scent. 747 N. College Ave., 317-721-6885; 145 Elm St., Carmel, 317-689-0789; pennandbeech.com

Rusted Window

Rusted Window offers a mix of vintage, industrial, and traditional decor with a rustic-chic vibe. Think plants in distressed pots, printed signs, textured pillows, and statement light fixtures. In addition to home accoutrements, there’s a selection of fresh flowers, candles, and bath and body goods. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-205-1716, rustedwindow.com

Silver in the City

Two locations, on Mass Ave and in Carmel, are packed with the types of amusing gifts you’d love to give and receive. How about a cute container for your air plant? Or a profane oven mitt or dish towel?

We love browsing the displays of books, greeting cards, and decor. 434 Massachusetts Ave., 317-9559925; 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 317993-3669; silverinthecity.com

Stomping Ground

Near-eastside resident Martha Latta is known in the maker community by her brand, Sunday Afternoon Housewife. She is also a master gardener and butterfly expert. It’s no surprise that her shop, Stomping Ground, specializes in nature-themed gifts such as seed packets and gardening gloves. You can pick up fresh flowers, too. 1625 Nowland Ave., 317-220-8344, stompinggroundindy.com

Tuggle’s Gifts & Goods

Ross Tuggle has crafted custom art pieces out of salvaged wood through his first business, Tuggle’s Timbers. With his wife, Brooke, he branched into the retail arena with a storefront in Fountain Square. The Tuggles offer items like Indiana Soap Co. bars, ArtMix ornaments, and Primrose INDY candles. 1029 Virginia Ave., 317602-2820, tugglesgiftsandgoods.com

Unplug Soy Candles

Unplug combines retail sales and candle-making workshops. The store is stocked with fragrant, environmentally friendly products in scents like Teakwood & Tobacco, Hazelnut Coffee, Prosecco Fizz, and Sugared Citrus. Other luxuries include drinkware and mixers, chocolates, bath salts, soaps, lotions, and sugar scrubs. 12550 Promise Creek Ln., Fishers, 317-5059000, unplugsoycandles.com

Wildwood Home Company

This decor shop disguised as a breezy abode features an open floor plan with a sun-soaked living room and a kitchen full of vignettes displaying dreamy reactive-glazed stoneware, pinewood charcuterie boards crafted in Europe, and marble accessories. 180 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-7595578, wildwoodhomecompany.com

Willow and Star Flowers

It’s coming up more than just roses at this floral design boutique in Nora. Shoppers are invited to build their own in-season bouquets with carnations, lilies, leafy eucalyptus, and other locally sourced blooms. Willow and Star also stocks home decor, beauty, and self-care products and hosts floral-inspired workshops. 1760 E. 86th St., 317-669-0767, willowand starflowers.com

DESIGN CENTERS

Hub & Spoke

This mixed-use development in Fishers combines a design center, coworking space, and state-ofthe-art makerspace and training facility. Tenants like ACo, Digital Sight & Sound, Home & Willow

Design and Decor, Plumbers Supply Co., and Oasis Outdoor Living & Landscapes cover a variety of interior and exterior residential services. 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-716-1437, hubandspoke.works

Indiana Design Center

Find the best materials and home accoutrements in showrooms featuring top-of-the-line flooring, kitchen displays, lighting and bath fixtures, home-theater ideas, furniture, and mattresses. The center’s handy Designer on Call service connects homeowners to experienced decor professionals. 200 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317569-5975, indianadesigncenter.com

Indy Home Design Center

This 10,000-square-foot showroom is filled with everything you need for your home—cabinetry, plumbing, light fixtures, flooring, windows and doors, tile and stone, and furniture. With 30-plus years of experience, the designers on staff can help you make the right selections for your space. 8450 Westfield Blvd., 317-472-9800, indyhomedesigncenter.com

DRAPERIES & FABRIC

Adkins Draperies & Blinds

Established in 1974, Adkins Draperies & Blinds provides custom window treatments, cornice boards, bedspreads, cushions, decorative pillows, table linens, and more—all fabricated in its own workroom and available for purchase through a shop-at-home appointment. 3162 E. State Rd. 32, Westfield, 317-896-3833, adkinsdraperymakers.com

Blinds & Shades

The name says it all at this Nora studio that carries Hunter Douglas shades, shutters, blinds, and draperies. The staff provides free onsite consultations to determine the appropriate treatments for light control, privacy, insulation, child safety, and aesthetic style. 1758 E. 86th St., 317-846-4601, blindsand shadesplusmore.com

Calico Indy

The Calico chain makes it simple to adorn your furniture and windows in the most fashionable fabrics, including collections from Fabricut, Kravet, Maxwell, Ralph Lauren, Schumacher, Sunbrella, and Scalamandre. 5128 E. 82nd St., 317-595-7400, calicoindy.com

Crimson Tate

Mass Ave’s resource for modern quilters doubles as owner Heather Givans’s sewing studio. Givans also sells fabrics by Kaffe Fassett Collective, Bonnie Christine, Heather Ross, Charley Harper,

Liberty of London, and Rifle Paper, along with her own signature line. 845 Massachusetts Ave., 317-4263300, crimsontate.com

Drapery Street

Owner Caryn O’Sullivan adds a touch of elegance to your windows with a focus on beautiful fabrics, trim, and hardware. The boutique is stocked with ready-made soft goods, but the staff can design custom pillows and bedding, too. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317-942-3796, draperystreet.com

The French Seam

This boutique offers patterns, notions, yarn, sewing machines, and the latest fabrics. Explore 1,200-plus bolts, some from designers like Judy Jarvi, Marcia Derse, Heather Bailey, and Loes van Oosten. 9335 Castlegate Dr., 317-841-1810, thefrenchseam.com

Griffon Decorative Fabrics

This fabric store has provided pretty prints and accessories for decades. If you’re in need of a new look for your windows, bedding, or indoor or outdoor furniture, you’ll find a bevy of ideas here. Renew your treasured pieces of furniture with the shop’s reupholstery services. 598 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-848-1864, griffonfabrics.com

FURNISHINGS

Arabella Home

This French-inspired, neoclassical decor shop displays upholstered furniture and arrangements of appealing little chests and quirky antiques on tables and shelves. Go treasure-hunting for gracious home essentials like table linens, cloches, candlesticks, individual soup tureens, and decorative pitchers. 3002 E. Washington St., facebook.com/arabellahomeindy

Chatham Home

Step inside this family business and you’ll instantly feel at ease, as if you’ve entered the home of a close friend. Chatham Home specializes in solid-wood furniture, upholstered pieces, and finishing touches, like lamps, rugs, throw pillows, and wall art. Bedroom and living-room vignettes throughout offer ideas and inspiration. 517 E. Walnut St., 317-917-8550, chatham homeindy.com

Copper Creek Canyon Interiors and Design

This store is full of statement pieces like rich leather chairs, metal and wood accent tables, and luxurious textured pillows. Its design studio displays fabric for bedding, drapes, and more. Custom window treatments and upholstery are also available. 3953 E. 82nd St., 317-5772990, coppercreekcanyon.com

Decor 4 Kids

Explore nursery and children’s furniture at this fun store just for tots. Take a look around the large showroom at beds, cribs, gliders and recliners, mattresses, dressers, lamps, and colorful artwork and accessories from brands like Dolce Babi and Dolce Kids & Teens, John Thomas Select, Maxtrix, Romina, Milk Street, and Stella Baby & Child. 17728 Sun Park Dr., Westfield, 317-770-7700, decor4kidsstore.com

Ethan Allen

Just about everything here has a timeless look, making it easy to outfit a room in pieces that won’t feel dated due to changing styles. Spaces can look effortlessly chic thanks to a range of sofas, dining-room and coffee tables, and accessories like lamps, artwork, vases, bedding, clocks, and mirrors. 4025 E. 82nd St., 317-842-4024, ethanallen.com

Foundry 317 Home

This Broad Ripple home-goods retailer specializes in modern and antique furniture, along with home decor and staging services. Contemporary, industrial, and rustic styles fill the showroom, including plush and leather sofas, coffee tables, sleek sideboards, throw pillows, artwork, and area rugs. 819 E. Westfield Blvd., 812-2787746, facebook.com/foundry317

Frontdoor Home Design

Located in Irvington, this furniture studio stocks not only tables and upholstered pieces, but also lighting, accessories, and gourmet goodies. The owner strives to carry mostly local and American-made brands, including Ferdinandbased Best Home Furnishings. 5547 Bonna Ave., 812-583-5464, facebook.com/frontdoorhomedesign

Haus Love by Heidi Woodman

Peruse Haus Love’s shelves of oversized throw pillows, framed artwork, graphic rugs, side tables, ornate chandeliers, floor lamps, and tabletop accents. The overall palette is neutral, creating an air of simple, relaxed chic. 5901 N. College Ave., 317-601-6521, heidi woodmaninteriors.com

Home & Willow Design and Decor

The ambience of this showroom is airy and elegant, with curated treasures thoughtfully interspersed throughout. The design team nailed what it takes to make a room feel like home without sacrificing that aspirational vibe. 8100 E. 106th St., Fishers, 317-288-5045, homeandwillowdesign.com

Houseworks

Sleek, minimalist design rules at Houseworks, with its mix of modern furniture that includes sofas, coffee and end tables, dining-room

and bedroom sets, and home-office desks, chairs, and accessories. The light fixtures and wall of clocks are not to be missed. 4905 E. 82nd St., 317-578-7000, houseworks.biz

Inhabit

Within this stylish Irvington showroom, Indy shoppers have access to the entire line of Inhabit items. Transform your surfaces with Inhabit’s signature 3-D wall flats, cast concrete tiles, wood-look planks, and customizable wallpaper in a wide array of finishes and patterns. 211 S. Ritter Ave., 317-636-1699, inhabitliving.com

John Kirk

Furniture Galleries

Whether you want a sleek, trendy living room or a cozy, relaxing study, John Kirk can help you find the perfect pieces. Its expansive showroom features brands such as Stickley, Vanguard, Uttermost, Century, and Bernhardt. 12345 Old Meridian St., Carmel, 317-846-2535, kirkfurniture.com

