Indianapolis Monthly May 2024

Laura Steele’s Home Studio

Tony Kanaan in his virtual man cave

44

ANATOMY OF A WINNER

A meticulous revamp at Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing may be the key to snatching the checkered flag this year and proving that it takes a team to make it to Victory Lane.

52

CATHEDRALS OF CHROME

It’s fitting that Indy is home to some zealous car collectors and their impressive arrays. Three devotees share their obsession, including how one bought his first car at 13. EDITED

60

AT HOME ON WHEELS

Westfield Motor District provides auto enthusiasts a chance to come together and show off their treasured cars and memorabilia in a condo community like no other.

64

MEMORY LANE

Fritz Frommeyer fell in love with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and its prominent figures, legendary cars, and exciting history at a young age. He writes about his years in the fledgling IMS Museum.

BY TONY REHAGEN ON

Photo by Tony Valainis

BY JULIA SPALDING

BY JEANA HARRIS

BY FRITZ FROMMEYER

PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS

Hometown Leaders in Heart Care # 1 in INDIANA

Our nationally recognized cardiovascular program in Central Indiana is leading the way for heart care, using cutting-edge technology, personalized treatments and the latest clinical trials.

Experience award-winning care with hometown warmth, because our greatest reward is caring for your one and only heart.

Take a Heart Risk Assessment or Schedule an Appointment

FranciscanHealth.org/HeartCare

Tap in at Mass & Belle, hop into the line at the renovated Sidedoor Bagel, and get pointers on making the perfect pizza from Pablo Gonzalez.

Lauded Indianapolis chef Abbi Merriss is making a fresh start after 12 years at the helm of Bluebeard.

It’s impossible to get enough of these fried, sugary-sweet churro treats.

Each pizza at Sam’s Square Pie is a chunky, cheesy work of art, a testament to Jeff Miner’s skill and passion.

The Hindu Temple of Central Indiana invites all to contemplate and connect.

69 // TRAVEL

Fair weather season is ahead. Get a jump on summer travel planning with this calendar of 30 road trip–worthy festivals, art fairs, outdoor concerts, and special events throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

82 // ADVANCED DEGREES

Moving up the corporate ladder or paving a new career path can necessitate education and training above and beyond a bachelor’s degree. Our profiles of Midwest colleges and universities provide details about professional degree and certification programs designed to accommodate busy lifestyles and schedules.

IN THE NEXT ISSUE

HEALTH WATCH: INNOVATIONS

Advancements in diagnostics, technology, and pharmaceutical treatments have led to improved outcomes and success rates in medical practices. We’ll explore the latest developments, tools, and trends in patient care.

2024 FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGERS

Track Record

FOR THE BETTER

part of two decades, from the mid ’90s through the aughts, I spent the Sunday of each Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway absorbing the sights and sounds of the Indianapolis 500. While I dreaded waking up around 5 or 6 a.m. to pack up necessities for the day—food, drinks, sunscreen, and seat cushions—I learned quickly that the best way to avoid race-day traffic is to arrive at the track early and go home early. My group tailgated for breakfast and exited the bleachers immediately when the checkered flag dropped. Everything that happened in between made up for the drowsiness and naps that would inevitably follow in the late afternoon.

Andrea Ratcliff Editor-in-Chief

There is nothing like being at the IMS on race day, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of spectators. Everything is amplified. You can feel the roar of the engines in your bones and smell the tires spinning out on the pavement. The pre-race program elicits a range of emotions, from marveling at police officers standing up on moving motorcycles to tearing up during the playing of taps and the ensuing airplane flyover in recognition of Memorial Day. Following all the starts and stops on the track turns the event into an all-day roller coaster.

I haven’t attended the race in over a decade, but last year, freelance writer Tony Rehagen inspired me to start a new tradition: listening to the radio broadcast of the 500 in my backyard. In this issue, Rehagen goes behind the scenes with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing as the team develops its strategy for the 108th running of the race (p. 44). We also get a peek at some cool car collections (p. 52) and a nostalgic look back at the early days of the IMS Museum while the site undergoes a transformative $89 million renovation (p. 64).

Cheers to the past, present, and future of The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Mike Botkin

Freelance writer Mike Botkin has 50 years of experience in the publishing business, writing for major national and international publications and city newspapers. During his career, he has been editor of USA Gymnastics magazine and production manager at the Indianapolis Business Journal and Indianapolis Monthly and also had stints as a sports editor. He writes IM’s Naysayer web column and contributes his expertise on psilocybin legislation to this month’s Speed Read (p. 11).

Fritz Frommeyer

Indianapolis-born Fritz Frommeyer saw his first Indy 500 in 1946 from outside the fence as his father drove along Georgetown Road during the race. He caught glimpses of the cars as they sped past the gaps between the grandstands, leading to a lifelong love of the race and 68 years of involvement with the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum (p. 64). He is a senior writer for Vintage Motorsport magazine.

Chloe Zola

An illustrator whose work is often motivated by social justice issues and current affairs, like legalizing research and treatment using psilocybin mushrooms (p. 11), Chloe Zola was born and raised in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. She has been living in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, with her family for the last seven years. Her interests include negotiating with her very opinionated toddler, chocolate chips, and learning Spanish at a creeping pace.

CIRCLE CITY

Sprouting Hope

A law signed on March 13 by Governor Holcomb established the therapeutic psilocybin research fund. It authorizes Indiana institutions to secure funding to study the chemical as a treatment for medical conditions. But it’s largely misunderstood, thanks to the reputation “magic mushrooms” had in the 1970s.

( SPEED READ CONTINUED )

PSILOCYBIN OCCURS NATURALLY. It’s found in more than 200 species of Basidiomycetes fungi, collectively known as psilocybin mushrooms, found around the world. The chemical can also be synthetically produced and administered in standardized dosages, the form generally used in clinical settings.

IT CAN MITIGATE MULTIPLE CONDITIONS. Psilocybin, well-known for its “mindexpanding” effects, has also been shown to improve an array of maladies. These include post-traumatic stress disorder in combat veterans and first responders, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, chronic pain, migraines, and alcohol and tobacco use disorders. If taken properly, psilocybin can connect detached neurotransmitters, which send messages between nerves in the brain, promoting mood stability, concentration, and mental well-being.

BUT PROMISING RESEARCH WAS HALTED.

According to the American Society for Microbiology, trials showing the efficacy of psilocybin were conducted in the 1960s. However, research funding bottomed out after the compound, along with other psychedelics like LSD and mescaline, was designated a Schedule 1 drug by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency as part of the war on drugs.

IT WORKS BY ACTIVATING SEROTONIN RECEPTORS. Depending on the person and dosage, psilocybin can cause euphoria, changes in perception, perceived spiritual experiences, and feelings of detachment, among other effects. These aren’t due to psilocybin itself but to its metabolization upon ingestion, which produces its active form, psilocin. Psilocin activates serotonin 5-HT2a receptors on cortical pyramidal cells in the brain. These cells are “the major computational units of the brain and where everything comes together. [They help us] put together our picture of what reality is,” says David Nichols, a professor emeritus at Purdue University School of Pharmacy who has been studying them for decades. “By activating these receptors, psilocin … influences cognitive function and perception.”

PSILOCYBIN MUST BE TAKEN UNDER A PHYSICIAN’S CARE. Taking psilocybin mushrooms with a doctor’s supervision is usually quick and simple. The mushrooms may be eaten fresh or dried, but psilocybin is bitter, so patients usually mix it in with food or steep it as tea.

HOOSIER EXPERIENCES INSPIRED SENATE

BILL 139. According to Indiana State Senator Ed Charbonneau of District 5, who authored the bill along with Senator Tyler Johnson of District 14 (both Republicans), it was testimony from Hoosier participants in established clinical research that gave birth to the idea of allowing the use of mushrooms in the state for medical purposes. The committee heard from a person afflicted with cluster headaches—called “suicide headaches” by some sufferers—who participated in a study at Yale University. After the second treatment utilizing the mushrooms, a 475-day run of headaches was broken. Another Indiana resident living with debilitating obsessive-compulsive disorder testified before the committee that after his second mushroom treatment in a study at Johns Hopkins University, his symptoms all but disappeared.

YET, IT SOON DIED. Public interest in SB 139 was high, at least partially because of the association the drug has with hippie counterculture, films, and TV. The bill passed the Senate and went on to the House. “Dr. Brad Barrett [a Republican from District 56 who is chairman of the House’s Public Health Committee] heard the compelling testimony and got on board, so the bill passed his committee and went on to the Ways and Means Committee,” says Charbonneau. “And like so many other bills, there it died.”

BUT SUPPORTERS DIDN’T GIVE UP. Proponents decided to try to piggyback SB 139’s language. Charbonneau and Barrett met weekly to scour legislation for germane bills and found a place in House Bill 1259, a healthcare bill aimed at increasing the number of nurses in Indiana. It passed on March 13.

DEEP POCKETS ARE NEEDED. “This bill provides hope for many people who are in hopeless situations,” says Charbonneau. “But there is not a great deal of love for creating bills that aren’t funded.” The research will commence as soon as an entity with an interest in this type of treatment infuses the money. Charbonneau is not actively soliciting support from any individual or organization. While he is, of course, hopeful funding will come through, he notes, “I introduced this bill to create an opportunity. I wanted to elevate the discussion of what I thought was a very helpful treatment. I wanted to put a structure in place when money comes available.” That said, Charbonneau speculates there may be discussions regarding funding in the next budget session in January 2025.

THIS ISN’T ABOUT RECREATIONAL USE. In their flower power heyday, recreational psychedelic mushrooms were called shrooms, Alice, and mushies. To be clear: That’s not what we’re talking about. “It will be very controlled. It will be conducted in research settings and has nothing to do with getting anything out on the street,” says Charbonneau.

MARIJUANA ISN’T LIKELY TO RIDE IN ON MUSHROOMS’ COATTAILS. The question now on the minds of many is, “Does this mean medical marijuana is next?” Charbonneau is doubtful. He points to the benefits being anecdotal. “There have been no studies that show medical marijuana works.” A medical marijuana bill passing is “not close,” he says.

INDIANA IS PART OF A MOVEMENT. No state has legalized psilocybin mushrooms for recreational consumption; only Oregon and Colorado have decriminalized them for medical use statewide. Eleven states aside from Indiana are also working on medical research approval in one form or another. —MIKE BOTKIN

From left: Trent Dowling, STAR Bank Central Region President with Emma Langdon, Dawn Langdon and Mary Langdon — three generations of family leadership.

Speed Bump

Q: RACERS USED TO REGULARLY HIT NEW TOP SPEEDS AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY, BUT A RECORD HASN’T BEEN BROKEN IN YEARS. ANY IDEA WHY? A: In some ways, engine technology has outgrown the venerable IMS. The track was built in 1909 with gentle corners banked at only 9.2 degrees, more than adequate for the cars of the day. (For comparison, Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, built in 1969, is banked at 33 degrees.) The first Indianapolis 500 winner averaged a shade above 74 mph, about how fast The Hoosierist negotiates the Costco parking lot. Today’s racers turn in laps at roughly twice the takeoff speed of an F-16 fighter jet. Not too long after Arie Luyendyk turned in a blistering all-time high of 237.498 mph during a 1996 qualifying lap, engine specs were dialed back for safety’s sake. Despite that, speeds at recent races have crept into the high 220s, so look for more rule adjustments. —SAM STALL

The Indy Mini

A MANNER-FESTO FOR RUNNING THE HALF MARATHON ON MAY 4.

Get downtown in plenty of time to find parking, situate yourself at the start, and stretch. Decide on a place to reunite with family and friends. They won’t be able to meet you in the runners’ service area at the finish line. Apply sunscreen. Bring a wad of TP just in case the port-a-potties are out. Don’t wear new running shoes. Resist the urge to sprint right away. Don’t waste energy zigzagging around the other runners. Stop for water or Gatorade, even if you’re not thirsty. About halfway through comes the lap around the IMS track. Yes, you can kiss the bricks.

$150-300

Average cost of an Indiana speeding ticket

That might seem steep, but it’s only enough to make Indiana the 24th-priciest speeding state. The champion is hardly a surprise: Illinois, where a lead foot extracts $75–2,500. ask

Chris Gahl, Rev chair

THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER AT VISIT INDY HAD A PERSONAL REASON FOR TAKING ON THE FORMIDABLE TASK OF RUNNING THIS MONTH’S FUNDRAISING GALA AT THE INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY ON MAY 4.

BY SAM STALL

With your big job at Visit Indy and a busy family life at home, your plate was full. Why add Rev to your to-do list? I was asked last October by the immediate past chair of the event, Melina Kennedy, if I had an interest in taking the reins. I’ve attended Rev every year since its inception, and I care deeply about it. I spent a weekend praying about taking on the responsibility and felt moved to do it because Rev is a fundraiser for the Indiana University Health Foundation.

Why was the IU Health connection so important? Melina unknowingly approached me immediately after I was released from my IU Health oncologist’s care for testicular cancer after some five years of treatment. I guess you could say I felt called to the task. I first saw Dr. Larry Einhorn within a week of being diagnosed. I’ve never felt so loved so quickly by another human being. Within minutes,

he put my mind at ease. Through my work as an advocate for Indianapolis, I discovered he was one of the world’s leading oncologists, that men come from everywhere to be treated by him for testicular cancer.

Were you changed by that multiyear travail? When I heard I had cancer, there was an immediate refocusing of my entire life and a reassessment of what’s important and where I want to invest my unrenewable resource— time. Although that focus has ebbed and flowed through the last five years, it still guides my thinking. I have my wife Catherine and 17- and 15-year-old sons, and nothing’s more important than them.

How does one orchestrate an event like Rev? I started working on it in November! But I should mention that Rev has a full-time executive director, Carol Howard. She does year-round

planning for this event. Over the past 10 years, it’s grown from about 1,000 attendees to more than 3,500. A lot of effort is put into making sure the best chefs donate their time and energy to make food, and we also place a big focus on getting great performers and artists for the two stages at the Speedway and the top IndyCar drivers to attend and mix and mingle with our community. It’s an incredibly impactful night for a cause that’s very close to me.

Anything new to look forward to this year? Yes, nonalcoholic cocktails through a partnership with local company Loren’s Alcohol-Free Beverages. Also, we’re putting a Love Indy Lounge into place, open to all attendees. It’s a space celebrating all the art, culture, music, sports, and people who make Indy vibrant and welcoming to our visitors. And we hope to see Colts quarterback Anthony

PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS

Richardson walk the red carpet, as well as Crime Junkie podcast host Ashley Flowers.

In your opinion, what’s the best thing about Rev? The behind-thescenes access to the famed oval as the excitement of May is getting started. You are standing in the shadow of the Pagoda as the sun sets, tasting the best food in Indy with IndyCar drivers buzzing around. It’s a unique experience to be at the IMS at night and walk up to Scott Dixon or Hélio and ask how they’re feeling about May and take a photo. Dancing on the Yard of Bricks as the evening winds down puts you in the same spot that one driver, someone likely also at that dance party, will kiss just a couple of weeks later.

