From the Lake Michigan shoreline to the labyrinths of New Harmony, Indiana is teeming with bucket list–worthy sights and experiences to delight newbies and lifelong residents alike.
EDITED BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
52
IN THE RIGHT SEAT
The innovators behind this month’s Chreece hip-hop festival and GangGang’s Butter Fine Art Fair sat down for a friendly chat about their roles in the Indianapolis arts and culture scene. Here’s what they had to say.
EDITED BY CAMILLE GRAVES
Sean “Oreo Jones” Smith chats with Mali and Alan Bacon.
ON THE COVER Illustration by Vidhya Nagarajan
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SCHRADER
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CIRCLE CITY
11 SPEED READ
A statewide shortage of school psychologists spurs a new support solution.
14 THE HOOSIERIST
Our Indiana expert fishes for evidence of bull sharks swimming in the Ohio River. 14
UNSPOKEN RULES
A manner-festo for the new Lucky Tiles Mahjong The Atelier studio in Noblesville. 15 ARTIFACT
A 1960 ice cream carton from Al Green’s eastside drive-in conjures sweet memories. 16
Following a large-scale theft of trading cards at Gen Con 2023, the gaming community takes a stand against crime.
18
Five can’t-miss events in Indy this month.
A
GOOD LIFE
21 WANTED
Channel cowboy couture with a silver and turquoise bolo tie from Cowpokes in Anderson.
22 SHOP TALK
Mass Ave’s vibrant Feelin’ Fine boutique offers standout fashions that bolster an Indianapolis nonprofit’s mission of inclusion.
22 MY LOOK
Composer and performer Mina Keohane shows off her signature style in overalls accented by oversize earrings.
26 PET PROJECT
A Brownsburg pig sanctuary provides a precious haven for adoptable felines at the storybook Kitty Cuddle Cottage. 27
Ascend to new heights amid Windy City skyscrapers with this roundup of high-altitude tourist destinations in Chicago.
THE DISH
29 SWOON
Dip into Swiss Gruyere cheese fondue at Noblesville’s newly minted hi-fi listening lounge, The Pretender.
30 FIRST BITE
Roots Market + Eatery opens in Plainfield; The Toy Pit spawns a fun new neighbor; and The Love Bug’s Abby Ripberger reveals simple secrets to great dishes.
31 FOODIE
Following decades of working in the software industry, Paws on Tap owner Chad Johnson unleashes a dog-friendly taproom in Whitestown.
32
TASTE TEST
Olive oil edges out butter in these mouthwatering cakes.
34 REVIEW
Downtown sandwich shop Love Handle expands its hours to introduce a “rec room chic” dinner menu.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Life Goals
AS A lifelong Hoosier, I have experienced many of the sights, sounds, and flavors of Indiana compiled in this month’s bucket list feature (p. 38). French Lick? I visited as a child, and the thing I remember most is catching a big whiff of the sulfur water in Pluto Spring. St. Elmo shrimp cocktail? My sinuses might never be the same after being seared clear by the restaurant’s signature horseradish-laden sauce, which is rivaled in potency by the pretzel mustard at the Rathskeller. Circle of Lights? I probably take that one for granted. Having worked on Monument Circle for 16 years, I viewed it daily in all its glory before my evening commute home in the winter. My fear of heights, however, has thus far prevented me from climbing to the top of the monument. That item remains unchecked until I work up the gumption to ascend more than 230 feet to bask in the panoramic views of the city from the observation deck.
Andrea Ratcliff Editor-in-Chief
PUBLISHER Ivy Bayer
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrea Ratcliff
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Julia Spalding
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Christina Vercelletto
ARTS AND CULTURE EDITOR
Camille Graves
DIGITAL EDITOR Clay Maxfield
Art | production
DESIGN DIRECTOR
Margo Wininger
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Vu Luong
ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Christiana Bertsch
ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR
Sarah Ellis
Advertising | Business
SALES DIRECTOR Holly Whitney
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Sarah Anderton, Jena Jennings, Rachel Widenhofer
For brave souls not afflicted by acrophobia, our Traveler excursion this month (p. 27) highlights the high points in the Windy City such as the Skydeck and 360 Chicago. Though I may prefer to stay closer to ground level, I have zero interest in ever encountering bull sharks rumored to swim the Ohio River (p. 14). Thankfully, The Hoosierist assures us that the chances of fearsome finned creatures making it this far north are slim. Still, interacting with feline friends at Oinking Acres Farm Rescue & Sanctuary’s Kitty Cuddle Cottage (p. 26) is much more palatable as an animal adventure.
Your mileage may vary on all the must-dos we recommend in this issue, which begs the question: What’s on your Hoosier bucket list?
( CONTRIBUTORS )
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Missy Beiting
LEAD DIGITAL STRATEGIST
Brianna Connock
Events
VICE PRESIDENT OF EVENTS AND SPONSORSHIP SALES
Tasha Stapleton
IM EVENTS DIRECTOR
Abby Broderick
EVENTS ASSISTANT Charlie Jaeb
PUBLISHED BY
Sean Gallagher
Illustrator Sean Gallagher resides in Charleston, South Carolina, with his family and menagerie of pets and enjoys making art and exploring the Lowcountry. The Palmetto State is among a series of home bases that includes Indiana, where he graduated from college. His artwork helps highlight such issues as the school psychologist shortage (p. 11).
Camille Graves
If there’s something fun or interesting happening in Indy, Indianapolis Monthly arts and culture editor Camille Graves is likely to be there. She rarely misses an opportunity to dig into the city and its fascinating residents, from the people on the street to the movers and shakers—like the founders of arts organization GangGang and Chreece hip-hop festival (p. 52).