Julie Browning Bova Design

Crisp white walls, deliciously scented candles, and Belgian linen throws hardly conjure thoughts of mucking out horse stalls, yet Julie Browning Bova’s space hews to her equestrian-loving roots. Shoppers can get a feel for her work and take home a piece of her exquisitely tasteful look. Carmel City Center, 317-580-9775, juliebrowningbova.com

KBD Home

Kristen Okeley’s collection of businesses opens up with a glamorous and European-inspired fully functioning kitchen at the front, surrounded by crystals, cookbooks, planters, antiques, vases, and candles. Browse the shop’s throw pillows or order new window treatments through the custom drapery service. 1001 E. 86th St., 317-8158880, mykbdhome.com

Kittle’s Furniture

The size of the showroom is just as impressive as the variety of home goods Kittle’s offers. Shoppers will find dozens of brands for bedrooms, living rooms, and dining rooms, from entry-level pieces to high-end selections in the Design Studio. 8600 Allisonville Rd., 317-849-5300; 10695 U.S. Hwy. 36, Avon, 317-677-0277; 665 U.S. Hwy. 31 N., Greenwood, 317-888-1301; Outlet: 9810 Carney Dr., Fishers, 317-915-0102; kittles.com

Outré

This family-owned custom upholstery studio in the Indiana Design Center prides itself on top-notch construction and customer education when making and selling sofas, sectionals, chairs, ottomans, and kids’ furniture in a variety of sizes, styles, colors, and prints. Indiana Design Center, Carmel, 317504-0307, outrefurniture.com

RG Decor

If you’re looking for inspiration and design ideas, you’ll feel right at home when you step into RG Decor. Shop a variety of solid-wood tables, American-made upholstery, florals, flooring, and other finds. Ask one of the qualified designers to set up an in-home consultation for decorating help. 4341 W. 96th St., 317-873-6139, rgdecor.com

Shine Design Home

Visit Shine Design Home and experience the concept of hygge, which relates to comfort and coziness. The compact interiors store conveys the earthy cool of modern Danish style. Shop the selection of accents like woven baskets, stoneware bowls, and linen throw blankets. 8594 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-572-5546, shinedesignhome.com

Simply Amish

Solid-wood construction and attention to detail are seen in every bedroom and dining set, entertainment center, and rocking chair— and there are myriad wood varieties, finishes, and fabrics. Quality and durability are the hallmarks of these handcrafted pieces. 5612 Castleton Corner Ln., 317-579-9490, simplyamishindy.com

Two Chicks District Co.

The renovation dream team behind HGTV’s Good Bones knows how to feather a nest beautifully. This southside boutique is filled with contemporary home pieces, including ceramics, pillows, coasters, wall mirrors, linens, flatware, and lighting. 1531 S. East St., 317426-3652, twochicksdistrictco.com

Urban Styles

No matter where you look in this filled-to-the-brim store, there’s a new idea or source of inspiration. The eclectic inventory includes modern and vintage-inspired furnishings for living and dining spaces and bedrooms alongside pieces that evoke international flair. 8375 Castleton Corner Dr., 317-578-7770, shopurbanstyles.com

Willa Gray Home

This Broad Ripple boutique features a revolving stock of furniture, antiques, fine art, books, pottery, and textiles from around the world. The curated selection of unique and handcrafted furnishings includes wares from Trudon, Hunker, Visual Comfort, and Sirocco Living. 6516 Carrollton Ave., 317-756-9148, willagrayhome.com

GARDENING & OUTDOORS

Alice’s Garden

The westside plant shop and nursery previously known as The

Forest Flower Home & Garden is under new ownership. Kathy Barger is a veteran of the garden center industry and brings a new energy to this charming westside source for garden goods, gifts, seeds, plants, and pots. 3205 W. 71st St., 317-291-1441

Allisonville Home & Garden by Sullivan

This nursery has wonderful plants and flowers to bring your yard to life. You’ll also find bird feeders and seed, houseplants, and items to create a fairy garden or a terrarium. 11405 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, 317-849-4490, allison villegarden.com

Altum’s Garden Center

If you’re ready to add some color to your yard, Altum’s has the flowers, shrubs, trees, and related supplies for a lavish garden. Or you can leave things in the capable hands of the landscaping team to transform your space. 795 U.S. Hwy. 421, Zionsville, 317-733-4769, altums.com

Dammann’s Garden Center & Greenhouse

With a focus on sourcing from the local community, Dammann’s cultivates and grows most of the hanging baskets, flowers, vegetables, and decorative containers in its westside greenhouse. 4914 Rockville Rd., 317-381-9787, dammanns.com

Dammann’s Garden Co.

Planning a veggie or herb garden right outside your back door? Stop here for everything you need, like seeds, starts, and fertilizer to cultivate your planting beds. Add finishing touches like bird feeders or baths, arbors and trellises, wind chimes, fountains, and statues. 5129 S. Emerson Ave., 317-786-0799, dammannsgardenco.com

Gatewood Vegetable Farm & Greenhouses

In business more than 100 years, Gatewood stocks planting and gardening supplies in the spring and fresh-cut Christmas trees and wreaths in the winter. In addition to annuals and perennials in the greenhouse, customers can find fresh produce and even furniture. 9555 E. 206th St., Noblesville, 317773-1214, gatewoodvegetablefarm.com

Godby Hearth & Home

The main showroom and Carmel interactive studio display various fireplace styles—wood-burning, vent-free, and electric, to name a few—as well as hearth accessories, patio furniture, fire pits, grills, and fountains. 7904 Rockville Rd.; Indiana Design Center, Carmel; 317-271-8400, godbyhearth.com

Habig Garden Shops

Find the necessary supplies to design or upgrade your indoor or outdoor spaces, including flowers,

houseplants, bird feeders and seed, and architectural pieces. Garden gifts, accessories, and seasonal items are plentiful, too. 1225 E. 86th St., 317-251-3708; 15311 N. Meridian St., Carmel, 317-896-2828; habiggardenshop.weebly.com

O’Malia’s Living

Create your ideal space at O’Malia’s from its vast selection of outdoor furniture and umbrellas, grills, patio heaters, torches, and fire pits. 115 Medical Dr., Carmel, 317-846-6812, omaliasliving.com

Rosie’s Gardens

Explore more than 12 acres loaded with annuals and perennials, garden accessories, fountains, rugs, and outdoor lighting. Rosie’s also has statuary, benches, and birdbaths. 10402 N. College Ave., 317-844-6157, rosiesgardens.com

Snakeroot Botanicals

Cultivate your green thumb at the original Fountain Square garden and herb shop, as well as its second location in Broad Ripple. Both spaces are filled with houseplants, hanging baskets, and outdoor food and landscape plants, plus all the tools, supplies, and materials to help you sow and tend your patch. 1052 Virginia Ave., 317-604-7562; 922 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-441-5793; snakerootbotanicals.com

Sullivan Hardware & Garden

Family-owned since 1954, this Indyarea chain of hardware and garden centers operates three namesake locations, along with Allisonville Home & Garden. Browse a large selection of patio furniture, garden plants, pottery, grills, and fire pits. Stop by Sully’s Grill for a quick bite to fuel your shopping spree. 6955 N. Keystone Ave., 317-255-9230; 4838 N. Pennsylvania St., 317-924-5040; 60 W. Jackson St., Cicero, 317-9844652; sullivanhardware.com

Wasson Nursery

The Fishers location of this familyowned trio of garden centers can help you plan and develop the backyard of your dreams with services like landscape design, lawn maintenance, tree and shrub care, and personal groundskeeping. Shop the nursery for plants, mulch, soil, additives, stone, tools, and supplies. 13279 E. 126th St., Fishers, 317-770-3321, wassonnursery.com

Wicker Works

Outdoor Furniture

Explore this showroom of indoor and outdoor furnishings, where homeowners can browse numerous brands and styles of wicker, rattan, teak, vinyl, wrought-iron, and aluminum sets. Gas and wood fire pits, umbrellas, outdoor lighting, and mirrors are also among the extensive selection. 4349 W. 96th St., 317-852-1509, wicker worksindy.com

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DINING | ART

Three professional sports teams, countless nationally recognized cultural and art festivals, and award-wining museums, parks, concert venues, and more.

TRAVEL

F A M I LY FAMILY F U N FUN

BY CHEZ CHESAK

PHOTO BY DUSTIN MCKIBBEN COURTESY VISIT FORT WAYNE

KENTUCKY

Looking for some unbridled family fun? Plan a getaway and race off to our neighboring state to the south for a change of scenery.

“Families visiting Kentucky will discover a wide range of fun and exciting activities, from outdoor adventures like exploring the world’s longest cave system and camping in actual treehouses to our world-class museums and cultural sites that offer tastes of race cars, baseball, boxing, and so much more,” says Mike Mangeot, commissioner with the Kentucky Department of Tourism. “No matter what you and your family like to do, you will find the perfect adventure in the Bluegrass State.”

Louisville, the largest city, boasts a wide array of attractions. Swing by the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory to learn the history of these iconic bats, then dance over to the Muhammad Ali Center to find out about the life, history, and principles of the late professional pugilist. The nearby Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest is home to the famed Forest Giants sculptures and 10-acre Playcosystem playground. The Grady Hotel in downtown Louisville is a great launch point for your adventures and is within walking distance of the museums.

Covington in the northern part of the state is a vibrant, historic city. Enjoy German culture and food in the Mainstrasse Village and time your visit with Glier’s GoettaFest, which celebrates the German-American sausage

dish. The tony Hotel Covington provides a tailored, upscale place to stay.

The World Chicken Festival in the city of London celebrates Kentucky Fried Chicken and Lee’s Famous Chicken, both of which were founded here. There are contests, music performances, vendors, carnival rides, and the 10-foot World’s Largest Stainless Steel Skillet. Nearby Cumberland Falls State Resort Park offers cozy accommodations for families in its lodge or cottages.

Cruise on down to Bowling Green for the National Corvette Museum, which includes 80 iconic cars in period settings, a family education gallery, the Corvette Store, and a

racing simulator. The suites-only Hotel SYNC is a short walk away.