Guests can also go around the track in a two-seater race car. Have you done that? This year’s IndyCar event co-chairs are Ed and Heather Carpenter, a couple Catherine and I are proud to call friends. More than 10 years ago, Ed, an IndyCar driver, drove me around. He didn’t waste time peeling out of pit row and onto the track. The right side of the car was inches from the bright white wall. It’s wild to go into a 90-degree turn and realize you’re blind to what’s ahead. The backstretch is peaceful. You hear wind. I vividly remember wondering, How does Ed do this for three hours with 32 other cars vying to get past him?

How different is Rev from the events you run with Visit Indy? It actually mirrors how we pull off major events inside the Indiana Convention Center or at a hotel. This just happens to be at the IMS. In both cases, professionals set up and tear down everything. The difference is that with Rev, the majority of them are based here.

Is there a personal stamp you’d like to put on your edition of this event? Two, in fact. I want everyone who sets foot at Rev to know the power of IU Health to save lives. I also want attendees to become more boastful, humbly boastful, about Indianapolis as a city. We’ve seen a decline in residents loving on Indy on social media. Some of that is lingering from the pandemic, but it’s also due to misperceptions about how our city is doing.

“WHEN I HEARD I HAD CANCER, THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE REFOCUSING OF MY ENTIRE LIFE AND A REASSESS MENT OF WHAT’S IMPORTANT AND WHERE I WANT TO INVEST MY UNRENEWABLE RESOURCE—TIME.”

And how is our city doing? Tourism is on the rise. Indeed, research shows that 2024 will be the city’s busiest year ever. Yet, there’s other research showing that the vibe of our residents is to be defensive or apologetic about the city. We’re looking to change that. That’s why I want to rally those who attend Rev to raise their voices a little more proudly about Indianapolis.

Nobody can say you don’t walk the walk, given that you and your family moved back here from Hawaii. Catherine and I met at Butler. At the time we got married, my mom lived in Hawaii, so Catherine and I lived there while I was part-owner of a marketing firm promoting Hawaii tourism. In 2005, we decided to start a family, so I took a job at Visit Indy so that I could advocate for the city I grew

up in and that I wanted my children to grow up in.

How’d you shift from selling Hawaii to selling Indianapolis? Every city in the world competes for tourism and convention business. The main difference is with whom. Hawaii competes with Fiji, Tahiti, and Australia. Indy competes with San Antonio, Denver, and Dallas.

Do you think you’ll chair Rev again? With Melina asking me to do this within two days of being declared cancer-free, now felt like the perfect time. However, this will likely be the only year I help out in an official capacity. Regardless, I’ll always look forward to being out at the most famed racetrack in the world kicking off the [Indy 500] Month of May.

Great Apes

OUR CLOSEST EVOLUTIONARY COUSINS MOVE INTO THE INDIANAPOLIS ZOO FOR THE FIRST TIME. BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

CHIMPANZEES have left a large prehensile footprint on American pop culture. The apes (not to be confused with monkeys, which have tails and sit farther away in our family tree) first swung into our hearts acting alongside Ronald Reagan in Bedtime for Bonzo and starring in B.J. and the Bear, George of the Jungle, and Super Bowl ads. On May 25, the Indianapolis Zoo unveils a vastly better way to encounter the most people-like of all creatures: a massive exhibit that is the first of its kind in North America.

Primate specialists from Japan, Guinea, Congo, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire contributed their expertise to creating the International Chimpanzee Complex based on functional naturalism. The relatively new concept in zoo environments connects with an important aspect of chimp society: friendship. “The goal with the design of this exhibit was to create a space that serves as a functional forest, promoting natural chimpanzee behaviors by giving them the freedom to decide where to go, what to do, and who to do it with,” says Indianapolis Zoo spokesperson Emily Garrett. Chimps in wild communities form human-like relationships. They have acquaintances, pals, and best friends.

“Like human friendships, these relationships are dynamic,” adds Garrett. “Smaller groups may break away from the main group during the day to find food or use other resources and then come back together. This community will have the same ability.”

The elevated complex consists of dwellings with yards connected by a quarter-mile trail visible from throughout the zoo. The chimps romp along as they like. At 9,600 square feet, the complex spans the zoo. Along the way are access points to ground level, where chimps can engage with visitors from behind glass.

Your first glimpse of the hairy new Hoosiers will be at the Community Hub, home base for the troop of 20. It affords them a view of the downtown skyline and of White River State Park.

A stroll down the trail from the hub gets chimps to the Harlan/Shriver Families Cognition Center. There, they can solve puzzles and play games on touch-screen computers. For fun, tackle the same cognitive challenges as the chimps. (If you’re bested, don’t despair. They share 98.8 percent of our DNA, after all.) An expansive landscaped area for lolling in the sun—chimps only, alas—is attached.

The third hangout in the primates’ new digs is the Deborah J. Simon Culture Center. Watch for chimps in the outside yard showing off their

prowess with tools. They are able to use many natural implements to eat, groom—and improve their sex lives. According to Cambridge University primatologist Dr. William McGrew in an article for Science, male chimps use dry leaves as the ape equivalent of inviting a girl in for a nightcap, then casually playing “Let’s Get it On.” The line between man and ape gets thinner all the time.

The intelligent creatures joining the zoo come from sanctuaries, private owners, entertainment companies, and research facilities. “We were approached by several groups that needed to find new homes for their animals for various reasons,” says Garrett. “Some were raised alone and had never seen another chimp.”

Due to their entertainment presence, it’s not commonly known that chimpanzees are endangered. The World Wildlife Federation reports only 150,000–250,000 are left in nature, all in Africa, where they face habitat loss and hunters. The ultimate goal of the complex is to inspire conservation of this unique species.

THE COMMUNITY HUB PROVIDES THE NEW ZOO INHABITANTS WITH PLENTY OF ROOM TO ROAM.

THE TICKET

(1) Dalí Alive Ongoing–May 31

Immerse yourself in 30,000 square feet of vibrant surrealist art by Salvador Dalí at The Lume at Newfields. His watercolor paintings from the IMA’s permanent collection are on display. Check out the latest cafe concept, El Mercado Surreal. discovernewfields.org

(2) Romeo & Juliet

May 3–4

The Indianapolis Ballet and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra bring the timeless tragedy of the starcrossed lovers to the stage at Clowes Memorial Hall. indyballet.org

(3) The Sweets & Snacks Expo

May 14–16

Chocolate, cookies, and licorice! Chips, popcorn, and jerky! Go nuts (and gumdrops) at the Indiana Convention Center. We’ll race you. sweetsandsnacks.com

(4) I Made Rock ’N’ Roll Festival

May 18

Janelle Monáe, Gary Clark Jr., Robert Randolph Band, Joy Oladokun, Meet Me @ the Altar, and Inner Peace star in GangGang’s Black rock concert on the American Legion Mall. imaderocknroll.com

(5) Indiana Peony Festival

May 18

The downtown Noblesville event that started in 2021 has grown into a massive celebration of our state flower. Don’t miss Brunch and Blooms or Peonies in the Park. indianapeonyfestival.com

Baby Borg

VINTAGE: 1936

Resides in storage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum

THE FAMOUS Borg-Warner Trophy is updated annually with a bas-relief image of the newest winning driver. Then, the sterling silver monolith— insured in excess of $3 million—is securely dispatched to the IMS Museum, where it is ogled by visitors until the next year. But that doesn’t mean the victor of the Indianapolis 500 goes home empty-handed. An 18-inch-tall replica known as the Baby Borg is bestowed on both the driver and his team owner to commemorate their dream come true. This particular Baby Borg was the first of its kind. It was awarded to Louis Meyer—the first three-time winner of the 500—in 1936. Donated by his daughters Yvonne Stephen and Kay Bignotti in 2023, it’s temporarily in storage while the museum is being renovated. Meyer is also noted for inadvertently starting a 500 tradition when he quaffed buttermilk at his victory party after his second win.

—CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

PHOTO

WANTED

Gather ’Round

It seems to be standard party practice: Everyone winds up in the kitchen. The fruit of a two-woman workshop in Bloomington, the 4.5-foot Amagansett Island is destined to become the heart of the kitchen—and, thus, the home. The ambrosia maple butcher block top has a waterfall edge and sits on a powder-coated, 12-gauge steel base. The striking piece boasts a hand-rubbed, food-safe finish. Its overhang can fit up to four stools, so a few guests can congregate at one corner, leaving you a little space to continue prepping as you chat. Custom sizing and delivery available. $5,900. siosidesign.com

Good Zones

ADDRESS

TWO CHICKS DISTRICT CO. REOPENS IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN NOBLESVILLE. BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

AFTER SHUTTERING her Bates-Hendricks store shortly after the final season of Good Bones wrapped last fall, Mina Starsiak Hawk has moved the boutique north to a historic Noblesville neighborhood.

The cheerful emporium is split into three separate zones: one dedicated to Good Bones merch, a second full of home goods, and a third showing off giftable eye candy (and actual candy) geared toward women and babies. The home space houses an eclectic array of tabletop wares and decor, along with select pieces of furniture. Find oversize pastel teacups alongside cast iron flamingos and stoneware bedside lamps.

Can’t find what you had in mind? Flip through the design book and place a special order. Sales associate Amanda Lee notes that customers often make a day of their visit, hitting the eateries and other shops within walking distance. “They can stroll around for hours, something that wasn’t easy to do at the former location.” Lee also shares that works by local artists will be in rotation. Vibrant paintings by Stephanie Carignan of Fishers are on offer until the end of May.

(1) Recycled glass parakeet, $18 (2) Hand-painted cup and saucer, $27

(3) Dachshund bookends, $38 (4) Mama cap, $20

(5) Cheetah figurine, $27

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE PHILOSOPHY?

Choose what you love and let the collection build itself. I felt so much freedom when I adopted that thinking.

ANY SPECIFIC COLORS

YOU’RE DRAWN TO?

Black and white is a classic combination and the strongest. It wins every time. Jewel tones have my heart, though. I love shades of green and blue.

WHEN YOU’RE IN A RUSH, WHAT SIMPLE LOOKS DO YOU TURN TO?

My go-tos are very much a jumpsuit, a unitard, or a festival T-shirt and jeans. With a heel and jewels if we’re getting a martini. —C.V.

Co-founder of GangGang

Green With Envy

LIVEN YOUR HOME AND PATIO WITH PLANTS IN EXCEPTIONAL VESSELS.

BY STEPHEN GARSTANG

(1) Perennity washable kraft paper bag. Also in white, $19. Willow & Star Flowers, 1760 E. 86th St., 317-669-0767

(2) Wicker wall baskets Also in brown. Set of two, $75. Habig Garden Shop, 15311 N. Meridian St., Carmel, 317-896-2828

(3) Handcarved Marret Metzger

Studio ceramic vase $130. Willow & Star Flowers, 1760 E. 86th St., 317-669-0767

(4) Vintage copper vase or watering pitcher. $110. Le Shoppe by Tiffany Skilling, 1057 E. 54th St., Ste. D, 317-501-7953

(5) Broadleaf planter made in Thailand. $18. Sullivan Hardware & Garden, 4838 N. Pennsylvania St., 317-924-5040

(6) Cubist-inspired, handpainted amphora urn for branches. $69. Surroundings, 1101 E. 54th St., Ste. B, 317-254-8883

(7) Campo de’ Fiori aged Italian terra cotta pot. $119. Rosie’s Gardens, 10402 N. College Ave., Carmel, 317-844-6157

Garfield Park

KNOWN FOR ITS GARDENS, THE CITY’S OLDEST PARK IS ALSO FERTILE GROUND FOR ARTS AND ENTREPRENEURS. BY MEGAN FERNANDEZ

ENJOY LUNCH Handsdown the cutest sandwich shop in town and purportedly the oldest, Greiner’s (1) serves subs and then some, including personal pizzas and fudgy brownies. On Facebook, the owner posts loving tributes to regulars. The endless supply of these posts speaks volumes about customer loyalty. 2126 Shelby St., 317-783-4136, greiners1969.com

GRAB AND GO A staple for 18 years, Porky’s Pizza Plus (2) specializes in thin and “super-super-thin” crust pies for takeout or delivery. Grab the 12-topping Around the World whopper of a pizza to go and share it with friends at Garfield Brewery down the block. 2236 Shelby St., 317-786-9434

CHILL OUT The drafts at Garfield Brewery (3) are named after tidbits of neighborhood life. Break the ice by asking a fellow patron about the meaning of Saint Catherine (a Vienna lager) or Ticklebelly (a

strawberry ale). The covered patio is dogand BYO snacks–friendly. 2310 Shelby St., 317-602-7270, garfieldbrewery.com

CAFFEINATE Boho-sweet Helm Coffee (4) brews all the usual nouveau-cafe suspects, like a cortado and seasonal lattes, and roasts its own beans. Take home a bag— and a pint of Jeni’s ice cream from the cooler. Make a special trip for mat Pilates on Friday mornings or a bakery pop-up on the occasional Saturday. 2324 Shelby St., helmcoffeeroasters.com

BROWSE Petite bookstore Pen and Pink Vintage (5) gives off a Left Bank air with its antique furniture, vintage magazines, paper flowers, tintype portraits, and handmade notebooks with images of sewing patterns on the covers. It’s a great place to find beautifully designed new editions of the classics. 2435 Shelby St., 317-416-0197, penandpinkvintage.square.site

DISCOVER AND LEARN Head over to the eastern side of Garfield Park’s landmark

STREET SAVVY

Clockwise from left: Everyone’s favorite community art space, Tube Factory, is growing by leaps and bounds; From the furniture to the knickknacks, everything is for sale at lifestyle studio Skosh; Regulars at Garfield Brewery are known for giving a warm welcome to first-timers.

THE TURF Near south side

E. GARFIELD DR.

GARFIELD PARK SHELBY ST.

PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS

conservatory to find Blake’s Garden (6), a memorial park with a plant for every letter of the alphabet and edible leaves to sample, like stevia. A plant sale is happening on May 18. 2505 Conservatory Dr., 317327-7183, garfieldgardensconservatory.org

PLAY EIGHT-BALL Central American specialties define the menu at Sabor Latino (7), a joint with a few tables, a bar, and billiards. Try a baleada, a flour tortilla smeared with refried red beans and filled with eggs, avocado, crema, and crumbled queso. Foosball fans respect the top-ofthe-line Tornado table. 2531 Shelby St., 317-780-7074, facebook.com/saborlatino2531

HEAD TO THE MARKET

Bring your pickleball paddles to the Garfield Park Farmers Market (8), which sets up next to the

nicely surfaced tennis courts lined for pickle. The market is open Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to noon. Look for Garfield Honey Co. and take your Illumine coffee in the adjacent Sunken Garden. 2345 Pagoda Dr., garfieldparkfarmersmarket.com

EMBRACE THE ECLECTIC Owned by two interior designers, Skosh (9) introduces the concept of a lifestyle studio to Indy. Depending on how you look at it, it’s a vintage furniture store with a coffee bar and lunch counter, or it’s a cafe with a lot of mini living rooms. Everything is for sale, even the glassware your zero-proof martini is served in. The home goods lean toward the ’70s, and ’80s, when we loved our plaid thermoses and brocade couches. 2555 Shelby St., 317-600-3571, skosh.co

GO GREEN If you’re looking for philodendron spiritus-sancti, the Brazilian “holy grail of philodendrons,” check the glass cases at Serendipity Plants (10), where precious clippings are kept like jewels. That species costs $205, but the shop has many common houseplants, too. 2614 Shelby St., 317-468-5427, serendipityplants.com

GIVE IN Order your gigantic twice-baked raspberry croissants or Basque creme brulee Danish online for pickup at Cafe Babette (11) 2627 Shelby St., cafebabette.com

EXPLORE Community art space Tube Factory (12) has grown into a full-fledged campus. Must sees are the Chicken Chapel of Love art installation and a Tree of 40 Fruit sapling, grafted to produce 40 varieties of stone fruit and bloom in a spectrum of colors. 1125 Cruft St., 317-4506630, tubefactory.org

Clockwise from left: Dayna Thompson, owner of Serendipity Plants; a sugar-dusted delight at Cafe Babette; owner of Pen & Pink Vintage Laura McPhee with the resident bookstore cat, Beans; Patrons, both human and canine, enjoy the bright-andairy ambiance at Helm Coffee.

Jennifer Meeker Ceramics log and mushroom planter, $58, Serendipity Plants

Fazenda Um whole coff beans, $28, Helm Coff

My Radio Studio

INDY 500 CORRESPONDENT AND WJJK CLASSIC ROCK QUEEN LAURA STEELE LET US INTO THE BROADCASTING HUB OF HER CARMEL HOME. BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO

(1) Steele first attended the Grammys in the ’90s, interviewing Bonnie Raitt. This poster display is a prized possession.

(2) One of six shadow boxes Steele has filled with concert and sporting event ticket stubs. “It’s sad it’s all electronic now.”

(3) Artwork from a photo of Steele and her late mom. “My head is resting on her shoulder. I look at it every day for inspiration.”

(4) Steele grabbed this homage to rock ’n’ roll frontman Robert Plant at a charity auction. “I’m a huge Led Zeppelin fan.”

(5) Steele’s colleague at Channel 13

Emily Poe made this illustration of a mic flag with the call letters WTHR.

(6) “Everyone should have a radio for news and music, not depend on technology. I have four around the house.”

(7) The sound of this button is Roger Penske telling Indy 500 drivers to start their engines. “It makes my dogs bonkers.”

(8) A commemorative Indy 500 bottle of (faux) milk signed by Josef Newgarden. Steele has covered more than 20 races.

PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS

FIT BODY. CALM MIND.

Offering over 150 classes a week including Heated and Room Temp Vinyasa Yoga, Yin, Restorative, Pilates Reformer Sessions and group fitness classes. Off-site corporate and private group classes available.

Join us for Outdoor Yoga classes this summer at Holliday Park & Newfields. www.invokestudio.com

Divine Time Capsule

A 1972 AVRIEL SHULL–DESIGNED HOME IN KOKOMO SELLS IN RECORD TIME FOR $400,000. BY

JEANA HARRIS

IF YOU WERE among the millions captivated by the immaculate, midcentury modern masterpiece created by Avriel Shull in Kokomo, we’ve got good news. Even though it was the most-viewed listing in the entire country for the single day it was on the market and agent Paul Wyman received inquiries from all over, the new owners are fellow Hoosiers. And even better? They aren’t gutting it (as thousands of commenters feared)—or changing much at all, for that matter. Chantel and Chad are preservationists and old-house lovers at heart—they’ve spent the last 25 years in a 100-year-old farmhouse. After becoming empty nesters, they knew it was time to move but couldn’t find anything that felt special enough to pull them away from a home they still dearly loved. That is, until one morning in February when Chantel saw a new listing and sent it to Chad right away. “I know we’re not ready, but this is everything we want,” she told him.

They looked at it the next morning and put in an offer immediately.

From the Greek tile entryway and the whimsical lemon lights in the kitchen to the incredible woodwork and the indoor pool surrounded by pink quartz walls, the 6,200-squarefoot home is jaw-dropping. The craftsmanship is in a league of its own. “The home is so solidly built,” Chad says. “Even the inspector was impressed that nothing major was wrong.”

The couple plans only minor changes: new carpet, converting the pool to a salt system, and replacing damaged wallpaper. Happily, the pair found the original proofs for the custom wallpaper designs, plus boxes with replacement glass for all the chandeliers.

After their offer was accepted, the couple reached out to Shull’s daughter, Bambi. She was overjoyed to hear how much they love the home and that they will maintain its original designs. As the pair learned more about Shull’s work, “there was a moment of feeling not worthy,” Chantel shares. “But we are truly honored to be the new caretakers of this home.”

REALTY CHECK

PHOTOS COURTESY CASSIE SALINAS

WE NAIL THE CONCEPT

Woodstock is custom design and fine homebuilding, up close and personal. At every point in the building process, you work directly with our owners, Bob Slawson and Nick Winings. Bob designs and creates the plans. Nick brings them to life. With premium lots in Hamilton County’s most sought-after neighborhoods and several quick move-in opportunities underway, we’ll create a home worthy of your dream lifestyle. It all starts with a conversation.

To learn more about Woodstock and see examples of our modern lifestyle home design, visit WoodstockCustomHomes.com or swing by and take a personal tour of our fully-decorated model homes in Westfield’s Reserve on South neighborhood. Reserve on South is a special opportunity for peaceful, waterfront living right in the heart of Westfield. Whether you’re “rightsizing” or looking for an upscale condo alternative, our designs offer spaciousness and refined simplicity.

Swing by and take a look. 17105 Andry Court and 17129 Sanders Farm Circle are open every Saturday & Sunday 12-4.

DUCHESSA

Stratford, Ontario

The Bard and Beyond

CANADA’S STRATFORD FESTIVAL IS THE TOP CLASSICAL THEATER CELEBRATION IN NORTH AMERICA. BY LOU HARRY

STRATFORD, Ontario, happens to share a name with William Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon. So when the railway industry abandoned the town and hard times hit, a local journalist got a pie-in-the-sky idea: How about creating a theater festival? Many trials and even more errors later, the Stratford Festival launched in 1953 under a leaky tent with Alec Guinness as Richard III.

More than 70 years later, it’s grown into the leading classical theater festival in North America and a top Ontario tourist attraction. While Shakespeare is still central to the festival season, which runs April to October, the company of more than 100 actors can also be seen in new plays, revivals, and popular musicals produced in state-of-the-art theaters. This

year, visitors can witness the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the comedy of Twelfth Night, the tuneful Something Rotten! and La Cage aux Folles, and the world premiere of Salesman in China. And that’s not even the full lineup.

In between shows, take the fascinating Costume & Props Tour or head out and explore any of the manicured public gardens (stratfordgardens.com). Charming eateries abound. Seasonal, bistronomyinspired creations emerge from the bustling kitchen at Bluebird Restaurant & Bar (bluebirdrestaurant.ca), where the Roasted Rutabaga Ravioli with fresh horseradish and parmesan and the “All Day Breakfast” Salad, laden with Ontario bacon, a poached egg, and duck-fat potatoes, are popular picks. Or slip into the lively Boar’s Head Pub (queensinnstratford.ca), where you’re as likely to hear folks discussing plays as sports scores.

IF YOU GO

STAY For an elegant yet homey escape, The Bruce Hotel (thebruce .ca) offers 25 rooms plus a cottage on 6 landscaped acres. Amenities include a spa and a fresh-cookie hotline.

COZY UP Going with a group? Book The Little Prince Cine-Lounge (thelittleprincecinema .com). With 13 seats, it’s the world’s smallest movie theater. Popcorn is made in small batches on-premises. PLAN stratfordfestival.ca

Break into “Luck Be a Lady” as you skedaddle over to the luxe TERRE HAUTE CASINO RESORT , opening May 15. Expect 1,000 slot machines, 36 tables, a sportsbook, six restaurants, and five bars. Better start practicing your poker face. terrehautecasino.com

TRAVELER

CHEERSTOALL OF OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS, CHEFS, ENTERTAINMENT, VOLUNTEERSAND GUESTS FOR CELEBRATING

REV 2024WITH US!

Fifth Third Bank

Thank you for 10 years of support!

Equities First Holdings

Indiana Corn Marketing Council | Indiana Soybean Alliance

Good Ranchers

Smithfield Culinary

Gibson

Valeo Financial Advisors

AES Indiana

AECOM Hunt

Applied Engineering Services

CarDon & Associates Inc.

Care Institute Group, Inc.

Cornerstone Companies, Inc.

ERMCO, Inc.

F.A. Wilhelm Construction, Inc.

Guidon Design

HMH Contractors, Inc.

Indiana University Health Foundation, Hosted by Randall & Deborah Tobias

Indy Homes Team | Institute for Luxury Home Marketing

IU Health Anesthesiology & Otolaryngology, Indiana University School of Medicine

Messer Construction Co.

Proactive Clinical Partners

Republic Airways | Lift Academy

Ryan Fireprotection, Inc.

The Cellular Connection

The Clinical Faculty of the Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University

School of Medicine

David W. Stockwell, MD, FAANS | Rick F. Nelson, MD PhD | Angela M. Richardson, MD, PhD | Mitesh V. Shah, MD | Jamie L. Bradbury, MD | James C. Miller, MD | Matthew W. Pease, MD | Kenneth A. Moore, MD | Camden B. Burns, MD

The Hagerman Group

The Heritage Group

TrendyMinds

Weddle Bros. Construction Companies

Wurster Construction

Audiochuck

Bowen Engineering Corporation

Elevance Health

Old National Bank

Wells Fargo Bank N.A.

1933 Lounge by St. Elmo

9th Street Bistro

A Cut Above Catering

Abbiocco Pizzeria

American Culinary FederationGreater Indianapolis Chapter

American Culinary FederationNorthwest Indiana Chapter

American Culinary FederationSouth Bend Chapter

Arni's Restaurant

Azucar Morena

Back 9 Golf & Entertainment

Blondie's Cookies Inc

Bluebeard

Boba & Everything

BODHI

Bridges Wine Bar

Che Chori

Clean Eatz - Fishers

Commission Row

Convivio Italian Artisan Cuisine

Cretia Cakes

Crystal Signature Events

Easy Rider

Eat Surreal

Fernando's Mexican Brazilian

Cuisine

FLVR Catering

Fogo de Chão

Forked Up Catering

Fresko

Fundae's Ice Cream & Sweets

Galbani

Gallery Pastry

Geraldine's Supper Club & Lounge

Good Ranchers

Harry & Izzy's

Iozzo's Garden of Italy

Jack's Donuts

Just Pop In!

Kan-Kan Brasserie

Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

Mambo's Cheesesteak Grill

Mochi Joy Donuts

Moody's Butcher Shops, LLC

Ocean Prime

Open Kitchen

Osteria By Fabio Viviani

Papas Pizzeria Italian & Peruvian Cuisine

Pizza & Libations

Punkin's Pies Sweet Treats

Purely Joy

Root & Bone Indianapolis

Sahm's Hospitality Group

Sangiovese Ristorante

Shake Shack

SIMPLICITY Cold Pressed Juice & Cocktails

Slapfish

Spoke & Steele

Taxman Cityway

TEAM INDIANA

Bridgeport

Chef's Night Off

Circle City Soups

Circle City Sweets

Foster’s Café and Catering

Ghost Mobile Kitchen

Gomez BBQ

J'adore

The Bull Grill

Top Out Cafe at North Mass Boulder

The Cannonball Lounge

The District Tap

The Fountain Room

THE GARAGE FOOD HALL

HercuLean Meal Prep

J's Lobster

The Harbour

The Oceanaire Seafood Room

The Prewitt

Tinker Coffee Co.

Tinker Street Restaurant

Trax BBQ

Tre

Tucci's Carmel

Turchettis Delicatessen

Vanilla Bean Bakery

Vida

SWOON Melt Away

You might know George Hanna as the co-owner of Broad Ripple’s Canal Bistro, but long before he opened his Mediterranean restaurant, he owned a number of high-profile ice cream shops in malls across Central Indiana. His new Canal Creamery, which is tucked behind the bistro, pulls inspiration from those days, with a menu of cones, cups, sundaes, and shakes. Hanna “needed something different,” he says, hence the creamery’s crispy, sweet, and melty baklava sundae: a twist on the standard pie a la mode with vanilla ice cream atop a generous serving of gently warmed, house-made baklava.

6349 Guilford Ave., 317-377-4551, thecanalcreamery.com —EVE BATEY

Tap In

A MOM-AND-POP BEER AND BURGER SPOT OPENS IN THE BOTTLEWORKS DISTRICT. BY EVE BATEY

WHEN Jay and Nancy Douglas acquired Bottleworks-area brunch, lunch, and dinner standby Rooster’s Kitchen in February 2023, it was the culmination of a pandemic-era dream to trade their office jobs for the food business. But after running the place for six months, the Ben Davis grads—who met in first grade—realized “we needed a completely different restaurant and approach,” Jay says.

At the end of the year, they closed Rooster’s doors and launched a major reboot. Now called Mass & Belle Taphouse to reflect its location at Mass Ave and Bellefontaine Street, the new restaurant’s menu focuses on dishes inspired by the northern Midwest. That includes a cheese-stuffed, half-pound burger called the Juicy Belle—a play on a Minneapolis fave, the Juicy Lucy. There’s also a wide selection of beers (mostly local) and a full bar, TV screens “that will always be showing the game,” and a Hoosier take on poutine with house-made cheese sauce and bacon. 888 Massachusetts Ave., 317-426-2020, massbelle.com

PINCH OF WISDOM

“To make the perfect pizza, you need to keep it simple. You might be hungry and wanting to add everything but the kitchen sink, but less is more with toppings, sauce, and everything else.”

–Pablo Gonzalez , co-owner of Gather 22

( REVISIT )

Schmear Campaign

Sidedoor Bagel doubles its size with an expansion into the space next door.

IN JUNE , Bon Appétit declared Josh and Emily Greeson’s business—which launched in 2021 out of Amelia’s bakery, pandemic-pivoted to an onlineorder delivery service, and eventually made its home along East 10th Street—among the “The Very Best Bagels in the US (Yes, Outside New York).” The newfound fame encouraged the Greesons to expand into a vacant space next door.

Customers won’t notice most of the buildout. “It mostly expanded our backof-house area and made more room for a sandwich line,” says Emily. One thing the expansion did not include is a sit-down dining area.