For outdoor fun, head to Mammoth Cave National Park and the world’s largest known cave system. Various tours cover 10 miles of caverns, and it’s always approximately 54 degrees year-round. Above ground, you can hike, ride horses, fish, and kayak. A few hours away, the Red River Gorge offers world-class climbing, as well as hiking, biking, zip lines, a cave boat tour, and other activities. A stay in one of the local treehouses is a must. Amenities vary, but some are pet-friendly while others include such treats as a slide, suspended hammock-like nets, or a hot tub.

ANDERSON/MADISON COUNTY

The Shadyside Recreation Area in Anderson, Indiana, offers paddleboat rentals, hiking trails, and plenty of fishing. The nearby Bobber’s Cafe at Shadyside Bait & Tackle has madeto-order comfort food, including barbecue, burgers, ice cream, and breakfast all day.

“In Madison County, there are many new kid-friendly activities to experience this summer,” says Maureen Lambert, marketing and tourism director for the Anderson/Madison County Visitors Bureau.

The area’s newest attraction is the Uranus Fudge Factory. This is the second iteration of the famous general store located along Route 66. There’s a playground, large outdoor statues, ice cream shop, and, of course, plenty of fudge. Your middle-school kids (and humorloving adults) will get also get a kick out of all the puns stemming from the site’s name.

No visit to Madison County would be complete without a trip to the World’s Largest Ball of Paint in Alexandria. Weighing over 2 ½ tons, it consists of more than 28,000 coats

of paint and is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. Make an appointment and you, too, can add a layer of lacquer to this modern wonder.

While Mounds State Park is the secondsmallest state park in Indiana, it has a big draw for visitors: 10 unique earthworks built by prehistoric Native Americans for religious ceremonies and to observe astronomical alignments. The park features its nighttime Sky Tours and provides telescopes to observe the galaxies above.

PHOTO COURTESY KENTUCKY TOURISM

Auto enthusiasts can learn all about Chevy’s trademark sports car at the National Corvette Museum.

HOST YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NEXT SMALL-SIZED MEETING OR CONFERENCE IN HAMILTON COUNTY AND REST EASY.

In Hamilton County, we know how big a small meeting can be. Whether it’s a conference, trade show, or any other type of special event, we can comfortably accommodate all your organization’s needs. With a diverse array of gathering places—barns to boardrooms to ballrooms—more than 5,000 hotel rooms, and 30,000 sq. ft. of contiguous event space for larger events, you can rest easy when you select Hamilton County to play host.

JUST NORTH OF INDY

Kids’

FORT WAYNE

The Summit City of Fort Wayne offers outdoor activities like boat tours, paddleboarding, canoeing, and kayaking right from Promenade Park. The downtown green space includes an accessible playground, kids’ canal, and a wheelchairaccessible boat launch to explore the downtown riverfront.

“Family lives at the heart of Fort Wayne and is our biggest visitor draw for weekend getaways, especially with the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, which is one of the best zoos in the country,” says Jessa Campbell, marketing and communications manager for Visit Fort Wayne.

The zoo is known for interactive experiences like petting stingrays, feeding giraffes, and walking with kangaroos. New this summer is Red Panda Ridge, one of the largest red-panda habitats in the country. Don’t miss exploring the kids’ interactive bamboo maze, too.

If you have tweens or teens in your brood, area summer festivals include Arab Fest, Greek Fest, Germanfest, and other events filled with exceptional foods, music, and dancing. Unique celebrations like Buskerfest, Three Rivers Festival, and Dragon Boat Races provide performances, tastings, displays, and hands-on experiences.

You’ll find family-friendly sustenance at The Hoppy Gnome, including tacos, quesadillas, butter noodles, and more. Options for adults abound, and craft cocktails and fresh beer are available. Or hit the 20-plus vendors at Union Street Market food hall, who offer up regionally sourced smash burgers, pizza, baked goods, BBQ, and other delights.

The Bradley Hotel accommodates fur babies as well as human ones. Visiting pets receive a welcome kit with a dog bed, toys, and treats, along with a list of nearby animal services.

Canal at Promenade Park offers a fun spot to climb on rocks and cool off with friends. Families visiting the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo can dip their fingers in the water to touch swimming stingrays (below right).

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY

This Northern Indiana county is home to more than 100 lakes, 11 trail systems, seven beaches, two tour boats, multiple festivals, and an abundance of public art.

“If you are looking to make memories with your kids this summer, the place to visit is clearly Kosciusko County,” says Laura Rothhaar, marketing and communications manager for the Kosciusko County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The county’s digital Challenge Passports are kid-focused and include the Trail Blazer Challenge, Public Art Trail Challenge, and Adventure Challenge. For each of these, passholders need to visit just five locations to win prizes like a fidget spinner, T-shirt, or pair of sunglasses.

The Village at Winona features shops like specialty candy and soda store Rocket Fizz, Social Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop, and various restaurants. You might need to refuel after hitting the village’s Heritage Trail (which meanders along Winona Lake) or the Winona Lake Limitless Park, which is designed for all ages and abilities and includes a beach and splash pad. There are also kayak and paddleboard rentals available.

Cruise beautiful Webster Lake on the state’s oldest sternwheel tour boat. The refurbished Dixie has been plying the waters since 1929 and offers 90-minute narrated cruises. There are snacks on board, or you can hit nearby Lakeview Pizza King in North Webster for a full meal.

If you are looking to make memories with your kids this summer, the place to visit is clearly Kosciusko County.

—Laura Rothhaar, marketing and communications manager, Kosciusko County Convention & Visitors Bureau

MINNETRISTA MUSEUM & GARDENS

Located on the White River in the middle of Muncie, this 40-acre museum and garden site features historic homes, meandering trails, and six galleries of exhibits that emphasize art, history, and interactive experiences for all age groups. The site’s calendar is filled with educational programs, workshops, and community events.

“Minnetrista Museum & Gardens offers a range of fun and engaging activities that are perfect for kids,” says Katy Maggart, the museum’s communications manager. “From exploring our beautiful gardens to discovering our engaging exhibits, children of all ages can have a great time while learning and having fun.”

The July Faeries, Sprites, & Lights event encourages children to get decked out in winged attire and romp throughout a magical wonderland. Games, crafts, live music, dancing, a theater show, and the bubble garden are key highlights, in addition to live characters, a Faerie House Workshop, and a tea party.

Adventure

You’ll surely find some happy accidents in the Bob Ross Experience. You can explore the life, art, and feel-good philosophies of this iconic painter as you tour the historic home where “The Joy of Painting” was filmed. Immersive exhibits showcase his works while inspiring you with Ross’s messages of fearless creativity.

The Minnetrista was founded by the Ball family (of the famous Ball Mason jars), and you can explore their beautiful, preserved home. Start to understand the family and its passions through interactive experiences, then snuggle up with a book, choose from a large selection of board games, or tour the kitchen where the famous Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving was developed.

The grounds include a nature area, orchard, and herb garden, while family-focused activities and attractions include the Backyard Garden with its koi pond, arts and crafts within Betty’s Cabin, and explorer bags filled with gadgets and activity ideas.

PHOTO COURTESY MINNETRISTA MUSEUM & GARDENS

Little girls don fanciful attire to dance around and channel their inner magical butterflies during Minnetrista’s annual Faeries, Sprites & Lights event.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 63

treats did not sit well with the neighborhood kids. Jenkins says they’d open their bags, point to Kahn’s house and say in utter disbelief, “That man over there, he gave us a notebook!” And yet he was a good and generous neighbor who mowed the couple’s lawn when they had health issues, replaced their damaged mailbox, tried to pay for repairs to their broken garage door, and often surprised them with something he picked up at Costco. Though he was quirky and difficult at times, Stevenson says, “Kahn was very nice to us, a good guy, a good friend.”

But someone who could buy every house in the neighborhood and still have money left over? No way.

So, why didn’t Kahn share more while alive, or even live just a wee bit larger himself? We posed the question to Kimble Richardson, a licensed mental health counselor with Community Fairbanks Behavioral Health. Richardson did not know Kahn but says it could have been a combination of things, ranging from the era in which he grew up, how he was raised, whether he suffered a childhood trauma, or if perhaps something happened in Vietnam. Some personality styles make it hard to connect with people, Richardson says. When Kahn did, it seemed to be on his own terms. Regardless, Richardson says Kahn “knew enough to pick out people who were trustworthy and would not let him be taken advantage of.”

Isaacs says that what began as such a large responsibility for him wound up feeling like a tremendous gift as well. It allowed him “to meet some of the pretty amazing people running these organizations … to see the reactions and just how transformative Terry’s legacy will be for years to come.” He just wishes Kahn could have experienced the joy he ultimately brought to so many others.

Kahn left no instructions for his ashes.

Isaacs tried to find out where his parents were buried but came up empty-handed. The funeral director provided the perfect solution. Given Kahn’s military service and his lifelong career at the VA, she suggested Kahn’s ashes be interred in a columbarium at the Marion National Cemetery in Marion, Indiana. It’s the final resting place for more than 13,000 soldiers from the Civil War to present day.

On April 12, 2021, she and Isaacs made the 75-mile trip north for a proper farewell. They stood inside a funeral tent with Kahn’s urn as two soldiers provided military honors—the ceremonial bugling of taps with the folding of an American flag presented to Isaacs. Afterward, they went to the columbarium where Kahn’s ashes were sealed in a niche.

Isaacs believes Kahn would be pleased. He served his country and now, through his posthumous gifts, would serve his community in equally heroic ways. The correlation is not lost on those who were part of his select inner circle. The man known for being painfully frugal in life would become celebrated for his extraordinary generosity in death.

Photo by TONY VALAINIS

The deviled eggs at Antilogy, p. 139

DOWNTOWN

INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square

Agave & Rye

TACOS High-concept tortilla concoctions with names like the Filthy Fajita, Swipe Right, and the Spicy Kitty add to the party atmosphere at this vibrant chain awash in neon, chandeliers, performance wallpaper, and pops of graffiti. A la carte tacos get backup from starters in the form of either Big Munchies (such as Birria Irish Nachos and Mac N Cheese Beignets) or Little Munchies (including elotes plated half off the cob). Tequila and bourbon dominate the house cocktails mixed behind a bar festooned with colors and lights, and the desserts are portioned for sharing. 336 Delaware St., 463-2578226, agaveandrye.com $$$

Aroma

INDIAN Familiar tandoori and tikka masala staples mingle with heartier, more elevated offerings at this elegant pan-Indian spot. Lunchtime lamb and chicken rolls in crispy flatbread wrappers stand out, as do hearty chaat dishes dressed up with yellow peas, yogurt, and chutneys. An impressive lamb shank is the highlight of the chef’s specialties and easily feeds two. A full bar and an artful array of desserts help round out a special-occasion meal. 501 Virginia Ave., 317602-7117, aromaindy.com V $$

Ash & Elm Cider Co.