“We’ve always wanted to be a grab-and-go shop,” Emily says. “Like the ones on the East Coast.” 1103 E. 10th St., sidedoorbagel.com

—JULIA SPALDING

MARKET MOVE City Market’s farmers market moved to Monument Circle on May 1 and will operate every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. until October 2. GET HAPPY Indiana will allow bars to offer happy hour specials starting July 1, ending a 40-year-old ban on discounted drinks. The new booze rules will also allow to-go cocktails to remain on publicans’ menus. —E.B.

DOUGLAS PHOTO BY JAY GOLDZ. GONZALEZ PHOTO BY TONY VALAINIS. SIDEDOOR PHOTO COURTESY SIDEDOOR

Fresh Start

AFTER 12 YEARS BEHIND THE WHEEL AT BLUEBEARD, LAUDED INDIANAPOLIS CHEF ABBI MERRISS IS READY FOR HER NEXT CHAPTER. BY EVE BATEY

“I WAS 29 when we started Bluebeard,”

Abbi Merriss says. The five-time James Beard Awards semifinalist spent her 30s building the groundbreaking restaurant while also launching the food program at upscale art house Kan-Kan Cinema & Restaurant. She departed the latter in 2022 and left Bluebeard in early 2024. “This open freedom is kind of strange,” the longtime chef admits with bemusement. “This chapter is going to be interesting.”

In the heads-down, day-to-day operation of a busy kitchen, it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. For Merriss, that meant “my personal growth had been stunted.” Without those distractions, she’s finally able to “see what else I can learn about myself, about who I really am.”

That doesn’t mean she pulled a Don Draper and headed to Esalen.

Just weeks after her departure went public, Merriss and Bryan Kanne (her longtime sous chef and partner in life) announced a special dinner at fancy sandwich shop Goose the Market. It sold out so swiftly that a second night was added. It sold out, too. She was also the first-ever chef to hold a pop-up in Old Major Market’s smokehouse space. “I revere Abbi’s abilities,” Old Major owner Mark LaFay says. “As soon as I heard she was available, I was on the phone.”

LaFay isn’t the only heavy-hitt eager to get a piece of Merriss. That fact, too, creates a chance for growth. “I’ve always been in the kitchen where I didn’t have to talk to people,” she says. “Now all these diff concepts are being laid on my table.”

“I still wake up in a panic every morning, thinking I have to get to work, and then it’s like, wait, no,” she says. “Now my life is a Own Adventure story.” FAVORITE

(1) Tomahawk steaks. “I love St. Elmo’s, but nothing beats making a 32-ounce steak at home with friends.” (2) Her mom’s chicken and dumplings. “She cooks it in a Crock-Pot all day.” (3) Jigsaw puzzles. “The more pieces, the

FOODIE

PHOTO BY TONY VALAIINIS

Sugar & Spice

THESE INDIANAPOLIS SPOTS PUT THEIR OWN SPIN ON CHURROS, THE SWEET AND CRUNCHY FRIED TREAT POPULAR ACROSS SPANISH, PORTUGUESE, AND TAGALOG-SPEAKING COUNTRIES.

BY EVE BATEY AND AMY LYNCH

THE INFERNO ROOM

This Fountain Square restaurant’s banana fritter and churro dessert is fried to order, ensuring that the entire dish is—per the tiki bar’s name—hot on arrival. Its bananas are drenched in coconut milk, spices, and brown sugar, and the churros are sugar- and cinnamon-coated. The whole thing is topped off with chocolate and caramel sauces. 902 Virginia Ave., 317-426-2343, theinfernoroom.com

FESTIVA

This Monon 16 Mexican spot uses a traditional pate a choux recipe for its churro dough, deepfrying each serving to order. The hot churros come with a house-made dulce de leche sauce and are topped with a homemade chocolate ganache and dark and milk chocolate morsels. 1217 E. 16th St., 317-635-4444, festivaindy.com

CHE CHORI

“In Argentina, at 5 o’clock every day, we have churros with coffee, maté, or tea,” says Che Chori owner Marcos Cesar Perera. His grab-and-go restaurant fries each churro to order and coats them in cinnamon sugar. A generous portion of dulce de leche, made with milk, vanilla, and sugar, is served on the side. 3124 W. 16th St., 317-737-2012, chechori.com

DELICIA

For the last 10 years, the same cook has made Delicia’s churros using a family recipe provided by one of the New Latin restaurant’s original employees. The dessert menu standby comes four to five to an order and is coated in cinnamon, sugar, and spices, with a drizzle of Abuelita chocolate sauce on top. 5215 N. College Ave., 317-925-0677, deliciaindy.com

LIVERY

Cunningham Restaurant Group chef Casey Frank fell for churros in a remote, Argentinian beach town. The churrería owner would only share select details about his treats, so Frank and his mother-inlaw, Cora Garcia, worked for months to accurately reproduce them. Livery churros are tossed in sugar and served with homemade dulce de leche. 720 N. College Ave., 317-383-0330, livery-restaurant.com

Hip to Be Square

JEFF MINER’S DETROIT PIZZA PASSION PROJECT LANDS IN AN EAST 10TH STREET STOREFRONT.

BY TERRY KIRTS

I GOT MY first taste of Jeff Miner’s lofty, crustyedged Detroit-style pizza early last June at the loading dock of the Stutz Building on North Capitol. It was topped with pepperoni and lots of gooey brick cheese, and it was airy and perfectly chewy, a beguiling mix of textures with a signature stripe of tangy, slightly chunky sauce across the top. Miner, who was going solo at one of the dozens of pop-ups he’d staged across the city since the early pandemic, fussed over the parbaked crust, making sure he had everything right before he slid the pie into a portable convection oven he’d brought with him, a true pizza obsessive

in action. And it had only taken me two years to get a slice.

That’s because Miner, a longtime NFL Skycam operator and videographer, had created such an online following for his limited-edition operation that his inventory typically sold out mere minutes after the orders went live. I’d never been quick enough. But once I tasted his work, I knew I’d be back for more.

The inspiration for a career change came when Miner was covering a game in Denver and stopped in at the famed Blue Pan Pizza. “I went back for a concert, and I had it again,” Miner says. “I learned that the pans were once the ones [used] for oil changes that Italian American women working in Detroit cleaned

SAM’S SQUARE PIE

2829 E. 10th St. samssquarepie.com

HOURS

Thu–Sat, 3–8 p.m.

VIBE

Neighborhood pizzeria

TASTING NOTES

Textbook Detroit-style pan pizzas with sturdy, highrising crusts, a crackly cheese frico around the edge, and loads of tasty toppings

NEIGHBORHOOD

Rivoli Park

MUST-ORDER

The El Jefe pie with two styles of pepperoni, Italian sausage, dollops of tangy jalapeño-garlic ricotta, and a drizzle of hot honey

3 STAR RATING

up and used to make these amazing pizzas.” That story—and the taste—inspired Miner to make his own, including three for his brother, the late and legendary DJ Ron Miner, better known to fans as Indiana Jones, on his 50th birthday.

“It was a party in June of 2020, when people were starting to do things outside. A lot of the crowd were restaurant chefs, as well as DJs and fashion people. They said the pizzas were so good I had to start making them for real.” Six months later, when his brother died unexpectedly, Miner saw it as a sign. “It’s so strange that through a grief like that you find some brightness,” he says.

Since early February, that brightness has been a permanent pizzeria in the onetime home of 18th Street Brewery on East 10th Street. Now, devoted fans and first-time customers don’t have to rush to snag a pie, and Miner has slowly sett into life as a full-time restaurateur, though his hours, for now, are limited to three nights a week.

Miner has dressed the slender space with decor from local artists, such as a mural of flowers by Megan Jefferson and whimsical wire sculptures by Louisvillebased Joel Pinkerton. He’s still applying for a liquor license, and he hopes to have bands doing “Tiny Sam’s Concerts” in the months ahead. He also installed a Forza PizzaMaster oven, which has allowed him to refine his pies even further. He offers an idiosyncratic shortlist of cheese and meat-topped pies, such as the Bitchin Camaro, a pepperoni-lover’s dream, and the El Jefe, with pepperoni, kicked-up Italian sausage, and ricotta enlivened with garlic and jalapeños. Most pies get a restrained drizzle of hot honey, though the sweetness is subtle, and customers can request that the kitchen leave it off

This is not the place to customize your pizza with a laundry list of typical toppings. “I want it to be like some of my favorite New York shops, where they have just pepperoni or cheese slices, and the line is down the block,” Miner says. These are filling, satisfying pies with Miner’s signature on just about every slice. That means that sometimes the edges are a little crustier or browner, or a slightly bubblier rise requires the kitchen to press the toppings down on the crust so they don’t slide off. It’s as far from mass-produced as pizza gets.

sized crusts to his menu most nights, and he’s experimented with Sicilian crusts, which are a bit thinner, larger, and without the Detroit style’s signature browned-cheese frico. If they’re available, get one, especially if it’s the High Plains Drifter with hot Italian sausage, pesto, ricotta, and smoked maple syrup, a creative combo that garnered Miner a second place ranking in both the Pan Pizza and Detroit-Style categories at the recent International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. Very respectable garlic knots and cheese bread are the only other options, though they’re likely to spoil your appetite for the main feature. After all, if I waited two years for my pizza, you can wait a few more minutes for yours.

Opposite page: Sam’s Sicilian style pizza with pepperoni

Clockwise from top left: Jeff Miner, stacks of Sam’s boxes, the El Jefe pizza, Sam’s garlic knots PHOTOGRAPHY BY TONY VALAINIS

Anatomy Winner OF A

By Tony Rehagen

Photos by Tony Valainis

For Rahal Letterman Lanigan

Racing, preparations for the 2024 Indy 500 race car began just after 5 p.m. on May 21, 2023, seven days before the green flag even fell on last year’s race. As the final minutes ran out on Bump Day, the last chance to qualify for the most important event of the year, Graham Rahal and the team partowned by and partly named after his father (racing legend Bobby Rahal) stood helpless on the sidelines as RLL teammate Jack Harvey topped Rahal’s time by .007 seconds. Rahal, heir to one of the sport’s legendary racing bloodlines, was bumped from the field of 33. His No. 15 Dallara would not be part of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing in 2023.

RLL had just won the race three years prior, with Takuma Sato bringing home the victory. Rahal’s car finished third. “As soon as we missed the race, we knew we had a lot of work to do,” says Derek Davidson, Rahal’s crew chief. “It wasn’t a lack of work ethic. We just fell behind on research and development in every area. If you look at the qualifying times [Rahal’s average speed of 229.159 mph was nearly 4.8 mph slower than that of pole-sitter Felix Rosenqvist], one little change wasn’t going to improve things. It was going to be a combination of factors—aerodynamics, setup, mechanical drag—that gets you out of the hole. We’re not just trying to move up to qualify. We’re trying to race for the win.”

Crew members don’t recall a decree from ownership or any locker room blowups or pep talks in the infield trailer. There was no big, all-hands-ondeck address back at RLL headquarters in Zionsville. Rather, the key players describe a quieter, simultaneous realization that something had to change. And something did.

At that moment, the team started to mentally and physically strip down every part of the car and each step of their organizational process, scouring for ways to squeeze out even just a hundredth of a second at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. From May 21 on, they decided to devote the lion’s share of the company’s vast financial, material, and human resources to using state-of-the-art technology and methodology to not just qualify for the 2024 race, but to win it—even as the drivers and crews continued with

the 2023 season, touring the country every other weekend and trying to win an NTT IndyCar Series Championship. “The season is still important,” says Donny Stewart, chief mechanic at RLL. “But if you win Indy, it makes your year. It’s the Super Bowl.”

In other words, RLL took a step back and reconsidered a problem that has bedeviled every team—designers, owners, mechanics, and drivers— since the day Ray Harroun rolled his yellow Marmon Wasp onto the original bricks in 1911: How do you build an Indy 500 winner?

The global headquarters of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, the centerpiece of Zionsville’s Creekside Corporate Park, is ahead of the pack. The 128,000-square-foot temple of glass, steel, and concrete, set on 10.4 acres, is a marvel, hosting spacious sunsoaked workshops and offices for RLL’s IndyCar and IMSA Weather Tech SportsCar Championship teams. The $20 million base also features amenities you don’t find in every racing shop:

a graphics room where liveries (a car’s paint scheme and stickers) are printed on demand; a cavernous loading dock with full-size pit stalls where the crews record themselves simulating stops and analyze every movement for maximum

efficiency; a Human Performance Center consisting of a full gym, sauna, cold-plunge tank, and even lamplit stations where team members suffering from mild seasonal affective disorder can soak up rays and chase away offseason winter doldrums. Then there’s

FAST WORK

Clockwise from top right: IndyCar preparation bays; the No. 30 entry for Pietro Fittipaldi, grandson of twotime 500 champ Emerson Fittipaldi; the jumbotron room; RLL’s Zionsville headquarters; and a trophy case featuring Baby Borgs for RLL wins in 2004 and 2020.

the jumbotron, a wall of 30 individual monitors that can be tiled into a command center through which engineers, mechanics, and coaches can tap into multiple live video and audio feeds and real-time driving data via satellite from pretty much any track in the world.

This is the future, the envy of and model for many racing teams. But when employees and guests enter through the front door, they are greeted immediately by a relic from the team’s past, the iconic red Budweiser March 86C No. 3 car that co-owner Bobby Rahal drove to his Borg-Warner trophy in 1986. It’s a reminder to all of what the goal is.

Construction on the facility was completed in late 2022, and the company and teams relocated their IndyCar operations from Brownsburg in November 2023, just as most IndyCar teams were starting to build their 2023 500 cars in earnest.

For all the cutting-edge material and institutional resources RLL brings to bear on its 500 car design and fabrication, the first step they took in the wake of that fateful Bump Day was decidedly old-school: They assembled a team of human brains to analyze and develop a plan to address the problem.

While the drivers and crews focused on finishing the 2023 season, RLL siphoned off a small committee of stakeholders with expert knowledge of every section of the car and brought in a few subcontractors to meet on a weekly basis to discuss the approach they would take to the 2024 Indy 500, then share monthly updates with the rest of the organization. A key member

of this group was Stefano Sordo, RLL’s technical director, who was brought on around the time of the move from Brownsburg to Zionsville and came with more than 20 years of engineering experience in Formula One, the world’s premier racing series. Sordo’s perspective was key in first figuring out what might have gone wrong in 2023. “We were mainly driven by the previous years’ experience,” he says. “We were basing the setup on the year before, which was based on the year before that and the year before that. Inevitably, even if you stand still, you’re going backwards.”

MAN AND MACHINE

Clockwise from top: Team manager Derek Davidson and crew chief Donny Stewart inspect the bell housing that holds the gearbox; one of the four transporters the team fills with equipment for races; and the engineering offices and work spaces.

Sordo says the team would rely on finding speed once the car was at the track, which had become more difficult over time as Month of May events were shortened to essentially two weeks, taking

away valuable track time. The answer was to do what they do in F1: lean into simulation technology, learning how to make the most of it and spending more time in the simulator long before the team gets to the Brickyard. “We needed a more science-based approach, as opposed to old trial and error and previous experience,” says Sordo. “Experience is important. But it needs to corroborate with science.”

Of course, a lot of the research and development that RLL did for the 2024 race was hypothetical. This is a spec series, after all, meaning that all cars are more or less identical in terms of

the chassis (Dallara), engine manufacturer (Honda or Chevrolet), and gearbox (Xtrac). And while the teams are all able to approximate the weight, height, and width of the following year’s car, IndyCar typically doesn’t release the official specifications—which have only gotten less flexible through the years in the interest of safety—until well into the calendar year as the series’ season opener in March approaches.

Preparing in advance for the 2024 season was made even more complicated because of the introduction of a new gearbox and, more significantly, a new hybrid engine package.

GO TEAM

In December, about the same time teams received their new gearboxes from Xtrac, the series announced that the new hybrid tech would be delayed until the second half of the season—after the 500. By then, RLL had already been collecting and poring over data and working on theories for more than six months. The Indy 500 team was still working separately from the rest—the four races leading up to the 500 were all either street or road courses, necessitating a completely different car build and offering minimal insight into what the teams would face on an oval, let alone the quirky 2.5-mile Brickyard. By February, they were far enough along with subassembly to start the body-fit on the first of three Indy 500 hopefuls (with the possibility of a

Clockwise from top: Crew members simulate a stop in a full-size pit stall; a lamplit station to combat seasonal affective disorder; the graphics room; and an on-site full gym.

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED

An overhead view of the team’s 13-bay garage that holds transporters for its IndyCar and IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) racing programs, as well as a pit stop practice area.

fourth down the line if sponsorship came through).

Body-fit involves carefully assembling the separate pieces of the whole IndyCar. But the piece-by-piece build is not done on a line as with consumer cars. Rather, separate departments that have been working simultaneously in their individual areas of expertise converge to put the car together. These departments work in their own first-floor corners of RLL’s headquarters, where they each make the slight adjustments, modifications, and customizations that (hopefully) shave off tenths of seconds in the race. Before qualifiers and race day, this is essentially how race teams compete with each other to find speed. From RLL’s point of view, the five fields of play in subassembly are:

THE GEARBOX — The gearbox is the transmission of the car. While IndyCar gearboxes are spec and everyone receives an assisted 6-speed, paddle shift box from Xtrac, teams are allowed to “rub on it” to make it their own by tinkering and using different oils to reduce friction and increase efficiency.

UPRIGHTS — An upright, sort of the knuckle of the wheel, connects each wheel and tire to the suspension. It keeps the wheel stable as it rotates and houses the brake calipers. These are also spec, but there are some small things engineers can do, such as use different greases, to reduce mechanical drag and make sure everything is spinning around freely.

AERODYNAMICS —  A far more recognizable component of the IndyCar, the aero kit is comprised of the front and rear wings and the aerofoil on the sides. The aero kit does more than give the series its distinctive look: It also provides the necessary downforce and reduces drag to keep the car stable and streamlined at speed, on corners, and in traffic. Teams can find “a million little things” to do, according to chief mechanic Tom Vigne, to smooth the kit, minimize wind resistance, and adjust downforce.

SETUP — This is the overall alignment of the car and includes the development and application of dampers, a key part of the suspension. Tracks aren’t smooth, and whenever the car hits a bump, the suspension compresses, creating energy. The dampers absorb this energy, limiting the jostling of the car and keeping it stable and balanced. Dampers are one of the few areas that are pretty much left up to each team, so it’s a key opportunity for RLL to separate itself.

POWERTRAIN — The engine, from Honda in RLL’s case, is spec. But teams still look for small places to increase efficiency and try out different gear ratios in search of every extra bit of speed.

By early February, all five subassemblies for RLL driver Christian Lundgaard’s No. 45 car were complete and ready for the body-fit. The chassis was mounted on a lift that allowed the body to be rotated as each piece was added, with engineers scrutinizing every bolt, joint, and seam to make sure there would be minimal drag as the car gradually took shape.

This is a time of year when anticipation is palpable in race shops all over the country, and even RLL’s colossal headquarters could barely contain the commotion. The IndyCar side was busily preparing for the season opener, the Firestone Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, Florida, barely a month away. And yet, there was no doubt that everyone from the C-suite to the shop floor had at least one eye on May. “It’s absolutely just as important as the series championship,” says Davidson. “To be honest, we would rather win the Indy 500 than the championship.”

At this point, they felt they’d done all they could to make that a reality— but of course, more work lay ahead. They continued to run computer simulations, dialing in their cars as the specifications became clearer. Next came wind tunnel testing for the aero kit, as well as tests for the gearbox and uprights. But the true test will come after this magazine goes to print in April, when they arrive for the first Indy Open Test at IMS. That’s when the rubber literally meets the road and RLL can really get a sense of whether the team’s reimagined approach and extra effort have translated to higher placement on the track’s iconic pole.

And then, of course, will come May 14, the first day of Indy 500 practice leading into qualifiers and Bump Day, which RLL hopes they’ll be able to skip this year. “We’ve made a pretty big push to work on every aspect of the car. We’ve looked at everything that we could. But other teams are doing that, as well,” says Davidson. “You don’t know how much progress you made until the test or the practice at Indy. Are other teams making bigger gains? We feel comfortable. I don’t believe we’ll be in the same situation [as last year]. I don’t know that we’ll be where we deserve to be, at the front of the grid. But we’re trying different things.”

COLLECTOR’S EDITION

In a town known for its intense love of cars, these meticulous collectors of classic automobiles are the kings of shiny things. We took a peek behind their garage doors.

by Julia Spalding

PHOTOS by TONY VALAINIS

Ray Skillman

For Hoosiers raised on television car commercials, the name Ray Skillman has a nostalgic ring to it. Among the titans of local car dealers, Skillman worships beautiful vehicles, and the 65,000-square-foot showroom that holds his vintage collection is a cathedral of chrome. Amid the rows of Indy 500 race cars, neatly catalogued Corvettes, muscle cars, and pristine American-made oldies, Skillman has tucked other treasures. Restored neon signs hang from the rafters, and a refurbished carousel is the centerpiece of the room.

FIRST CAR A 1950 Ford Business Coupe that his grandfather gave him FAVORITE CAR Mario Andretti’s 1965 Brawner Hawk IndyCar DAILY DRIVE A 2024 GMC Yukon Denali

Shawn Miller

He bought his first ride at the age of 13 with paper route money, a purchase that launched his lifelong appreciation for classic automobiles—especially those made in Indianapolis. “Some of the best cars in the ’20s and ’30s were built here,” says Miller. “We had the big three: Stutz, Marmon, and Duesenberg. And these were expensive cars.” Miller is the founder of Significant Cars, a full-service collector-car dealer and broker. A former headhunter with a background in IT, he hopes to someday open a museum featuring Indianapolis cars.

FIRST CAR

A 1935 Standard Avon 16-horsepower Sports Saloon, only three of which were made, and Miller still owns his FAVORITE CAR His red 1935 Auburn Supercharged Cabriolet DAILY DRIVE An Alfa Romeo Stelvio

Mike Simmons

The founder of Silo Auto Club and Conservancy once made a deal with his wife: When he buys one car, he has to get rid of one car. “I’ve not done so well on that,” says Simmons, whose collection of automobiles grew so large that he opened this downtown storage facility and social hub catering to fellow car fanatics. That was in 2018. “I thought, worst case scenario, I have a place to put my stuff,” Simmons says. Silo’s current membership is around 125, and it offers a full bar and a space for hosting live music.

Driven by design

Take a spin around a Westfield haven for car lovers (including IMS Hall of Famer Tony Kanaan) and the objects of their affection.

By Jeana Harris

Photos by Tony Valainis

ifYOU BUILD the condos, they will come. That mantra proved true for Westfield’s Motor District “garage condos.” Except these are not residences designed for convenient living. Instead, they’re swanky homes for exotic car collections. One of the space’s most popular patrons, IndyCar legend Tony Kanaan, houses his impressive racing simulators there and uses it to host events and tours.

He’s in good company. A community where like-minded aficionados can come together to socialize, marvel at one another’s collectibles, talk shop, and admire their own prized possessions, Motor District is the first car-centric dwelling of its kind in Indiana, though the concept is spreading in popularity throughout the country. It is the brainchild of Jay Farmer, a semi-retired real estate developer and full-time car buff who drew inspiration from the

VROOM WITH A VIEW

A unit inside the 150-garage complex includes a mezzanine overlooking the owner’s personal showroom floor.

AutoMotorPlex in Minnesota. His vision has come to life in the form of a $40 million, 12-acre complex, with building number eight (out of an eventual 13) currently in progress. The site also boasts an event plaza and retail space.

The wheels began turning in Farmer’s head years ago upon completing his own home garage project. Shortly after, his kids moved out. He had no one with whom to enjoy the space or bond over his love of cars. “I thought, This is no fun,” he recalls. He came to realize that this is an all-toocommon sentiment among fellow collectors. He set out to create a solution based on three governing principles: community, value, and security. “First, you’re surrounded by people with interesting hobbies and collections. Second, the condos appreciate in value and have a good resale. They’re also easy to build out because everything you need is already there. If you build a large garage on your [own] property, it’s difficult to get the value out of it,” Farmer explains. “And third, you have peace of mind that it’s a secure campus.” The property is gated, with cameras on all the buildings and an app that owners can use to check on the property 24/7. And the condos? Let’s just say they’re a far cry from your typical dusty garage. No lawn mowers or old Christmas decorations stashed away here. They’re available in a variety of floor plans, accommodating anywhere from two to eight cars, with prices ranging from $250,000 to $650,000. Each unit comes standard with a mezzanine, heated floors, fire suppression system, roughed-in plumbing, 200-amp electrical service, and exterior camera surveillance.

From there, the sky’s the limit for personalizing the space. While some owners choose to keep things simple, others transform their garage into the ultimate hobby haven with upgrades such as kitchen and bar spaces on the mezzanine, full bathrooms, golf simulators, hydraulic lifts, racing simulators, enormous drop-down movie screens, and arcade game collections. The golf simulators are especially

popular, according to Farmer. “You can hear them in there playing and whooping and hollering like little kids,” he says.

One may be quick to classify the condos as stereotypical man caves, but that cheapens the concept and misses the mark. While man caves are meant to be quiet, secluded spaces, the garage condos are anything but. Instead, Farmer describes them as “urban cabins” for owners’ families. They’re frequently used for hosting birthday parties, showers, and other special events. One owner built a basketball court in his garage for his teenagers so they could all enjoy the space together.

Farmer describes the owners as a “mix of regular people all the way up to famous drivers. But you check that at the door when you come in, and everybody’s just there to enjoy each other’s company and share their passions.”

Each month, Motor District’s calendar is filled with recurring events, including Hubcaps & Hamburgers, Garage Club, Cars & Coffee, and public open houses. Of course, with May being race month, premium events are planned, such as the Night Before the 500 Dinner Party.

It’s the next best thing to kissing the bricks.

TAKE THE WHEEL IMS driver Tony Kanaan stows his racing simulators at Motor District, joining fellow car enthusiasts.

Lane MEMORY

In November, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum temporarily closed its doors in preparation for an $89 million renovation that will bring the expansive collection and exhibit space up to speed. But it’s not the first time the westside landmark has changed out its wheels. Fritz Frommeyer was an IMS new hire when the museum’s first incarnation, located outside of the Turn 1 grandstands, debuted in 1956 (it relocated to its current spot in 1976). For the next six runnings of the Indianapolis 500, Frommeyer worked in the track’s publicity department as the original museum came to life, witnessing both the beginning and the end of an era. Here is his trackside report.

BY FRITZ FROMMEYER

At16 YEARS of age and fresh from a day in high school, I walked into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s new administration building at 16th Street and Georgetown Road to start my job in the track’s publicity office. It was February 1956, and nothing could top this for a guy like me who loved the place. The aggressive look and sound of the cars, along with the smell of burning castor oil, created an irrestible seduction to the Speedway. The offices where I worked were in one wing of the building. The opposite wing was set aside for a new racing museum, a dream of IMS owner Tony Hulman. On that first day, I saw just a single car on the yet-to-open museum’s floor, the Maserati that Wilbur Shaw drove to victory in 1939 and ’40, with images of Irish clay pipes painted on its sides as a tribute to owner Mike Boyle. I was getting in on the ground floor of a new endeavor for the Speedway, and I was at the beginning of a five-year stint during which I would see, hear, and do things a diehard race fan like me could only dream of.

Things got down to business right away. My first assignment was to handle news releases announcing entries in the upcoming 500-Mile Race. My boss wrote them, typing skillfully with just two fingers, before they were mailed to more than 1,000 media outlets around the country and beyond. I learned all the production steps as I mimeographed, folded, and stuffed the releases

START YOUR ENGINES

The author (opposite page) with one of the first cars on display at the original 1956 Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum (left).

into the envelopes I had earlier addressed and run through a Pitney Bowes postage meter. They went into a large canvas mailbag that was taken to the post office.

I also learned to operate a traditional plug-in switchboard, type W-2 wage reports for race-day employees, master a restaurant-quality Bunn coffee maker that often overflowed, and live in a very adult world where race people and other notables zipped in and out of the offices. Frequent visitors were two-time winner Rodger Ward and his wife Jo, who usually had their small dog in her arms. Meanwhile, I watched the nearly vacant museum on the other side of the building gradually fill with historic race cars, including the bright yellow Marmon Wasp, winner of the first 500 in 1911. Trophies and other artifacts were added, and the attraction quietly opened to the public that spring. Karl Kizer, long active in racing, became the museum’s first curator. I will always remember his striking white Jaguar Mark 2 sedan with chrome wire wheels parked behind the office building.

My biggest project came when the Speedway brought race photography in-house from an outside provider. Boxes of 8-by-10-inch and 4-by-5-inch negatives from the early races to the present arrived, and I was tasked with identifying the people in the pictures by looking at the negatives. I’d show them to others in the office when I got stumped. After finishing the identifications, I created a subject cross file on

index cards for easy reference to the collection.

An independent production company made a film about each year’s 500, and one year, I was given the responsibility of setting it up and playing it for Mr. Hulman. I had experience running a 16 mm movie projector, but that didn’t help me. As Mr. Hulman and I sat alone in the conference room for the showing, the film slowly unwound into a neat pile on the floor as it played instead of being captured by the take-up reel. If Mr. Hulman noticed, he didn’t say so. He thanked me and left the room when the film was over, and, red-faced, I carefully rewound the undamaged film.

During the racing season, some teams kept their cars in the garages at the Speedway, and I’d often take mail that had been delivered to the front office to them. During one of these trips, the garage was abuzz over a Dart Kart built by Mickey Rupp, brother-in-law of leading car builder and crew chief A.J. Watson. Everyone was taking it for a spin around the garage area. I got a turn, too, but drove carefully on the crushed stone surface. Last thing I wanted to do was crash in front of all those race people.