Restaurant and Cider Bar

GASTROPUB A long-awaited move to the historic former Ford Assembly Plant building on East Washington Street not only brought Indy’s premier cider-maker a few blocks closer to downtown but also ushered in a full menu of snacks and dinner dishes created by chef Tracey Couillard. Start with a cider slushie or a cidermosa to enjoy with tangy, rich deviled eggs or crisp, light elote fritters with a bright cilantro crema. Then move to a flagship cider such as the semi-sweet or tart cherry for the main courses, including a standout roasted chicken

breast with a crispy hasselback potato, hanger steak with chanterelles, or pan-fried walleye. But don’t pass up the apt apple-cheddar melt or the burger of the moment, lavished with crab dip or garlic scape pesto. 1301 E. Washington St., 317-600-3164,ashandelmcider.com $$

Bluebeard

CONTEMPORARY Bluebeard opened in 2012, and crowds still roll in for chef Abbi Merriss’s take on seasonal comfort food. Start with the bread baked next door at Amelia’s—it’s especially delicious slathered with anchovy butter—and build your meal from the ever-changing menu of small and large dishes. Fried morels may show up on a spring picnic plate, while winter nights call for a comforting butcher-shop Bolognese. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, blue beardindy.com V $$

Bodhi: Craft Bar + Thai Bistro

THAI This Mass Ave restaurant serves a small, focused menu of Thai dishes like Massaman curry with braised beef and Bodhi’s own version of non-Americanized pad thai. Cocktails get a lot of attention on a drinks list designed by Ball & Biscuit’s Heather Storms. 922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-941-6595, bodhi-indy.com V $$

Brew Link

BREWERY What started as a casual brewery on the edge of a Hendricks County golf course has expanded to include a good-time downtown Indianapolis spot that is serious about its bar bites. Get an order of smoked chicken wings for the table or loaded nachos piled high with your choice of chicken, carnitas, or steak. The burgers are elaborately garnished, and the mac and cheese is doused with Brew Link’s house beer cheese. 714 N. Capitol Ave., 317-653-1884, brewlink brewing.com $$

Bru Burger Bar

BURGERS The generous patties here combine sirloin, chuck, and brisket and are paired with cocktails and craft beers. Highlights include the signature Bru Burger, with bacon, Taleggio, sweet tomato jam, and porter-braised onions. 410 Massachusetts Ave., 317-635-4278, bruburgerbar .com V $$

Cafe Patachou

CAFE The original Meridian-Kessler “student union for adults” continues to draw in the morning crowds and has inspired citywide offshoots, such as this sleek downtown location, a huge hit with the business and weekend hordes alike. The cinnamon toast remains as thick as a brick; the produce is still locally sourced; the massive omelets continue to have cheeky names; and the broken-yolk sandwiches are a perennial lunch favorite. 225 W. Washington St., 317-632-0765, cafepatachou.com

V $$

The Capital Grille

CLASSIC A theme of decadence permeates this steakhouse adjoining the equally posh Conrad hotel, from the gilded-framed pastoral paintings that hang on its dark-paneled walls to the selection of elaborate steaks (one of them drenched in a Courvoisier cream sauce, another flavored with aged balsamic—and some of them dryaged). The servers are exquisite, of course. 40 W. Washington St., 317-423-8790, thecapitalgrille.com

V $$$$

Dave’s Hot Chicken

FAST FOOD The name of this Los Angeles–based chain is no joke. Strips of white meat are brined to lock in the chicken’s juiciness before the Nashville hot–style, Carolina reaper–based spice is applied in seven levels of firepower. Heat-seekers line up to order the incendiary poultry in degrees that top out at a 911–worthy “Reaper,” but even the tamer “Hot” and “Medium” are not for the faint of heart. Order an entry-level “Mild” in slider form, dressed with slaw, sweet pickles, a generous swipe of the tangy, mayo-based house sauce, and tucked inside a squishy bun that serves as insulation between the tongue and sear. 530 Massachusetts Ave., 317285-0200, daveshotchicken.com $$

Easy Rider Diner

DINER Chef Ricky Martinez oversees this colorful Fountain Square diner that connects to the Hi-Fi music venue. The daylight menu applies Latin flourish to breakfast and brunch dishes, including a chorizo omelet with roasted tomato salsa, queso, and lime crema, shrimp and grits, and a waffle flight. For dinner, Martinez spotlights

SYMBOLS

Brunch

Outdoor seating Reservations

NEW

V Vegetarian friendly ADDED

$$$$ $30 and up

$$$ $20–$30

$$ $10–$20

$ Under $10 UPDATED

Very Good Good

Recently opened establishment.

Open for more than five months but making its first appearance in the guide.

Recently revisited and reevaluated.

Restaurants included in this guide are selected at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff based on food quality, innovation, atmosphere, service, value, and consistency. IM does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for dining coverage. Price symbols indicate the average cost of a meal per person (without tax, tip, or alcohol). Due to limited space, this list does not cover every evaluated restaurant. For a more comprehensive guide to Indianapolis dining, visit IndianapolisMonthly.com/Dining. Feedback? Please email TheDish@IndianapolisMonthly.com.

fried chicken and steak sandwiches, along with an appropriately indulgent late-night lineup of garbage can nachos and Cubanos available from 10 p.m. until the entertainment next door calls it a night. 1043 Virginia Ave., 463-224-0430, easyriderindy.com V $$

Fat Dan’s Deli

MEAT AND POTATOES Brisket cooked for 14 hours is a mainstay of the made-from-scratch menu, as is the house corned beef. Get an order of tender smoked wings and some tots for the table, served no-frills on a spread of craft paper. Whatever you do, don’t miss the plump Vienna dogs that will transport you straight to Wrigleyville. 410 E. Michigan St., 317-600-3008, fatdansdeli.com $

The Fountain Room

UPSCALE Restaurateur Blake Fogelsong filled this two-story showstopper with tufted leather chairs, glamorous clamshell booths, marble bar tops, and cascading chandeliers as a tribute to the Art Deco splendor of the restored Bottleworks Hotel next door. Meanwhile, executive chef Andrew Popp’s big-shouldered menu covers everything from fine-tuned steaks and seafood to wild-card winners like a 20-ounce Circle City Cut slab of prime rib, a noble old-school relish tray, utterly decadent French onion soup, and the best Coca-Cola barbecue ribs in town. 830 Massachusetts Ave., 463-238-3800, thefountain room.com

$$$

Gallery Pastry Bar

CONTEMPORARY The second location for the popular Broad Ripple bakery and brunch spot specializes in European-inspired pastries, brunch, dinner, and cocktails. 110 S. Pennsylvania St., 317820-5526, bar.gallerypastry.com $$

Harry & Izzy’s

STEAKHOUSE Craig Huse’s casual alternative to big brother St. Elmo holds its own as a clubby hangout worthy of destination-steakhouse status itself. The marbled bone-in ribeye sizzles in its juices, a smart umami-rich pick among the high-quality (and high-priced) Midwest-sourced prime cuts. The menu expands to thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and seafood selections like pan-seared scallops. 153 S. Illinois St., 317635-9594, harryandizzys.com $$$

King Dough

PIZZA Chewy and with just the right flop in the middle, the pizzas are bona fide craft, from the dough to the quality toppings. Standouts include the Stinky Pete with wild mushrooms, gorgonzola, and plenty of garlic and herbs. Burgers, including one made from chorizo and topped with manchego cheese, play surprisingly close second fiddles to the pies. Cocktails concocted from boutique liqueurs and aromatics are reason enough to drop in, and they make for perfect sippers while you wait for your pie on the patio. 452 N. Highland Ave., 317-602-7960, kingdough pizzas.com V $$

Livery

LATIN This place feels like a hidden urban treasure, especially when the mezcal cocktails are flowing and the partially open kitchen is sending out plate after plate of contemporary Latininspired fare. Favorites have included a salad tucked inside a folded manchego crisp, meltingly tender steak fanned over a block of polenta, and a silky tres leches cake to die for. Snag a

spot on the upper-level deck for a real treat. 720 N. College Ave., 317-383-0330, livery-restaurant .com $$

Love Handle

SANDWICHES Daily lunch and brunch features such as schnitzel and waffles and a pulledchicken Hot Brown are the main draw at Chris and Ally Benedyk’s cheeky sandwich shop. The chalkboard menu also offers side options in the form of braised greens and potato salad with roasted tomatoes. 877 Massachusetts Ave., 317384-1102 $$

Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar

ITALIAN Straw-wrapped chianti bottles, wooden cross-back chairs, and family photos give a throwback trattoria feel to this addition to the city’s Italian scene. Meatballs, from a family recipe, are always a good choice with a solid house marinara. Pastas range from a straightforward toss of rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe to a rich, three-meat Bolognese lavished atop plump gnocchi. 1103 Prospect St., 317-982-7676, maialinaindy.com $$$

Milktooth

BRUNCH This diner-style cafe has a playfully gritty vibe. The early-morning counter service featuring pastries and coffee gives way to a full-service brunch menu with daytime craft cocktails. 534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131, milk toothindy.com V $$

Modita

ASIAN-INSPIRED The lavish restaurant in Bottleworks District’s showpiece slot gets extra style points for its gorgeous industrial-sleek decor that is equal parts silk wallpaper and factory-grade doors. Sip a Singha or a citrusy Tokyo Exchange Rate under the glow of dangling pendants and soak up the thoughtfully preserved vintage vibe. 850 Massachusetts Ave., 317-316-0470, modita.com

$$$

Nesso

ITALIAN Highly stylized seafood and meats paired with small pasta courses and shared a la carte sides add up to a sumptuous dining experience inside the Alexander hotel. Pass around a plate of prosciutto-wrapped prunes or crab arancini, but keep the tortelloni and sea bass all to yourself. 339 S. Delaware St., 317-643-7400, nesso-italia.com $$$