One of the people in the office took me under his wing and acted as my mentor. In 1960, I told him I’d like to go to Milwaukee for the 200-mile championship race traditionally held at the Wisconsin State Fair Park after the 500. He lined up a ride for me with people he believed would not lead me astray. Some of the people who hung around the track could be a little, well—rambunctious. We traveled to Milwaukee in a station wagon towing a bright yellow race car set to compete on an open trailer. At the wheel was former champion racer Tommy Hinnershitz, a true Pennsylvania

Dutchman who spoke with a heavy accent. He was chief mechanic for the car. With us was also an engineer from Allison. Driving along busy highways with the yellow racer in tow, we captured lots of attention. People in other cars waved, shouted, and gestured at us. I’d never been showered with so much attention in my young life.

Back at the office, when there was an overflow of museum visitors, I was among those who were pressed into giving track tours in one of the museum’s VW Microbuses. No two tours I gave were the same—I ad-libbed my way around the track, often pointing out marks on the walls and explaining who made them. Bricks still paved the main straightaway back then, and our guests bounced along. Sometimes the ride was a little bouncier as I pumped the bus’s accelerator.

The most surprising of my duties came after the race, when I got to help sort the 33 drivers’ prize-money checks from the Speedway and other donors. We placed the checks in pigeonholes that had each driver’s name thumb-tacked above it. Never had so much money passed through my hands! The total purse in 1956 was a whopping $281,952.

After the 1961 race, I graduated from college and went on with my life. The small museum continued to fill with IMS history. In 1976, 15 years after

BEHIND THE SCENES

One of the highly coveted silver badges that gave the bearer access to the track’s garage and pit area (above); and a 1956 photo of former IMS owner Tony Hulman behind the wheel of the Marmon Wasp housed inside the museum.

I left, a much larger museum opened inside the track’s second turn to keep up with a growing collection of vehicles and Indy 500–related materials and artifacts. I can’t count the number of times I’ve visited, escorting friends and family through its displays. And for more than 20 years, I wrote about and photographed selected items from its collection for Vintage Motorsport magazine.

Visiting the museum, you can always count on seeing cars that have gone 500 miles to victory at the Speedway, in addition to others that didn’t quite make it but are groundbreaking in their own ways, including the first front-wheel drive and mid-engine creations. I’ve always been struck by the amazing display of trophies won by ace driver Rudolf Caracciola in the pre-war Grand Prix era, the period when Mercedes-Benz’s sleek Silver Arrow cars dominated the racing world. The silver in those bespoke Art Deco trophies is breathtaking. By far, the most colossal thing I’ve ever seen in the museum is Craig Breedlove’s

FLOOR MODEL

Among the cars moved into storage to wait out the museum’s renovation was the 1925 second-place finisher and the race’s first front-drive car, a Miller driven by Dave Lewis.

massive land speed record–setting car, the Spirit of America–Sonic I. It totally eclipses the smallest article I remember being on display: the Pennzoilyellow toothbrush that celebrated Rick Mears’ 1988 Indy 500 victory.

But as of last fall, the museum’s floors have been cleared of cars and exhibitions as work begins on its third iteration, with a complete reimagining of the space to better inform and immerse visitors in the 500 experience. Included will be seven permanent and three rotating galleries, up-close looks at unique and valuable racing memorabilia, and simulators that give the sensation of driving an IndyCar. The project also includes a STEAM classroom to attract students to motorsports careers and an automotive restoration facility for the museum’s 200 or so vehicles. When the museum reopens in April 2025, Wilbur Shaw’s Maserati will be there, making the new surroundings feel to me like it’s 1956 all over again. I can’t wait.

Back On Track

The museum’s $89 million capital campaign, The Stories Behind the Spectacle, is funding its first significant renovation in nearly 40 years. It is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) not-for-profit separate from IMS, and the museum is responsible for all fundraising and revenue generation. For more information and to donate, visit imsmuseum.org. Call 317-4926747 to schedule an on-track tour during the museum’s closure.

The home of Purdue is also home to: Wolf Park, SAMARA House, Columbian Park and Zoo, Prophetstown State Park, amazing festivals includingTASTE of Tippecanoe, and so much more!

With a state park, miles of trails, two award-winning golf courses, nature preserves, and over 117 lakes, Noble County will give you space to relax and rejuvenate. Visit our museums, animal sanctuary, organic farms, breweries, or public art displays to experience our welcoming community and bask in all the perks small towns offer. Visit

SAMARA House

Columbian Park Zoo WolfPark

TASTE of Tippecanoe

TRAVEL

Festive Fare

Get a jump on summer travel planning with this calendar of 30 road trip–worthy festivals, art fairs, outdoor concerts, and special events throughout Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

PHOTO BY DUSTIN MCKIBBEN COURTESY VISIT FORT WAYNE

MAY

MAY 3–12 | Biggest Week in American Birding, Oak Harbor, Ohio Bird-watchers unite in the “warbler capital of the world” for this 10-day symposium that includes expert keynote speakers such as The Joy Luck Club author Amy Tan, guided visits to parks and wildlife areas, and a cinematic concert inspired by migrating songbirds. biggestweekinamericanbirding.com

MAY 4 | Derby Breakfast Celebration , Frankfort, Kentucky

Head to downtown Frankfort the morning of the Kentucky Derby to enjoy breakfast and signature craft cocktails, then participate in community races like Pedal for the Posies, Bounce for the Roses, and the Rebecca Ruth Bourbon Ball Challenge. Giddyup! downtownfrankfort.com/derby

MAY 10–11 | Lower Town Arts & Music Festival , Paducah, Kentucky

Designated as a UNESCO Creative City, Paducah sets the stage for art vendors, live music, family activities, and local cuisine to support the Yeiser Art Center. Concert headliners include folksy favorites S.G. Goodman, Kelsey Waldon, and Paul McDonald. lowertownamf.com

MAY 17–19 | Fat & Skinny Tire Fest, Winona Lake, Indiana

Cycling enthusiasts can roll out to Winona Lake and Warsaw in Northern Indiana for a weekend shindig honoring National Bicycle Month. All ages and skill levels are invited to participate in tours and activities including mountain bike and road races, riding clinics, and a BMX stunt show. kcvcycling.org

MAY 17–19 | Kentucky Yoga Festival , Edmonton, Kentucky

Follow your bliss to the enchanting Barren River Magic venue for this three-day sustainable and eco-friendly retreat designed to stretch the limits of your body and mind. In addition to yoga and wellness classes, the festival includes music performances, food vendors, and a healing oasis with practitioners of therapies like massage, reflexology, acupressure, aura balance, and reiki. kyyogafest.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BIGGEST WEEK IN AMERICAN BIRDING, A YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER, LOWER TOWN ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL, FAT & SKINNY TIRE FEST, KENTUCKY YOGA FESTIVAL, BUCKEYE LAKE PIRATE FEST

HERE, THE OUTDOORS

Share spectacular adventures and family fun throughout the Bluegrass State.

Plan your trip at kentuckytourism.com

Conley Bottom Resort, Monticello

MAY 18 | Buckeye Lake Pirate Fest, Buckeye Lake, Ohio

Ahoy there, mateys! Experience the inaugural celebration of seafarers, buccaneers, swashbucklers, steampunks, and mermaids. See the Northern Exposure Landship (dubbed the “World’s Tallest ArrVee”), go on a treasure hunt via land or water, participate in a group motorcycle ride, or visit vendors in the Port Royal Pirate Marketplace. buckeyelakepiratefest.com

MAY 18 | Great Parks Pollinator Festival , Harrison, Ohio

Miami Whitewater Forest launches its first ode to pollinators this month with educational exhibits, children’s crafts, artist and vendor booths, live music, and food trucks. Runners and walkers can participate in the Great Parks Pollinator 5K to support the Miles for Monarchs conservation initiative. greatparks.org

MAY 20–JUNE 9 | Granfalloon, Bloomington, Indiana

This tribute to Hoosier author Kurt Vonnegut Jr. brings together musicians, artists, and thinkers for more than two weeks of concerts, lectures, films, demos, and exhibits. Carl Bernstein and Nanette Vonnegut deliver guest speeches on June 6, and musical highlights include performances by Sleater-Kinney, The Linda Lindas, and My Son the Hurricane on June 8. Granfalloon is held in conjunction with the Indiana University Writers’ Conference and the Bloomington Handmade Market. granfalloon.indiana.edu

MAY 23–27 | Abbey Road on the River, Jeffersonville, Indiana

“Come together” Memorial Day weekend in

Jeffersonville’s Big Four Station Park for a rockin’ five-day festival that pays homage to The Beatles and ’60s classic rock with tribute bands such as The Fab Four, Live and Let Die, George Harry’s Son, Hard Day’s Night, The Day Trippers, and Penny Lane, among others. arotr.com

MAY 24–26 | Feast of the Flowering Moon, Chillicothe, Ohio

Honoring Native American heritage, the annual Feast of the Flowering Moon in downtown Chillicothe showcases traditional music and dancing, artisans and handicrafts, carnival rides, pageants, a Memorial Day service and parade, and a Mountain Man encampment with craftsman demonstrations. feastofthefloweringmoon.org

MAY 31–JUNE 1 | Hoosier Hills Fiber Festival, Franklin, Indiana

Old-time artisan textile skills are on full display at the Johnson County Fairgrounds with workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and a vendor marketplace. Musical acts take the stage to provide background entertainment, and clowns keep kids amused with hijinks, pranks, face-painting, and balloon figures. hoosierhillsfiberfestival.com

ABOVE AND RIGHT: ABBEY ROAD ON THE RIVER. BOTTOM: FEAST OF THE FLOWERING MOON

ABBEY ROAD ON THE RIVER PHOTOS BY C. MICHAEL STEWART AND EMILY RICHARDSON FEAST OF THE FLOWERING MOON BY JOE MURRAY, COURTESY ROSS-CHILLICOTHE CVB

Always in Season? IT’S A SHORE THING

Immerse yourself in culture through a variety of diverse community events. Indulge in local cuisine, from upscale to casual, even dine lakeside. Take a ferry ride to a Lake Erie island, explore miles of natural beaches and trails, enjoy quaint downtowns and museums, and experience the beauty of the changing seasons in Shores & Islands Ohio.

Make memories that’ll last a lifetime. Find your Lake Erie Love year-round at SHORESandISLANDS.com.

Scan and sign up today to receive the 2024 Play + Stay Travel Guide.

JUNE

JUNE 1–2 | Railbird Music Festival, Lexington, Kentucky

Much like the namesake horse racing enthusiasts who like to hang onto a railing to get close to the action on the track, audiophiles will want to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of The Infield at Red Mile during this year’s Railbird Music Festival. Headliners Noah Kahan, Turnpike Troubadours, Chris Stapleton, and Hozier top a packed lineup for the two-day showcase. Bourbon distillers will also be on hand to provide Kentucky-style liquid refreshment. railbirdfest.com

JUNE 6–8 | Coshocton Hot Air Balloon Festival, Coshocton, Ohio

Watch colorful hot air balloons launch and hover overhead at this free annual event at the Coshocton County Fairgrounds. The festivities include a Kiddie Midway with carnival

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: RAILBIRD MUSIC FESTIVAL STAGE, SINGER-SONGWRITER TYLER CHILDERS, RAILBIRD EXPERIENCE, INDY JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL & PARADE, BEER CHEESE FESTIVAL

rides, live music, craft booths, a glowing nighttime balloon display, and fireworks. Tethered balloon rides are available for a fee. coshoctonhotairballoonfestival.com

JUNE 7–8 | Firefly Festival, New Harmony, Indiana

Following the New Moon on June 6, the New Harmony Historic District gets a glow up from the lightning bug population. The skies will be dark enough to show off the winged creatures’ incandescent undersides. Take a tour via golf cart or on foot to prime viewing areas, learn more about Indiana’s most common species, get photography tips, and boogie down at the Glow dance party. visitposeycounty.com

JUNE 8 | Beer Cheese Festival, Winchester, Kentucky

Since 2009, downtown Winchester has professed its love for this salty, spicy, savory dip created by local chef Joe Allman in the late 1930s. At this quirky festival, beer cheese vendors from all over the country compete for best recipe honors in commercial and amateur categories, while thousands of visitors enjoy tasting the many versions. beercheesefestival.com

RAILBIRD PHOTOS BY CHARLES REAGAN AND TAYLOR REGULSKI; INDY JUNETEENTH BY TONY VALAINIS; BEER CHEESE FESTIVAL PHOTO

Adventure Awaits

Delight in the fun and laughter of new discoveries with a getaway to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Find getaway ideas and packages at VisitFortWayne.com

JUNE 15 | Indy Juneteenth Festival & Parade, Indianapolis, Indiana

Bringing communities together is the goal of Indy Juneteenth Inc., which celebrates the newest federal holiday with its seventh annual festival at Military Park and parade through downtown Indy this year. The event is free to the public and includes live music, games, DJs, dancing, and more. The week surrounding the festival includes additional special events. indyjuneteenth.org

JUNE 22 | Cincinnati Pride Festival and Parade , Cincinnati, Ohio

The streets of downtown fill with the full spectrum of the rainbow as the Cincinnati Pride Parade moves its way through the Queen City to promote diversity, inclusion, and acceptance for the LGBTQIA+ community. The festival at Sawyer Point follows immediately afterward

and features food and beverage vendors, live entertainment, fun activities, and information tables. cincinnatipride.org

JUNE 22 | Beattyville Bourbon & Moonshine Festival, Beattyville, Kentucky

In its fourth year, this relatively new gathering celebrates Kentucky’s chief export—bourbon—as well as Appalachian Mountain moonshine. A panel of distillers discuss their craft, and musicians hit the stage throughout the day. The stars of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners will be on hand for the Hillbilly Bikefest motorcycle show and Shiners for Shriners charity ride. beattyvillebourbonandmoonshinefest.com

JUNE 22–23 | Ashtabula Harbor Beach Glass Festival , Ashtabula, Ohio

Take home a treasure from the shores of Lake Erie at this annual convergence of beach glass artists and collectors. Peruse

the selections of jewelry, wall hangings, coffee mugs, bottle stoppers, mosaics, and decorative items while taking in the northeast Ohio Great Lakes water views. ashtabulaharborbeachglassfestival.com

JUNE 26–29 | Romp Music Festival, Owensboro, Kentucky

Presented by the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, the Romp Music Festival features big-time bluegrass bands, instrument and songwriting workshops, arts and crafts vendors, dancing, and plenty of food, including organic and farm-to-table options. The 150-acre Yellow Creek Park has great nature trails and fishing, as well as RV and tent camping (for a fee on a first-come, first-served basis). You’ll hear banjos, guitars, and fiddles jamming in the campground as well. rompfest.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CINCINNATI PRIDE FESTIVAL, A FAMILY BLOWING BUBBLES AT CINCINNATI PRIDE, INDY JUNETEENTH PARADE, INDY JUNETEENTH FESTIVAL, VENDOR TABLES AT CINCINNATI PRIDE, ASHTABULA HARBOR BEACH GLASS FESTIVAL

PHOTOS COURTESY CINCINNATI MAGAZINE; INDY JUNETEENTH BY TONY VALAINIS; ASHTABULA BEACH GLASS BY DAWN BUBONIC, COURTESY ASHTABULA COUNTY CVB

JULY

JULY 5–7 | Madison Regatta and Roostertail Music Festival, Madison, Indiana

Ya gotta regatta! Since 1951, the historic Southern Indiana town of Madison has hosted boat races in early July on the Ohio River. Watch high-speed hydroplanes glide across the water’s surface to victory. The weekend’s festivities also include the Roostertail Music Festival at Bicentennial Park featuring musical acts Blackberry Smoke, 49 Winchester, Wyatt Flores, and The Steel Woods. madisonregatta.com

JULY 12–14 | Berea Craft Festival, Berea, Kentucky

More than 110 U.S. artists showcase their creations and provide demonstrations of their crafts in this well-attended (and dog-friendly) event at the historic Indian Fort Theater. With food booths, roving performers, and live music, you’re sure to stay entertained. visitberea.com/ berea-craft-festival

JULY 12–20 | Three Rivers Festival, Fort Wayne, Indiana

The second-largest festival in Indiana, this nine-day jamboree at Fort Wayne’s Headwaters Park features plenty of arts, entertainment, and family-friendly activities, such as bed races, bingo, a parade, river rides, a concert series, and a fireworks finale. Be sure to visit Art in the

Park, the International Village, and Food Row at the Emporium. threeriversfestival.org

JULY 13 | Apricot Fest , Port Clinton, Ohio Catawba Island’s Twin Oast Brewing raises a glass to stone fruit with its ApriCatawba apricot ale in mid-July. The day begins with an Apritrot 0.5K fun run that takes participants around Twin Oast’s expansive, scenic property. The site is filled with vendor booths, music performances, games, facepainting, friendly animals, and food trucks. twinoast.com/apricotfest

JULY 15–20 | Circus City Festival, Peru, Indiana

Home of the International Circus Hall of Fame, Peru raises the big top to showcase six days of performances by its community amateur circus. Be dazzled by amazing feats of aerial acrobatics, tumbling, and juggling while clowns circulate to provide laughs. The concluding parade includes circus wagons, floats, marching bands, and aircraft deployed from nearby Grissom Air Reserve Base. perucircus.com/about-the-festival

JULY 18–20 | Master Musicians Festival , Somerset, Kentucky

Paying homage to master musicians while introducing up-and-comers is the focus of this three-day event. This year’s headliner is The Wallflowers, led by Jakob Dylan, with the lineup containing a mix of music styles from blues and roots to classical. Kids under 12 get in free, with a special set for them, plus water balloon fights and other activities. Somerset is situated on Lake Cumberland, a

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BEREA CRAFT FESTIVAL, APRICOT FEST, MASTER MUSICIANS FESTIVAL, THREE RIVERS FESTIVAL

TOURISM,

Expo Center. Take a ride in the Midway, sample all the flavors from food vendors, enjoy an array of concerts and onstage entertainment, peruse antiques and collectibles, gain knowledge through interactive educational displays, pet exotic animals, and explore the full gamut of activities and experiences the 11-day event offers. ohiostatefair.com

JULY 25–28 & AUGUST 1–4 | Glier’s Goetta Fest , Newport, Kentucky

large recreational lake with 1,200-plus miles of shoreline. mastermusiciansfestival.org

JULY 24–AUGUST 4 | Ohio State Fair, Columbus, Ohio

Get a head start on state fair season (Indiana’s fair starts August 2, and Kentucky’s begins August 15) at the Ohio

This annual two-weekend event celebrates goetta, a favorite regional dish made with ground beef and pork, steel-cut oats, and spices. This breakfast food was once a staple for the area’s German population. The festival features live music, dancing, goettaflinging performers dressed in traditional German garb, and family-friendly games along the beautiful Ohio River. It’s minutes

from the Newport Aquarium and Newport on the Levee, a multistory dining, retail, and entertainment center. goetta.com/goettafest

JULY 26–28 | Pierogi Fest, Whiting, Indiana

This ode to Eastern Europe’s famous dumpling in the Lake Michigan city of Whiting features music, dancing, and eclectic events, such as the Polka Parade, The Buscias’ Cooking Show, the Steve Kellogg Magic Show, the Pierogi Toss, and pierogi eating contests. Be on the lookout for characters like Mr. Pierogi, Miss Paczki, Halupki Guy, and The Pieroguettes. pierogifest.net

JULY 27–28 | Frankfort Sunflower Festival, Frankfort, Ohio

Here comes the … sunflower festival. Frankfort’s tribute to the eponymous cheery yellow flowers features fun family activities like a car show, kiddie tractor pull, tug of war competition, pie auction, fish fry, cornhole tournament, craft show, and petting zoo. View a wide variety of sunflower species and colorful floral arrangements. facebook.com/frankfortsunflowerfestival

LIFE’S BETTEROUTDOORS

THE PIEROGUETTES AT PIEROGI FEST

PHOTO BY EMILY RICHARDSON, COURTESY VISIT INDIANA

GRANT COUNTY, KY - Start your adventure here

Grant County is home to the Ark Encounter, a life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark. There are gentle rolling hills, beautiful lakes and parks, hiking trails and friendly folks. We’re just 35 miles south of Cincinnati.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

• July 13 - Skeeter Fest Music FestivalWilliamstown - 2 to 10 p.m.-

Featuring: The Steel Drivers

Advanced Degrees

Want to take your career to the next level? The following profiles of Midwest colleges and universities provide details about professional degree and certification programs designed to accommodate busy lifestyles and schedules.

EARLHAM COLLEGE & EARLHAM SCHOOL OF RELIGION

801 National Rd. W, Richmond, IN 47374

765-983-1200 / earlham.edu

Take the next step toward your future at Earlham.

Our Graduate Programs in Education aim to do more than just provide licensure for teachers. If you’re ready to awaken the teacher within, become a leader in your school communities, and be a morally conscious educator, one of our advanced degree programs is right for you.

Discern how to use your unique gifts to compassionately address the world’s problems in one of Earlham School of Religion’s advanced degree programs. Originally founded as a seminary based on Quaker values, our school and its programs will prepare you for a life of meaningful work in the world.

PROGRAMS FOR WORKING ADULTS: Religion: M.Div., M.A. in peace and social transformation , M.A. in religion, M.A. in theopoetics and writing, and certifi cate programs with both full- and part-time and in-person, online, and hybrid options; Education: M.A. in teaching (grade 5–12 certifi cation) and M.Ed. programs (with a focus on outdoor leadership, community-based organizations, educational technology, coaching, museums, a nd more) that can be job-embedded or allow a job in education to serve as the practicum requirement ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS: M.A. in theopoetics and writing can be completed entirely online NIGHT & WEEKEND CLASSES: Earlham School of Religion offers evening classes and weekend intensive courses.

Advanced Degree Programs at Earlham

Earlham offers advanced degrees through the Graduate Programs in Education and the Earlham School of Religion.

Awaken the teacher within and become a morally conscious leader in your school communities when you participate in the:

•Master of Arts in Teaching

•Master of Education

Discern how to use your unique gifts to compassionately address the world’s problems in the:

•Master of Divinity

Scan to learn more about how to apply:

•Master of Arts in Peace and Social Transformation

•Master of Arts in Religion

•Master of Arts in Theopoetics and Writing

Founded in 1930 in Fort Wayne, Indiana Tech is a nonprofit, comprehensive university that excels at educating students of all ages and from all walks of life. The university strives to create a truly inclusive community of learners and to ensure that students are supported and empowered to maximize their job prospects and advance in their careers.

Indiana Tech offers online programs at the certificate, associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. levels in in-demand fields, including project management, engineering, business, cybersecurity, accounting, information technology, computer science, health care administration, criminal justice, supply chain management, and more.

Coursework is accessible 24/7, and Indiana Tech’s class schedules allow busy working adults to take one class at a time and still make rapid progress toward their degree. Sessions start every six weeks, so students can begin their education at any time of year.

ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS: More than 100 online programs at multiple levels NIGHT & WEEKEND CLASSES: Coursework available 24/7 WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS: Indiana Tech is an approved education provider of Indiana’s Workforce Ready Grant, offering free training in industries like manufacturing, construction, health sciences, business, IT, and more. Qualifying students can have the entir e cost of an undergraduate certifi cate covered by the grant.

Are you ready to take the next step in your career?

Indiana Tech prepares students for career change, advancement and leadership. Set yourself apart from the competition with an online graduate degree or certificate.

Advanced degrees: MBA, M.S., Ph.D.

Graduate and post-graduate certificates

100% online classes begin every six weeks ENROLL TODAY! 888.832.4742

MIAMI UNIVERSITY

501 E. High St., Oxford, OH 45056 513-529-1809 / miamioh.edu

Established in 1809, Miami University is consistently ranked among the top National Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report for providing students with an Ivy League–quality education at a public school price. Located in quintessential college town Oxford, Ohio—with regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, and a European study center in Luxembourg—Miami serves more than 22,600 undergraduates across more than 100 areas of study and more than 2,200 graduate students in 78 master’s and doctoral degree programs.

At this comprehensive research university, students engage and conduct research with premier teacher-scholars. Miami adds $2.3 billion each year to Ohio’s economy through innovative partnerships and job creation. Miami is an NCAA Division I school, serving more than 500 student athletes across 19 varsity sports.

PROGRAMS FOR WORKING ADULTS: Many of Miami University’s graduate programs are designed with the working professional in mind, with fl exible pathways, online and hybrid coursework, summer terms, and sprint courses. NIGHT & WEEKEND CLASSES: 12 online programs: master’s in biological sciences, biology, business administration, curriculum and instru ction, educational technology, entrepreneurship and emerging t echnology, esports management, FNP, instructional design and technology, nurse executive leadership, and special education; DNP

COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS: Physician associate studies, social work, biom edical engineering, and chemical engineering

WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS: 20 graduate certifi cate programs

At Valparaiso University, you’ll fi nd yourself among passionate truth-seekers, discovering an academic journey that not only brightens your future but illuminates your communities.

Valpo’s top-tier graduate programs offer flexible, immersive learning environments where top-notch educators guide you on a path of knowledge and experience, helping you gain the skills necessary to move forward and be a beacon in your career. Financial aid and scholarships are available, so our costs remain low and highly competitive with most schools across the nation.

Valpo is distinguished by our highly ranked MBA programs, nationally recognized healthcare programs and DNP pathways, and new master of social work degree. We are ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best National Universities and in the top 50 of Best Value Schools.

Ready to radiate at Valpo?

PROGRAMS FOR WORKING ADULTS: More than 25 full-time and part-time on-campus and online master’s, doctoral, and graduate certifi cate programs, most of which can be completed in 18–24 months ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS: Master of public health, master of health administration, post-professional occupational therapy doctorate WORKFORCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS: Analytics and modeling, applied econ ometrics and data science foundations using SAS, applied economics, business economics, IT fundamentals, public health, trauma-informed care

>6,000

WESTERN GOVERNORS UNIVERSITY

866-225-5948

wgu.edu

At Western Governors University, we believe in the power of human potential. We’re an online university dedicated to making higher education attainable for as many people as possible. Everything we do at WGU is aimed at increasing accessibility and opportunity for each student, regardless of their background, motivations, or life situation. That focus helps produce success for our nearly 330,000 graduates. Our curriculum geared toward today’s workforce needs is why WGU grads have a 99-percent employer satisfaction rate and why our students see an average salary increase of $22,200 just two years after graduating.

Other universities have rigid deadlines and test times set in stone. WGU doesn’t. Others charge a fortune. Not us. At WGU, you come first. It’s your education, so you’re in the driver’s seat. With affordable tuition and flexible programs that allow you to study when, where, and how you like, you’ll never have to shift your schedule to get to class or take a day off to take a test. Work hard, live your life, earn your degree. Welcome to the University of You.

PROGRAMS FOR WORKING ADULTS: Online coursework available 24/7, no set class times, flexible test scheduling, and competency-based programming

ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS: 40-plus graduate degree and certificate programs in business, education, health and nursing, and technology, all fully online

COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING PROGRAMS: WGU is the only institution offering competency-based degrees at scale, allowing students to utilize past knowledge, capitalize on experience, and follow the best process for their own learning.

Photo by TONY VALAINIS

The wagyu flank steak at Cooper

DOWNTOWN

INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square

Bluebeard

UPDATED CONTEMPORARY When it opened in 2012, Tom and Ed Battista’s charming little restaurant led the charge in getting Indy’s dining scene on the national radar. A perennial nominee for the James Beard Awards with mentions in the likes of The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and Bon Appétit, Bluebeard—which takes its name from one of native son Kurt Vonnegut’s novels—still delivers on the hype. The menu has settled into a comfortable groove, starting with shareable small plates such as house-frizzled chips and French onion dip, gourmet bar nuts, and grilled bread from sibling bakery Amelia’s served with a flight of slatherings. Midsized dishes diners have grown to love: chopped salad; fat scallops over celery root puree, topped with pickled apples and jalapeño; and spaghetti tossed with creme fraiche, parmesan, and gremolata. A plate-spanning Faroe Island salmon, beef-andpork Bolognese, and other larger entrees make for a nice, lingering dinner accompanied by cocktails in a delightfully shabby dining room decorated with shelves of books and Vonnegutera typewriters 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, bluebeardindy.com V $$$

Commission Row

NEW AMERICAN This new steak and seafood showplace in Bicentennial Unity Plaza reinforces Cunningham Restaurant Group’s reputation for fine dining excellence. Kick off a pre-Pacers dinner with fragrant, everythingspiced popovers and bruleed bone marrow or go big and spoil yourself with a curated caviar service before proceeding to a textbook dry-aged ribeye or A5 wagyu. Raw bar offerings include a decadent, grand seafood tower loaded with an assembly of fresh oysters, shrimp, lobster, and crab. Well-vetted wine and spirit selections provide plenty of drink for thought, but the house Tanqueray martini served any way you want it is

always an easy decision. 110 S. Delaware St., 317550-2500, commissionrow.com V $$$$

Julieta Taco Shop

MEXICAN Gabriel Sañudo and Esteban Rosas’ humble yet funky taco shop in the Stutz Building shows the pair’s skill and fine dining experience in little details such as the marinades for meats, tortillas handcrafted from heirloom corn varieties, and surprisingly flavorful vegetarian options. Start with a signature taco al pastor, the meat shaved directly from a rotating spit, and pair that with one of the other tender grilled or braised meats, such as the earthy brisket-like suadero. Then, grab whatever special creation is on the pegboard menu, such as fluffy, creamy tamales; crispy snapper or mushroom tacos; or aromatic pozole. Enjoy your tacos at a counter seat or alfresco in the renovated atrium. Or head next door for a cocktail at retro-chic Turner’s Bar, where you can wait for the neon sign to alert you that your tacos are ready. 1060 N. Capitol Ave. $$