Palavana Cubano

CUBAN The second effort of J’s Lobster & Fish Market owner J. Wolf, this vibrant Latinthemed food stall homes in faithfully on the sandwiches of Central and South Florida, with plenty of authentic Cuban touches. The straightup pressed Cuban won’t disappoint those who have had the real-deal sandwich in Tampa or Miami, but the poetically named Cuban Reuben may be the winner among sandwiches, unless you’ve got the stomach for The Revolution, a gut-buster with four meats, Swiss cheese, pickles, and truffle Dijon mayo. A Cuban fry mix of both regular and sweet-potato fries is tempting, but plantain chips or tostones are both excellent sides, especially when paired with one of several tangy, garlicky sauces. 906 Carrollton Ave., 317556-1252, garageindy.com $$

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

STEAKHOUSE While nightly specials at this stately

steakhouse include innovative seafood and poultry options, supper-club classics abound, from the succulent, fat-marbled ribeye to a delicate petite filet, all served on sizzling-hot plates. 45 S. Illinois St., 317-633-1313, ruthschris .com $$$$

Shapiro’s Delicatessen

DELI Slide your tray along and take your pick of kosher comfort foods at this downtown institution. Hot pastrami and corned-beef sandwiches on rye have drawn long lines for more than a century. The Reuben contends for the city’s best, and heartier fare such as potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, and matzo-ball soup are perennially satisfying standbys. Load up on a massive wedge of pie, or you haven’t really had the proper Shapiro’s experience. 808 S. Meridian St., 317-631-4041, shapiros.com $$

Social Cantina

MODERN MEXICAN This Bloomington import’s festive vibe runs on perky street tacos, ricebased bowls, and tequila bling. The chips and salsa flight is a straight-up table-pleaser. But for a more foodie-forward starter, the ahistuffed avocado is a creamy fusion bomb with tropical salsa and a sweet soy glaze that leans Asian. The tacos are fussier than their humble forerunners, but tasty. Vegan options and substitutions abound. The tequila flex—more than 100 bottles, plus two on tap—is impressive, but not surprising given that Social Cantina comes from the same restaurant group that conceived The Tap, whose beers are also featured on the deep list of adult beverages. 148 S. Illinois St., 317-218-3342, thesocialcantina.com V $$

Spoke & Steele

CONTEMPORARY At the sleek lobby restaurant of Le Méridien, French classics with fusion touches imagined by chef Joel Scott Johnson include a spiffed-up bouillabaisse with wasabi tempura cod, steak tartare with fennel and watermelon radishes, and a Niçoise salad with fried potatoes standing in for the traditional tuna. Entrees feature hearty pastas, steak au poivre lavished with bone marrow butter, and chicken paillard accompanied by broccolini. A perfectly cooked burger made with Fischer Farms beef is crowned with Colby and shaved garlic. 123 S. Illinois St., 317737-1616, spokeandsteele.com $$$

St. Elmo Steak House

STEAKHOUSE Since 1902, this stately house of red meat has served as the unofficial ambassador of downtown Indianapolis—the walls carry decades’ worth of celebrity photos, the burnished bar hearkens to an earlier era, and the servers remain starched and bow-tied. The drill remains the same as well: a generous martini; a shrimp cocktail with that infamously hot sauce; the bean soup or tomato juice; the wedge; and one of the legendary steaks. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-6350636, stelmos.com $$$$

Sweetgreen

SALADS A California import with locations across the country, this bowl-based eatery assembles oversized salads and healthy grain dishes. The decor is bright and spartan, and ordering is Chipotle-style at a long counter. Customer favorites include a roasted chicken Harvest Bowl with wild rice and the vegan Shroomami with tofu, portobello, cucumbers, beets, and kale tossed in miso sesame ginger

dressing. 157 E. New York St., 463-220-4400, sweetgreen.com V $$

Taxman CityWay

GASTROPUB Soaring ceilings, rustic candelabra lighting, brick walls, and a 3,000-square-foot beer-garden patio make this one of Indy’s most welcoming drinking spots. The gastropub menu includes some of the city’s best frites, served with more than half a dozen sauces or loaded with bacon, beer cheese, and scallions. Liège waffles are topped with hearty add-ons like fried chicken and rosemary-scented maple syrup or cheesy shrimp and grits. 310 S. Delaware St., 317734-3107, taxmanbrewing.com $$

Tinker Street

NEW AMERICAN Reservations are a must, so snag whatever date you can get and hope there’s a warm-night seat on the twinkling patio. Then settle in for small plates such as surprisingly light and flavorful chickpea ravioli with vegan ricotta and a host of colorful garnishes. Or try one of the always-vegan soups or a seasonal salad such as a refreshing mix of greens with asparagus, pickled rhubarb, and tangy blue cheese. 402 E. 16th St., 317-925-5000, tinkerstreet restaurant.com V $$$

Tony’s Steaks and Seafood

STEAKHOUSE Elegantly presented oysters, mussels, and calamari tossed with pepperoncini and cherry tomatoes top a list of mostly seafood appetizers, but don’t miss what has to be one of the city’s biggest crab cakes, mounded on a swath of tangy mustard aioli. A special seasoning blend of paprika, sea salt, and pepper means New York strips and bone-in prime ribeyes have an especially flavorful char while being perfectly lush and tender on the inside.

110 W. Washington St., 317-638-8669, tonysofindiana polis.com $$$

Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar

SOUTHERN The Asheville-based scratch kitchen now has locations in 15 states, including this local spot at CityWay downtown. A bright, airy interior with a bar that’s part cleaned-up saloon and part retro lunch counter makes for a refreshing atmosphere with plenty of seating on an outdoor patio. Pimento cheese is a must among snackstyle starters, as are fluffy, outsized biscuits, battered cauliflower bites, and homey fried green tomatoes with roasted red pepper sauce and grits, best washed down with a Boozy Turkey, the bar’s take on an Old Fashioned with Wild Turkey. Signature dishes include light and crisp fried chicken with “bee dust,” a blend of spices with dehydrated honey, and New Orleans-style roast beef debris (day-bree) with green beans and fried onions over goat-cheese grits. Waffles star at brunch alongside egg Bennies with a variety of toppings and, of course, mimosas and bloody Marys. And while pecan pie and comfy banana pudding are no-brainers for desserts, a rich, dense chocolate spoon cake is a true taste of Southern decadence. 320 S. Alabama St., 317-768-0323, tupelohoney cafe.com $$$

Upland Brewing

GASTROPUB Bloomington’s Upland Brewery brings its casual-dining experience to Indy’s near southside, with an open-concept dining room and a popular dog-friendly patio. The Upland repertoire gets proper representation in the

wall of taps behind the bar. You can casually sip a flight of sours and snack on smoked chicken wings, or get busy with dishes plucked from the chef’s rotating seasonal menu. 1201 Prospect St., 317-672-3671, uplandbeer.com V $$

World Famous Hotboys

CHICKEN Fountain Square’s landmark Peppy Grill has a new life as this hot chicken shack, a California import. The chicken sandwiches, made with halal meat cooked in peanut oil, follow the Nashville Hot credo—coated in a spicy crunch, dressed up with slaw, pickles, and a piquant ranch-based sauce, and tucked inside an appropriately squishy bun. 1004 Virginia Ave., worldfamoushotboys.com $$

EAST

INCLUDES Beech Grove, Irvington

10th Street Diner

VEGAN Surprisingly familiar and hearty plantbased takes on diner classics occupy the entire menu at this rehab of a former pawn shop, a comfy backdrop for enjoying such tasty fakeouts as a gooey seitan Reuben, a “chicken” pot pie, and chili that rivals your favorite con carne version. Showstoppers include the manylayered lasagna, a bright tomato sauce, and a tangy “cheese” concocted from tofu and cashews. Arrive early, before the day’s supplies run out. 3301 E. 10th St., 463-221-1255 V $$

Beholder

UPDATED CONTEMPORARY You never know what to expect from restaurateur Jonathan Brooks’s Windsor Park kitchen, aside from one of the most innovative and wellexecuted meals in town. The menu is difficult to track, mainly because Brooks builds his dishes around seasonal ingredients that are fresh and of-the-moment. Impeccable servers will guide you through the evening’s offerings, which start small at the top of the menu (fresh oysters, perhaps, or pork rinds with kimchi and chickenliver mousse) and bulk up toward the bottom (think wild boar Bolognese or a massive pork Wellington for two). Finish with the most exotic flavor of housemade ice cream. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com V $$$$

Kan-Kan Cinema and Brasserie

UPSCALE CASUAL Dinner and a movie has never quite been as local or as luxe as it is at this cinematic and culinary collaboration in Windsor Park. First-run indie and classic films play on the screen in the cinema, with snacks and expert cocktails from the bar making nods to movie culture as in a Hollywood Boulevard(ier) and the 35MM with dry gin, orgeat, and lime. Leave plenty of room pre- or post-film (or just come back the next night) for blockbuster dinner offerings. 1258 Windsor St., 317-800-7099, kankanindy.com $$$

Landlocked Baking Company

CAFE What began life as a production bakery along Irvington’s tucked-away Audubon Road has expanded into a full-service daytime spot serving sandwiches and plated entrees. The menu keeps things brief, with a special focus on

fresh-baked carbs. The LGBT is a BLT enhanced with guacamole and tangy fried green tomatoes, and the focaccia grilled cheese includes local ham and cheese, plus pickled peaches. Gorgonzola grits topped with poached egg and hot honey, crispy-skinned confit potatoes, and signature lattes make this sunny dining room more than just a neighborhood favorite. 120 S. Audubon Rd., 317-207-2127, landlockedbakingco.com V $$

Mayfair Taproom

FAMILY PUB Housed in a 120-year-old structure with a colorful past, this eastside hang has the timeless feel of a well-loved neighborhood pub. Walk-ins can relax over pints of beer at the bar, right next to a family-friendly dining room with window-seat booths and local art on the walls. The menu is brief and sandwich-heavy, with equal love given to the thick and cheesy Mayfair burger and daily vegan breakouts like the spicy seitan sloppy Joe and the massive bean burger. 2032 E. 10th St., 317-419-239 V $$

Natural State Provisions

CASUAL Customers order at the counter and find a table inside this former microbrewery reinvented as an endearingly kitschy eatdrinkery. The food is rooted in homestyle Arkansas cooking from co-owner Adam Sweet’s native state, heavy on the deep frying and sweet-tea brining. Order a Sling Blade cocktail, get a side of collard greens with your fried bologna sandwich, and don’t miss the daily soft serve ice cream flavor. 414 Dorman St., 317-492-9887, naturalstate provisions.com $$

Steer-In

DINER Wear your stretchiest pants here. SteerIn’s classic Guy Fieri–approved short-order fare includes breaded tenderloins, beef and noodle dinners, and beer-battered fish sandwiches. The Twin Steer burger is a Big Mac knockoff that pairs deliciously with a side of battered and fried onion rings. Rib-sticking breakfast platters are served all day. Wash it down with a legit vanilla Coke and take home a towering slice of coconut cream pie for later. 5130 E. 10th St., 317-356-0996, steerin.net $

NORTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville

9th Street Bistro

BISTRO In a snug cafe off Noblesville’s town square, owners Samir Mohammad and Rachel Firestone Mohammad create meals worth lingering over, from a lamb shank slow-smoked to buttery tenderness and served on top of fresh pappardelle to a housemade burrata that makes several appearances on the menu. Hyperlocal ingredients fill out seasonal dishes, such as butternut squash bisque and duck confit toast. Chef Samir’s rotating Fried Thing of the Day (from tofu to artichoke hearts) should not be missed. 56 S. 9th St., Noblesville, 317-774-5065, 9thstbistro .com $$$

101 Beer Kitchen

CASUAL The energy is high and the flavors are forward at this Ohio import. In a dining room

that combines the best parts of a craft brewery and an unfussy family haunt, crowd-pleasing dishes like loaded tater tots, Andouille sausage–spiked shrimp and grits, and brown-buttered pierogies have lots of moving parts, complex but more fun than fancy. The Yard at Fishers District, 317-537-2041, 101beerkitchen.com $$

1933 Lounge

STEAK AND COCKTAILS This clubby cocktail lounge offers a younger, sexier take on finedining institution St. Elmo Steak House. The twist here is that the black-vested servers deliver Oysters Rockefeller and 45-day dry-aged ribeyes to diners tucked into noir-lit corners where no one can see their faces melt into a brief ugly-cry at that first bite of incendiary shrimp cocktail. The Yard at Fishers District, 317-7581933, 1933lounge.com/fishers $$$

Anthony’s Chophouse

STEAKHOUSE The interior of this swanky heavy hitter along Carmel’s Main Street has the polished gleam of a new Vegas hotel, with an upper-level lounge containing the salvaged mahogany bar from The Glass Chimney, a fine-dining legend. The food has equal flourish. Lobster bisque with a hunk of tempura-fried meat begins a meal that might include a cowgirl ribeye, a flight of filets, or a domestic Wagyu smashburger. Black-suited servers and wellcomposed cocktails keep the high-dollar meal running smoothly. 201 W. Main St., Carmel, 317740-0900, anthonyschophouse.com $$$$

Auberge

FRENCH Brick Street Inn’s classic French bistro installed talented chef Toby Moreno (The Loft at Traders Point Creamery, Plow & Anchor) in early 2022 and immediately sent him to Paris, where he trained in the kitchens of famed chef Alain Ducasse. Moreno has added that continental know-how to the vintage dishes he makes fresh with as much local produce, meats, and cheeses he can. That translates to an impressive plate of buttery escargot topped with croutons, seasonal salads, and a deeply flavorful French onion soup with a rich broth. Seafood stars among entrees, especially crispy-skinned roasted cod, though diver scallops with asparagus puree, showered with herbs and toasted almonds, also impress. Quiche of the day is a solid choice, as is the house burger slathered with tarragon aioli. Old-school cocktails are even better when enjoyed on the streetside patio. 175 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-733-8755, auberge-restaurant .com $$$

Ben’s BBQ Shack

BARBECUE Ben Hoffman gained a following for his old-school barbecue technique (smoked with hickory and cherry wood with no assist from electricity or gas) when he parked his trailermounted smoker outside Grand Junction Brewing a few days a week. When a 300-square-foot shack on Westfield’s main drag became available, he snatched it up and turned it into a prep kitchen and walk-up window. Standard sides like baked beans and cole slaw are available, but as you would expect, the meat’s the star of the show. There is no way to go wrong, whether you order the juicy, flavorful brisket or shredded pork by the pound, or a smoked pork belly sandwich with jalapeños and onions. The only mistake you might make is waiting too long to place an order. Your best bet is to order on the

website in advance. 124 E. Main St., Westfield, bensbbqshack.com $$

The Cake Bake Shop

ELEGANT The fairy tale continues at Gwendolyn Rogers’s second tribute to layered cakes and buttercream icing, a pristine Carmel expansion dripping with chandeliers. There are hints of the twinkly, cottage-like Broad Ripple original in the white-on-white-on-white decor, but Cake Bake 2.0 is polished to a brilliant sheen, and the patisserie menu has expanded to include delicate fare like Chicken Velvet soup and frites. 800 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-257-2253, thecakebake shop.com $$

Chao Vietnamese Street Food

VIETNAMESE Sourcing the beef and pork for its noodle bowls, tacos, and pho from Fischer Farms, this strip-mall eatery delivers fresh, flavorful dishes. Shrimp spring rolls come with a rich and complex dipping sauce, and a bracing green papaya salad is refreshing. Pork-belly tacos are highlights among the lighter choices. A full list of coffees and bubble teas make this a great place to bring the family for an intro to one of the world’s great cuisines. 7854 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317-622-8820, chaovietstreetfood.com $$

Cheeky Bastards

ENGLISH Co-owners Michael Rypel and chef Robert Carmack fell in love with British culture and cuisine during travels abroad. Their Geist restaurant is a true tribute to the food, serving not only a classic Full English breakfast and sausage rolls made with imported meat, but also a very convincing fish and chips featuring crispy planks and hand-cut potatoes. 11210 Fall Creek Rd., 317-288-9739, cheekybastards restaurant.com $$

Convivio

ITALIAN With a menu that traces the geographical regions in Italy, this is not your average Midwestern red-sauce joint. The pasta, including curled nests of black squid ink spaghetti and purple beet-infused fettuccine, are all made in house. The torchietti pasta, tossed with dried figs, black olives, basil, goat cheese, and Parmesan has been known to induce deep cravings in the weeks after eating, and the frutti di mare packs a generous serving of mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and calamari among tonnarelli pasta in a spicy and bright tomato sauce. Beyond pasta, the menu offers Neapolitan-style pizzas served blistered and hot from the imported Italian pizza oven, rotating regional specials, and an easy-to-navigate, Italian-heavy wine list that makes picking a bottle for the table a pleasure. 11529 Spring Mill Rd., Carmel, 317-564-4670; 40 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-733-3600; convivioindy.com $$

Farmhouse Brunchery

BREAKFAST/BRUNCH It’s hard to resist the extravagance of lemon-curd pancakes with blueberries and cream cheese mousse or—on the savory end of the spectrum—cracker-crusted jumbo shrimp called Cowboy Chaps at this northside provider of daytime sustenance. Customers pay at the counter, as in an old-school diner, and can go retro with a serving of corned beef hash and a bottomless cup of coffee. Meanwhile, steak and eggs that come with the choice of sirloin, strip, or rib-eye, and the Seriously Adult Grilled Cheese stuffed with Swiss, brie, cheddar, Muenster, and raspberry-chipotle cream cheese are gateway

options for brunchy indulgence. 8664 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317-288-0884, farmhousebrunchery .com $$

Field Brewing

BREWPUB This Westfield addition to the local craft brewery scene would be dazzling enough for its mod fixtures and bocce ball court that spans the family-friendly outdoor space. But the menu is as daring as it is easy to pair with the house brews. The kitchen skillfully prepares standout dishes such as tender lamb ribs with chimichurri and deeply caramelized Brussels sprouts with hunks of bacon that are some of the best in town. 303 E. Main St., Westfield, 317-8049780, fieldbrewing.com V $$

Flight Burger

BURGERS Opened as a Burgerim franchise in early 2020, Grant and Dallas Miller’s friendly strip-mall burger spot in Carmel features a surprising array of traditional and alternative burgers, best enjoyed in small flights to experience the variety. Start with wings tossed in one of several flavorful sauces and dry rubs, then move on to the all-Wagyu beef burger in traditional or slider sizes. The Western has the nice addition of bacon, barbecue sauce, and beer-battered onion rings, but some less-traditional flair comes in the form of a Greek lamb burger topped with tzatziki, or a salmon patty garnished with grilled pineapple. 650 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-6692256, flight-burger.com V $$

Grindstone Public House

COMFORT You can appreciate the original tall shop windows and pressed-tin ceilings of this restored historic building as you chomp into a fully loaded burger. Or, go for one of the more elaborate selections (such as a prime-rib Manhattan or chicken and waffles) on Grindstone’s Midwest-casual menu. A full bar stocked with all the brown bottles gives the place cred as a neighborhood watering hole. 101 N. 10th St., Noblesville, 317-774-5740, grindstonepublichouse.com $$$

The HC Tavern + Kitchen

CONTEMPORARY The term “tavern” hardly captures this swank addition to the Huse Culinary Group/St. Elmo family. A hit among starters is the lobster “cargot” with lumps of lobster meat in garlic butter and melted Havarti. Chops include the supper-club darling steak Diane with mushroom cream sauce and horseradish mashed potatoes, though equally regal is the Wagyu meatloaf enriched with pork and veal, sauced with a truffle mushroom demi-glace. The Yard at Fishers District, 317-530-4242, atthehc.com $$$

Hoss Bar & Grill

CASUAL The dining room surrounds a central bar where frozen daiquiris and peanut butter White Russians are blended to life and delivered alongside sibling brewery Big Lug’s beers. Chef Blake Ellis’s menu matches that fun energy with extrathick burgers in 6- and 10-ounce versions, gourmet hot dogs, and a stellar fried chicken thigh sandwich. After 4 p.m., the selection expands to include plated dinners and a nightly casserole. A soft-serve ice cream machine headlines the dessert offerings. 7870 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317-8413014, hossbarandgrill.com $$