Milktooth

BRUNCH This airy diner-style cafe has a playfully gritty vibe and a menu that changes with both the seasons and the whims of its chef. The early morning counter service featuring pastries and coffee gives way to a full-service brunch menu—if they’re serving a Dutch baby pancake, get it. Daytime craft cocktails are also on offer. 534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131, milktoothindy.com V $$

EAST

INCLUDES Irvington, Windsor Park

Beholder

CONTEMPORARY You never know what to expect from restaurateur Jonathan Brooks’ Windsor Park kitchen, aside from one of the most innovative and well-executed meals in town. The menu is difficult to track, mainly because

Brooks builds his dishes around seasonal ingredients that are fresh and of-themoment. 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 chicken liver mousse) and bulk up toward the bottom (think wild boar Bolognese or a massive pork Wellington portioned for two). Finish with the most exotic flavor of house-made ice cream. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com 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 deepfrying and sweet tea–brining, but you shouldn’t miss the daily soft serve ice cream flavor. If the weather is warm, take a seat at one of the picnic tables outside and watch the neighborhood pups frolic in the adjacent dog park. 414 Dorman St., 317-4929887, naturalstateprovisions.com $$

Open Kitchen

NEW AMERICAN Breakfast specialties, such as light-as-air French toast, biscuits and gravy, and eggs Benedict lavished with crab and avocado, are stars on the menu at Dexter and Toni Smith’s cheery eatery. But lunch and dinner are equally respectable, especially a generous shrimp po’ boy or a crispy chicken sandwich with peppered bacon, onion rings, and barbecue sauce with your choice of spice level. More substantial entrees include a grilled pork chop with apple chutney, with elevated touches owing to Dexter Smith’s Chef’s Academy pedigree. After operating mainly as a carryout spot on North Sherman and later in Little Flower, this location comes with a full bar, which means cocktails— such as the creamy, floral Respect Your Elders with bourbon, elderflower, and lemon—are a must. 4022 Shelby St., 317- 974-9032, opennkitchen.org $$

Brunch Outdoor seating Reservations

V Vegetarian friendly ADDED NEW SYMBOLS

$$$$ $30 and up

$$$ $20–$30

$$ $10–$20

$ Under $10 UPDATED

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

NORTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville

Aroma Experience

NEW INDIAN Vinita Singh’s portfolio of restaurants expanded in March 2024, when she brought a new location of her Aroma mini-chain of restaurants to Carmel City Center. Those who enjoy her Aroma Indian Cuisine and Bar spots in Fountain Square and SoBro will find plenty to like in this glitzy, date-night venue. The other locations’ daily dinner menus of Northern Indian dishes such as tikka masala and Kerala-style curry are on offer, as are ambitious entrees including a lehsuni prawn dish that plays notably with Aroma’s coconut and cashew naan. (There’s also a chili garlic naan so engaging that one could enjoy it unaccompanied.) Lunch, which is served daily, is a more concise affair of bowls, rolls, and wraps; there’s also a full bar and some standout, homemade ice cream–based desserts. 885 Monon Green Blvd., Carmel, 317-993-3021, aromaindy.com V$$$

Cooper & Cow

NEW STEAKHOUSE Louisville-based Endeavor Restaurant Group’s swashbuckling steakhouse in downtown Fishers is perhaps distinguished most by its intimacy and calm, where diners can actually hear their dinner companions across the table. The 4,200-square-foot space, which was last an

outpost of LouVino, has been transformed with well-appointed decor that recalls the swankier saloons of pre-Prohibition days. It makes a great backdrop for surprisingly fresh, well-prepared seafood offerings alongside prime aged filets, ribeyes, and wagyu flank steak. A house wagyu burger is more than dinner-worthy, and sides such as fried Brussels sprouts with roasted garlic and bresaola are excellent for sharing. Save room for a towering wedge of bourbonenriched chocolate cake with both dark chocolate ganache and milk chocolate buttercream. 8626 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-288-2801, cooperandcow.com $$$

Nyla’s

NEW AMERICAN The latest and most elevated of Scott and Nyla Wolf’s culinary efforts on Indy’s north side brings to life antique dealer Bob Beauchamp’s iconic and gorgeously restored red barn on Westfield’s unofficial restaurant row.

Chefs Esli Alfaro and Sarah Sinclair, formerly of The Italian House next door, oversee a menu of steakhouse staples with Southern influences. Be sure to get a starter of light and crunchy cornmeal-crusted fried oysters with red pepper remoulade, as well as delectable deviled eggs crowned with candied bacon. Steaks lavished with rosemary-garlic butter are good bets, though a thick-cut pork chop with tangy bacon jam and juicy double-boned lamb chops are definitely worth forgoing beef. Asian-inspired miso-soy sea bass is a lighter option that still packs plenty of flavor, and cauliflower “risotto” is a satisfying and savory side among more expected options. A towering slice of chocolate cake with strawberry sauce is the perfect finale,

but the real draw is the cozy bucolic setting that still feels elegant enough for celebration dinners. 211 Park St., Westfield, 317-763-5412, nylasrestaurant.com $$$

Trax BBQ

BARBECUE Owner Andrew Klein, who has a background in high-end steakhouses, oversees the tender headliners at this no-frills barbecue joint that sits beside the train tracks in McCordsville. You can taste his expertise in the essential meats: brisket hacked into fatty hunks, pulled pork that melts in the mouth, and ribs by the rack, all prepared in a smoker that customers walk past before they hit the front door. Fans of smoked meats order off a menu that covers traditional carnivore territory as well as some creative upgrades, including pulled pork nachos and The Willie brisket sandwich topped with hot liquid cheese and slaw on a brioche bun. 7724 Depot St., McCordsville, 317-335-7675, traxbbq.com $$

NORTHEAST

INCLUDES Broad Ripple, Castleton, Geist, Herron-Morton, Kennedy-King, Keystone at the Crossing, Meridian-Kessler, Nora, SoBro

Festiva

MEXICAN This lively Latin spot on the east side puts a gourmet flourish on south-of-theborder fare. The menu includes tacos, plus an

old favorite: poblanos stuffed with chorizo and queso. A pitcher of their house marg, made with fresh lime and agave, is perfect for the whole table, especially with one of their delicate, seasonal desserts. 1217 E. 16th St., 317-635-4444, festivaindy.com V $$

Gather 22

CONTEMPORARY This colorfully cozy all-day hangout and cocktail spot in Fall Creek Place from Byrne’s Grilled Pizza owners Adam Reinstrom and Pablo Gonzalez draws on Reinstrom’s love of interior design and Gonzalez’s background in innovative mixology. Vibrant wall fixtures by creators such as Bootleg Signs & Murals and revolving works by locals from the LGBTQ art community provide a funky backdrop for sipping seasonal elixirs, such as the bracing but balanced Bourbon Renewal. Salads include a wedge with smoked blue cheese and roasted-poblano ranch. Byrne’s original pizzas, cracker-thin and charred, are on offer, as are thicker-crusted Roman-style oval pies with well-chosen toppings. Fresh takes on shareable plates include crispy-skinned salmon with kale and quinoa and intriguing scallop sliders with Asian-style slaw. On Sundays, the brunch menu features classics such as egg dishes and French toast. There are also breakfast pizzas such as the Chilaquiles, a thin crust topped with chorizo, salsa, eggs, and fried tortillas. Coffee drinks and a solid sandwich list anchor the daytime menu, and desserts feature a luxe take on the Hoosier classic sugar cream pie. 22 E. 22nd St., 317-258-2222, gather22.com $$

Nicole-Taylor’s

Pasta + Market + Backroom Eatery

MEDITERRANEAN Since taking over Tony and Rosa Hanslits’ beloved SoBro pasta market, lunch cafe, and private dining spot in July of 2023, chef Erin Kem and partner Logan McMahan have brought their deep affection for Mediterranean flavors to a lunchtime menu that features an assortment of house pastas with seasonal additions; the current summer menu includes a stunning spring pea bucatini with asparagus, smoked salmon, and dill. Creative sandwiches and salads draw on McMahan’s talent with plant-based cuisine, which, along with the market’s egg-free pasta, have made the shop a bona fide vegan destination. An ever-changing selection of ready-to-eat, deli, and gourmet options make this a great spot to stop for quick supper ideas. And Kem brings her years of experience in the kitchens of local restaurants and in the thick of private events to the market’s highly in-demand small group dinners. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-257-7374, nicoletaylorpasta.com V $$

NORTHWEST

INCLUDES College Park, Lafayette Square, Traders Point

The Loft Restaurant

FINE DINING With its pastoral setting on the grounds of an artisanal dairy farm, Traders Point Creamery’s farmstead restaurant (housed in one of several restored historic barns) feels like a working model for farm-to-table dining.

Some of the ingredients on executive chef Jon Warner’s menu are grown on-site, and it would be a shame to pass on the charcuterie board, an appetizer featuring the creamery’s award-winning cheeses, sweet and savory spreads, crunchy cornichons, and locally cured meats. Grass-fed Niman Ranch steaks, seasonal fish and seafood, and house-made yeast rolls are always solid choices, as is the burger made with 100-percent grass-fed beef. For dessert, grab a scoop or three of their ice cream, perfect if you just want to go a la mode. 9101 Moore Rd., Zionsville, 317-7331700, traderspointcreamery.com V $$$

SOUTH SUBURBAN

INCLUDES Bargersville, Greenwood

Baan Thai Bistro

THAI Roxanna Williams’ cozy Thai eatery, which she opened in a former house and hair salon in late spring of 2023, is a welcome addition to Wanamaker’s dining offerings, bringing aromatic flavors and artful presentations to dishes like the lightly breaded and fried Son-in-Law Eggs (Kai Look Keuy), which is drizzled with earthy-sweet tamarind sauce, and generous summer rolls that come with a trio of tangy dipping sauces. Less expected shareable starters include rich and flavorful Isan Thai Sausage with just the right amount of spice, served with a not-too-hot dipping sauce and a darling bamboo basket of sticky rice; a Crispy Rice Salad that crackles and pops; and airy steamed dumplings. Hearty Boat Noodle Soupand Crispy Pork Belly Ramen with a light mushroom-scented broth are good bets for main dishes, as are the kicky Crying Tiger Steak and more typical curries and noodle dishes. Adventurous diners will want to try one of three fish dishes redolent of ginger and basil, and a funky mix of whole chicken drumsticks and sweet curry noodles make for a comforting supper. 8705 Southeastern Ave., 317-759-8424, baanthaibistro .com

V $$

Main & Madison Market Cafe

ADDED BAKERY Franklin’s first hospital was reborn as a breakfast and lunch hot spot in 2018, when co-owners and cousins Amy Richardson and Stephanie Northern opened their bakery and cafe just steps from the city’s historic courthouse. With its combination of Brooklyn-cool baristas (many are students at nearby Franklin College) and Midwestern friendliness and prices, the restaurant easily attracts long lines for its rotating menu of sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods. Its roasted pepper and gouda soup is espcially satisfying; that it’s served with one of their caramelized onion and goat cheese scones turns it into a special treat. Pastries like a shareablesized pecan sticky bun or a stuffed peanut butter cookie are a sugar crash waiting to happen but are more than worth the ride. 100 N. Main St., Franklin, 317-736-6246, mainandmadison.cafe

V $$

Mr. Patakon

COLOMBIAN

The name of Diana Moreno and

Brenda Sánchez’s festive, authentic southside Colombian eatery comes from the popular Latin and South American dish patacones—flattened, fried plantains filled with everything from shredded barbecue chicken criollo to cheese, corn, and shredded beef. But more familiar fare includes colorfully conceived hot dogs like the Super Perro, which is topped with every meat in the kitchen, quail eggs, and a special house sauce. Mazorcada (heaps of sweet corn topped with meats, cheeses, and potato sticks) is a delectably novel side dish. Fruit drinks and desserts, especially obleas (wafer cookies filled with dulce de leche and cheese), are worth the extra calories for a flavor experience like no other in the city. 7415 U.S. 31, 317-692-9829, mrpatakon.com $$

WEST

INCLUDES Brownsburg, Pittsboro, Plainfield

Bob’s Indian Kitchen

INDIAN A surprisingly spacious and airy counterservice restaurant located in a new mini-strip in Hendricks County houses Bhavesh “Bob” Patel’s ode to home-cooked Indian cuisine. Irresistible entry-level cream cheese bhajia and dreamy butter chicken get just as much respect as the crispy pani puri filled with tamarind water, the goat biryani, and the mini section of Indian pizzas. Cool your tastebuds with sweet sips of mango lassi. 618 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-9830225, bobsindian.square.site V $$

Che Chori

ARGENTINEAN Marcos Perera-Blasco’s colorful drive-thru restaurant offers a delectable intro to Argentinean street food. A selection of traditional butterflied-sausage sandwiches and warm empanadas filled with seasoned meats are the focus of the menu. Make sure to pick up the house-made dulce de leche, which is sold by the jar, as well as their churros and specialty Argentinian shortbread cookies. And don’t overlook the cook-at-home sausages, from Spanish-style chorizo to Argentinean black sausage. 3124 W. 16th St., 317-737-2012, chechori .com $$

Rick’s Cafe Boatyard

SEAFOOD You don’t have to be a Parrothead 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 smoked salmon nachos and chicken cordon bleu fingers in with the jumbo shrimp martinis. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-290-9300, ricksboatyard.com $$$

Hindu Temple of Central Indiana

LEARN AND FIND CONNECTION AMID THE VISUAL AND SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR THOUGHT IN THIS SPECTACULAR SANCTUARY.

BY CAMILLE GRAVES

AMONG THE MANY traditional carvings on the Hindu Temple of Central Indiana’s main entrance are two contemporary figures, a little girl reading a passage from the Rg Veda—the most ancient of Hindu scriptures—in Sanskrit and a boy reading the same line in English: “The Truth is One, though the wise may call it by many names.” Therein lies the principle that flows through every aspect of the temple’s design: There are many paths to the divine. It’s conveyed in myriad details, from the architecturally distinct styles of the four ornate towers soaring above the temple representing different streams of Hindu thought, to the wall of pens symbolizing the “1,008 names of God,” to the worship hall’s diverse shrines allowing adherents from separate traditions to observe in their own ways. Hundreds of carvings invite study and interpretation, like a saxophone on a pillar and a depiction of the Universal Self with all of life merging with and emerging from its human-like form, faces and arms fanning out like decks of cards. Viewed from below through a skylight, the latter gives one a sense of awe—and vertigo. The temple (htci.org) is a resource for all to visit and shed prejudice to discover more about their own path or that of others, whether through a tour, a class, a public festival like Holi or Diwali, or worship.

Photo by SAI PRASAD SANKA