Juniper on Main

SOUTHERN Chef Christine Daniel adds flavor every step of the way at this laidback salute to Southern

coastal cooking. That means the shrimp and grits contain heirloom hominy; the grilled salmon is plated with chili-lime butter, coconut rice, citrus black beans, and plantains; and nearly everything arrives with a heaping side of okra. Even the sweet 1907 house that wraps Juniper on Main in a porch and pergola evokes the homey charm of its culinary inspiration and the owner’s former home of Savannah, Georgia. 110 E. Main St., Carmel, 317-591-9254, juniperonmain.com $$

Manelé Cafe

HAWAIIAN Menu highlights at this island vacation–themed eatery include a luau pork sandwich featuring tender, tangy-sweet kalua pork served with Polynesian slaw and pineapple salsa on a King’s bun, accompanied, of course, by macaroni salad. The cafe’s Loco Moco (the typically gut-busting morning mound of beef patties, rice, eggs, and gravy) veers in the direction of health food with additions of bok choy, watermelon radish, and edamame. 703 Veterans Way, Carmel, 317-218-7877, manelecafe.com $$

The Mash House

DISTILLERY The distillers behind Kennedy-King’s West Fork Whiskey opened a second, destination tasting experience and spirits education center in the summer of 2022, pegging local chef and Westfield native Carlos Salazar to head up the kitchen. Start with a textbook Old Fashioned featuring house-blended bitters, and pair that with a plate of crunchy corn “puppies” with whipped maple butter. Head for the classics for main dishes, including Salazar’s pork tenderloin sandwich dressed up with Parmesan and fennel. A double “mash” burger with “fancy sauce” is a good bet, as are a throwback fried bologna sandwich with pimento cheese and tea-brined chicken served atop creamy corn pudding. 10 E. 191st St., Westfield, 317763-5400, westforkwhiskey.com $$

Monterey Coastal Cuisine

SEAFOOD The famed town on California’s rugged Central Coast provides inspiration for this goodlooking offering. Seafood entrees include a Fisherman’s Wharf ravioli and soy ginger–glazed salmon with forbidden black rice and wild mushrooms, while half of the menu revolves around cutting-edge sushi and traditional nigiri. The turf counterparts include elaborate steaks, roasted chicken, and burgers. 110 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-853-2280, montereycuisine.com $$$

Moontown Brewing Company

BREWPUB The craft beer and barbecue come with a side of Hoosier hoops nostalgia at this popular Boone County hangout. Its location, a former high school gymnasium, drips with vestiges of its hardwood past, but Moontown’s house-brewed beers are constantly evolving, from the Moon Lite Cream Ale quencher to Moontown’s robust porter, Into the Void. The food is kissed with just the right amount of smoke, served on paper-lined trays, and not limited to conventional barbecue. Though the beef brisket and pulled pork have that thick Southern dialect, the adobo brisket nachos, smoked Portobello burger, and Nashville hot chicken sandwich prove that nothing should be sacred. 345 S. Bowers St., Whitestown, 317-7693880, moontownbeer.com $$

Noah Grant’s Grill House & Oyster Bar

CONTEMPORARY The sushi list is solid at this surfand-turf spot, but even better bets are super-fresh

oysters and savory short rib wontons to nibble on while you explore the voluminous menu. It’s hard to go wrong here. Entrees range from fish and chips to coconut-crusted mahi mahi to internationally inspired dishes like Korean bibimbap. 91 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-732-2233, noahgrants .com $$$

Osteria by Fabio Viviani

ITALIAN You would never guess that the Top Chef alum’s modern Italian restaurant takes up residence in a dining room connected to Carmel’s mega Market District supermarket. Rustic fresh pastas, including pesto gnocchi with pistachio and a creamy pasta alla boscaiola with nubs of sausage and mushrooms, share the spotlight with oven-fired, Neapolitan-style pizzas. 11505 N. Illinois St., Carmel, 317-689-6330, osteriacarmel .com V $$

Upland Carmel Tap House

PUB GRUB See Downtown listing for description. 820 E. 116th St., Carmel, 317-564-3400, uplandbeer .com V $$

NORTHEAST

INCLUDES Broad Ripple, Castleton, Geist, Herron-Morton, Kennedy-King, Keystone at the Crossing, Meridian-Kessler, Nora, SoBro

Apocalypse Burger

BURGERS The Patachou crew repurposed its shuttered Crispy Bird location into this modernday diner. The focus is on a handful of burger variations and clever greasy-spoon sides like Old Major bacon–loaded fries and blocks of fried macaroni and cheese washed down with canned wine. For dessert, it’s a toss-up between Ding Dong cake or a root beer float. 115 E. 49th St., 317426-5001, apocalypseburger.com V $$

Aroma

INDIAN See Downtown listing for description. 4907 N. College Ave., 317-737-2290, aromaindy .com V $$

Baby’s

BURGERS This playful, family-friendly joint limits its menu to smashburgers, broasted chicken, milkshakes (spiked or not), and cocktails. Housed in a former drag-show bar, it also has fun with the building’s artsy legacy—the house burger is called a Strut Burger, and all of the cocktail names come straight from the RuPaul meme factory. Sip a Tongue Pop or a Sashay Away as you polish off the last of the Talbott Street Style fries dressed with bacon, cheese sauce, white barbecue sauce, and pickled jalapeño. 2147 N. Talbott St., 317-600-3559, babysindy.com V $$

Benyue Restaurant

CHINESE A longtime favorite as one of Indy’s only restaurants offering dim sum, the Lafayette Square standard Lucky Lou moved to the former Houlihan’s space at Castleton Square Mall in late 2022. While the name and modern decor may be new, the menu of dumplings, spring rolls, buns, and stir-fried favorites will be familiar to anyone who dined at the old spot. Classics from the all-day dim sum menu include savory chive pancakes, fluffy barbecued pork

buns, stuffed eggplant, and black-pepper pork ribs. Daring diners will want to add a dish of aromatic chicken feet or toothsome honeycomb tripe to their order. But don’t forgo the very respectable pan-fried noodles or beef chow fun, as well as spicy Szechuan fare, complex soups, and lesser-seen dishes such as subtly perfumed cumin lamb, piquant steamed fish, and real-deal Peking duck large enough to split for the whole table. 6020 E. 82nd St., 317-537-2282, benyueres taurant.com V $$

Big Lug Canteen

BREWPUB In this spacious hangout steps from the Monon Trail, seasonal beers and house standards include spins on wheats, ales, and IPAs. The menu is always filled with fun surprises (a Taco Bell–inspired pizza, for example, or a “horseshoe of the week” inspired by the gloppy sandwich of Springfield, Illinois) as well as excellent poutine, salads, and sandwiches, none more macho than the Nashville Hot Chicken. 1435 E. 86th St., 317-672-3503, biglugcanteen .com V $$

Blupoint Oyster House

SEAFOOD A blue dining room draped in rattan pendant lights and subtly nautical decor sets the scene for Gino Pizzi’s ode to coastal Italian fare. The scaled-down menu focuses on heartfelt dishes like squid-ink tonnarelli in lemoncream sauce, misto mare, and pan-roasted salmon. Fresh oysters are shucked to order. 5858 N. College Ave., 317-559-3259, blupointindy .com $$

Bocca

ITALIAN A sleek renovation of the former Shoefly Public House location, this modern-Italian eatery shares DNA with siblings Blupoint Oyster House, Ambrosia, and Maialina—all branches of Indy restaurateur Gino Pizzi’s pasta family. Seared scallops share the dish with little cheesefilled sacchetti dumplings, and the lasagna is a light, mushroom-layered variety sauced with bechamel. The hulking lamb shank served with polenta is a showstopper, though. After dinner, descend the stairs behind the host stand to the basement speakeasy, for some sofa lounging and mixology magic. 122 E. 22nd St., 317-426-2045, boccaindy.com $$$

Broad Ripple Brewpub

PUB GRUB We love the mainstays at Indiana’s oldest operating microbrewery: a creamy beercheese crock, Scotch eggs, and crunchy fish and chips. 840 E. 65th St., 317-253-2739, broadripple brewpub.com V $$

Delicia

NEW LATIN This SoBro spot serves up classic sips and easy-on-the-eyes Caribbean dishes to a chic and boisterous crowd. The Fire ’n’ Ice is still the go-to cocktail for its chile-dusted rim and mix of tequila, hibiscus, and basil. Standards include smoky octopus tostones; bright guacamole dusted with pistachios; and enchiladas de pato filled with tender shredded duck and topped with habanero sauce, lime crema, and plenty of bubbling Chihuahua cheese. 5215 N. College Ave., 317-9250677, deliciaindy.com $$

Diavola

PIZZA Pies emerge expertly bubbly and charred from a centerpiece brick oven. Ingredients are simple but top-shelf, including homemade

meatballs, which join the likes of spicy sopressata, smooth clumps of fior di latte, and torn basil. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-820-5100, diavola.net V $$

Festiva

MEXICAN This lively Latin spot on the east side puts a gourmet flourish on south-of-the-border fare. The menu includes tacos, plus an old favorite: poblanos stuffed with chorizo and queso. 1217 E. 16th St., 317-635-4444, festivaindy.com $$

Half Liter

BARBECUE In the airy back half of the complex that houses its sister event center, Liter House, owner Eddie Sahm’s Bavarian-themed barbecueand-beer hall has all the rollicking energy of Oktoberfest with the laidback charm of a Texas brisket pit. 5301 Winthrop Ave., 463-221-2800, half literbbq.com $$

His Place Eatery

SOUTHERN The chicken wings have a light shatter of a crust. The fried bologna sandwich can be upgraded to a coleslaw-topped beauty called The Experience. The smoked meats span the barbecue spectrum, from rib tips to brisket. Whatever you pick, order a side of cooked cabbage, a glass of The Uptown (a lemonade-heavy Arnold Palmer), and a cup of peach cobbler to go. 6916 E. 30th St., 317-545-4890, hisplaceeatery.com $$

Hollyhock Hill

FAMILY DINING Hollyhock Hill sticks with what’s worked since it opened in 1928: comfort in the form of chicken. Among the frilly tables, servers dole out platters of skillet-fried goodness paired with mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, and buttermilk biscuits. 8110 N. College Ave., 317-2512294, hollyhockhill.com $$$

Htaw Metta

NEW THAI/BURMESE After landing in Fort Wayne from the Thai border of Myanmar in the 1990s, owner Htira Rammahtaw moved to Carmel, where he opened a small Asian grocery and later this cheery, brightly appointed restaurant in the shops at Northview Mall. The focus is on Thai and authentic Burmese dishes, as well as a small selection of sushi and poke bowls. Be sure to start with Rammahtaw’s deconstructed version of a tangy, funky green tea salad with cabbage, tomatoes, dry roasted beans, and fermented tea leaves. Move on to a steaming bowl of coconut noodle soup with chicken and thick noodles, enriched with eggs and herbs. Or, try Thai boat noodles with an array of garnishes or flavorful, comforting Burmese fried noodles, or a richly seasoned goat curry that will delight spicy food lovers. Light salads such as one with papaya and eggplant, ground meat larb with plenty of lemongrass, and Num Tok beef salad are nice options for a light lunch. 1738 E. 86th St., 317-6690223, htawmetta.com $$

Late Harvest Kitchen

CONTEMPORARY A luscious comfort-food menu delivers top-shelf versions of family-table dishes, such as chunked kielbasa (on a base of mustard spaetzle browned in dill butter) and braised short ribs. Dessert is all about the sticky toffee pudding. 8605 River Crossing Blvd., 317-663-8063, lateharvestkitchen.com $$$

Petite Chou

FRENCH-INSPIRED The sweet versus savory crepe

dilemma is no contest here: dessert. The brownsugar version delivers gooey caramelized filling, velvety bananas, and sugar that crystallizes as you eat. 823 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-259-0765, petitechou bistro.com V $$

NORTHWEST

INCLUDES College Park, Lafayette Square, Traders Point

Amara Indian Cuisine and Bar

INDIAN Southern Indian and Indochinese specialties abound on the menu at this northside Asian eatery with a surprising selection of spirits and wines. Butter chicken, tandoori items, and familiar curries are solid here, but forgo more typical Indian dishes in favor of a variety of small plates such as eggplant and kale chaat dressed up with chutneys, crispy Manchurian cauliflower or mushrooms, and “juicy drums of heaven,” a platter of chicken drumsticks in a rich, tangy sauce. Don’t miss the playful fusion twist on saag paneer with spiced greens that comes topped with burrata. A full range of dosas includes smaller, fluffier uttapam dosas served with hearty rasam soup and two sauces. 1454 W. 86th St., 317-884-6982, amaraindy.com V $$

Chapati

MIDDLE EASTERN It’s not enough that the butter chicken melts in your mouth or the lamb kebab bursts with flavor—or that those family recipes, passed from generation to generation, barely scratch the surface of a menu that goes deep into Pakistani, Indian, and Middle Eastern cuisine. This chill westside counter-service spot has a fried-chicken side hustle called Shani’s Secret Chicken focused on humanely prepared Halal fried chicken cooked three ways: tandoorimarinated and buttermilk-battered; fried and dipped in spicy-sweet sauce; and the batterless, dry-rubbed Faridi style that’s extra spicy. 4930 Lafayette Rd., 317-405-9874, eatchapati.com V $$

Oakleys Bistro

CONTEMPORARY The meticulously plated fare at Steven Oakley’s eatery hails from a culinary era when sprigs of herbs and puddles of purées provided the flavor, and every single element on the plate served a purpose. The presentations are wild, with menu descriptions giving little more than clues as to what might arrive at the table. Heads-up on anything that appears in quotes, such as a creative “Coq au Vin.” 1464 W. 86th St., 317-824-1231, oakleysbistro.com V $$$

SOUTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Bargersville, Greenwood

Antilogy

NEW BRUNCH AND COCKTAILS This snug corner spot at the end of a Kroger parking lot divides its energy between the morning meal and evening libations. Early birds can choose from thoughtful combinations of fat

biscuits, sunny eggs, bourbon-candied bacon, and Belgian waffles, with plenty of Bovaconti coffee-based lattes and mochas to kick-start the day. In the evening, the menu shifts to shareable plates, such as a panko-crusted crispy burrata, parmesan truffle fries, and a molten spinachGruyere dip—all of which pair nicely with Antilogy’s bourbon cocktails. 5867 N. State Road 135, Greenwood, 317-530-5312, antilogycg.com $$

Revery

CONTEMPORARY This bistro offers approachable fine dining, with a casual workingman’s bar on the historic building’s back end. Unexpected small plates have included beets with whipped goat cheese and wasabi, and cheese curds fried in chorizo oil. 299 W. Main St., Greenwood, 317215-4164, reverygreenwood.com $$

WEST

INCLUDES Brownsburg, Pittsboro

Hoosier Roots

COMFORT Blink and you might miss this tuckedaway gem serving family-style mains and side dishes in a roadhouse setting. Chef and owner Greg Stellar runs the tiny kitchen, assembling sharable portions of house-smoked salmon, herb-crusted roast beef, beer-can chicken, and other rib-sticking classics. Diners take their seats at long community tables or smaller patio tables on the enclosed porch, or belly up to the little bar for something slightly more potent. Don’t miss the mini cakes—Texas chocolate or honey lavender with bauchant icing. 26 E. Main St., Pittsboro, 317-892-0071, hoosierrootscatering.com $$

Rick’s Cafe Boatyard

SEAFOOD You don’t have to be a Parrothead (though it helps) to appreciate the pontoon-life allure of Eagle Creek’s waterside restaurant, with its breezy dining room on stilts over the Dandy Trail boat slips. The menu gets creative with all of the casual-dining tropes, mixing smokedsalmon nachos and chicken cordon bleu fingers in with the jumbo shrimp martinis and oyster shooters. It serves all of the pastas, burgers, steaks, and entree salads you’d expect from a place that draws big crowds. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-290-9300, ricksboatyard.com $$$

Shiba Pho

NEW VIETNAMESE Deep bowls of the namesake aromatic noodle soup get top billing at this no-frills Brownsburg spot, but don’t miss the Chef’s Specials (including Vietnamese steak and egg with pate) or the sensibly stuffed banh mi sandwiches. 578 W. Northfield Dr., Brownsburg, 317-286-7018 $$

Tough Love

WHEN OUR GRAND-DOG, HANK, STARTED ACTING OUT, WE KNEW WE COULDN’T BE PUSHOVERS IF WE WANTED TO MAKE THE WORLD SAFE FOR SOFAS.

BY PHILIP GULLEY

“I bet it was Casey,” I said. Casey was our neighbor’s dog, a foul-tempered miniature collie who devoured furniture as if it were steak.

“That Casey is nothing but trouble,” my wife said, pulling Hank onto her lap, picking off the feathers and foam.

“He’d better stay away from here if he knows what’s good for him,” I said, reaching over to pat Hank on the head.

Eventually, we realized it was unlikely Casey would have walked the 5 miles to our son’s house to eat three of his couches, so we finally conceded Hank had a problem. Like many grandparents whose grandchildren are challenging, our conclusion was not arrived at easily, nor without pain and self-recrimination.

“It’s all my fault,” my wife said. “I never should have worked outside the home.”

“That’s probably it,” I said, unable to shoulder any blame while the pain was so raw.

yet, and more alarming, was Hank’s attitude, which can only be described as contemptuous.

We stared at the couch, incredulous. “Hank, did you do this?” my wife asked.

“What’s it to you?” Hank sneered.

Open rebellion was new ground for us. Our children and grandchildren were generally well-mannered.

“No nighty-night snack for you,” my wife said, pulling out the big guns.

“And you’re spending the night in the crate, young man,” I said. “No sleeping in between us with your butt in our faces.”

My wife gasped.

“This ends now,” I told her. “We clamp down, or there’ll be no end to it.”

She began to weep.

“Look what you’ve done,” I told Hank. “You upset your grandma. I hope you’re proud of yourself!”

SOME DOZEN YEARS AGO, our son and his wife became the parents of a 10-pound black Labrador puppy named Hank. We took in Hank’s cellmate, Ruby, a mutt, on the same day. While both dogs still possess the vital spark, their checkered lives are drawing to a close. Ruby has been a well-behaved lady, while Hank has eaten his way through four couches, one of them ours when he came for a weekend visit while his parents were vacationing.

The couch was brand-new, which appears to be Hank’s preference. For a dog, he has a sophisticated palate, favoring the garden-fresh flavor of a new sofa over the stale aftertaste of an old one. We had gone to the grocery store to purchase puppy food and were away less than a half hour, returning home to find Hank in our living room, his muzzle flecked with down feathers and bits of foam. Even then, despite indisputable proof, we stuck up for Hank, knowing our precious baby would never do such a thing, that another dog must have broken into the house in our absence and ate our couch.

If you know anything about families with troubled children, you’re no doubt aware that denial is a common impulse, and we were no exception. Within a few minutes of discovering the hole in our couch, I had turned the cushion over, hiding the gaping, eviscerated wound. Out of sight, out of mind.

This past April, Hank came for another visit while our farmer son did his spring planting. Confident Hank had outgrown his sofa-eating days, we extracted no promise or pledge that he would refrain from sampling our sofa. It appeared our trust was well-placed, until one evening we went for a walk and returned home to discover Hank had relapsed, chewing a hole in the same cushion he had gnawed in his youth. This time there would be no denial, no flipping the cushion to hide the ruins. Worse

“Cry me a river,” he said, then lit a cigarette and blew smoke in my face.

If we had been able to chalk this up to youthful indiscretion, it might have been easier to bear, but Hank was almost 13 years old, 91 in human years. By all rights, he should have been toothless by now.

We talked about it that night in bed, with Hank lying between us, his butt in our faces. He had wailed pitifully when we pointed to his crate at bedtime, then, like all addicts do, promised never to do it again.

“I think he really means it this time,” my wife said. “Yes,” I said. “Now he knows we’re serious.”

With Ruby in failing health, we’re thinking about our next dog. Given all the designer breeds now available, we’re in the market for one who is allergic to foam and feathers and toothless, positively adoring soup and Jell-O. As you can tell, we’re serious now.

Illustration by RYAN SNOOK

Philip Gulley is a Quaker pastor, author, and humorist. Back Home Again chronicles his views on life in Indiana.

THAN THE BEST

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