A nonprofit leader, freelance writer, music enthusiast, and weekend waitress, Nora Spitznogle spends an unreasonable amount of time thinking about the Indiana State Fair and isn’t embarrassed to admit that a purple ribbon can make her entire year (p. 43). Farmraised and Indianapolisbased, she’s fascinated by the wonderfully quirky corners of Hoosier life.
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Nora Spitznogle
Named Indianapolis Monthly Magazine Face of Automotive for the second year in a row!
59 // COLLEGE GUIDE
This annual directory of Midwest colleges and universities provides by-the-numbers stats and highlights the strengths, academic offerings, and philosophies of higher learning institutions throughout the state. It is a valuable resource for families exploring and weighing education options with their high school students.
91 // DREAM HOME
Get a preview of the 2026 Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home, designed and built by Scott Bates Custom Homes, Dare 2 Design, and Goldberg Design Group alongside partners PJE Lawn Care & Landscaping and Phantom Screens. Located in Zionsville’s Holliday Farms golf community, this spectacular home brimming with luxurious finishes, furnishings, and amenities opens for three consecutive tour weekends starting August 14.
CANCER CARE:
Working on the front lines of the fight against cancer, local doctors discuss the latest developments in prevention measures, early detection tools, and treatment protocols that protect against disease and result in the best possible patient outcomes.
FALL SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE GUIDE
Open house programs and campus tours give parents the opportunity to learn about the primary and secondary schools they may want their children to attend. Our Indy-area open house guide includes tips to help families make their visits as useful and informative as possible.
Counseling Crisis
Yellow school buses filled with excited kids are on roads again. But the data surrounding Hoosier schools isn’t quite as cheery, with the intractable teacher shortage persisting. On top of that, a new challenge has taken hold: a dearth of school psychologists.
SALARIES HAVE DRIVEN MANY GOOD TEACHERS AWAY. There are more than 3,000 open teacher positions listed on the Indiana Department of Education website as of this writing. “Quality educators are in high demand,” says Aerin Welch, Ph.D., interim program director for the Department of Psychological Sciences at the University of Indianapolis (UIndy). “The people really wanting to pursue education are still out there, but recruitment here has gotten progressively harder.” It’s not difficult to see why. Our average teacher pay ranks 38th in the nation. So the best educators are leaving the state in droves for greener pastures. While the average Hoosier teacher salary did increase 4 percent from the 2024–2025 to 2025–2026 school years, median wages for teachers (and administrators) show a decline since 2020 once adjusted for inflation. Salaries have gone up, but not nearly at the same pace as the cost of living has.
AND NOW, THE POOL OF SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGISTS IS DRYING UP TOO. A new survey of Indiana school superintendents and administrators reports the school psychologist-to-student ratio is 357:1. The recommended ratio is 250:1. The resulting overload and stress has led to high turnover, leaving students who rely on special education services to struggle on without them.
INDIANA LACKS MENTAL HEALTH
PROVIDERS IN GENERAL. According to the 2024 Mental Health America report, the most recent available, 66.4 percent of Indiana teens who experience major depression do not receive necessary treatment, an increase of nearly 11 percent from 2023. That’s far worse than the national average. At the same time, the Indiana Department of Health reports all 92 of Indiana’s counties have a mental health provider shortage, mirroring similar gaps inside of schools. Four rural counties—Newton, Ohio, Switzerland, and Union—have zero mental health professionals practicing within their borders. Couple this data with the lack of available in-school resources, and many kids who need support aren’t getting it anywhere.
FARMING OUT THE JOB IS A BAND-AID.
In the last few years, some larger districts have begun outsourcing the school psychologist role to third-party contractors. While the support they provide is better than nothing, of course, students, especially those with more complex needs, aren’t necessarily getting the best help for their individual situations. “It’s less of a partnership—a collaborative relationship—than it is someone coming in and saying, ‘We did the testing, and it looks like this,’” Welch says. “They’ll make recommendations without being an actual part of the district or the school system.” Welch also points out the high cost of contracting out the work. School systems end up paying both the psychologists’ salaries and fees to a staffing agency.
UINDY IS KICK-STARTING AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION.
Welch was inspired to start a new program at UIndy after experiencing the consequences of psychologist staffing shortages firsthand. “What happens is school psychologists are so overwhelmed with the testing that’s being requested, with [the papers] needing to be signed, and basically catching up versus really being able to work in a preventative way,” Welch says. The time-squeezed psychologists rely on intervention instead of preventing learning loss. “We’re not able to really function at that preventative level in most districts,” she adds.
the
(Ed.S.) degree over the course of two years through evening courses and asynchronous learning. Students who pursue the Ed.S. degree must then complete a one-year internship in a public school district. The program operates on a small class-size model with approximately 12 students per section to allow for individual attention and faculty mentorship.
shortage
BY THE NUMBERS
357 1
Ratio of students to school psychologists in Indiana
38th Indiana’s ranking for teacher pay nationwide
66.4 Percentage of Indiana teens experiencing major depression who don’t receive needed treatment
92 Indiana counties (all of them) that have a mental health provider shortage
Though Indiana University Bloomington, Indiana State University, and Ball State University have their own graduate tracks, the UIndy program is specifically geared toward working adults who don’t have the time or resources to become full-time students again. Applicants must have at least 18 credit hours in psychology and education prerequisites to enroll. Students in the program can earn both a Master of Arts and an Education Specialist
IT WILL TAKE A VILLAGE.
Students meet online one night a week to go over lecture material with faculty available to answer questions in real time. “A big goal is community building, because we are going to be a statewide program,” Welch says. “It’s going to allow us to get together and collaborate, commiserate, and just share our experiences, because you’re not going to have the same challenges in a smaller district as you might working in Indianapolis Public Schools.”
MORE NONTRADITIONAL PATHWAYS ARE NEEDED.
Welch is hopeful that other institutions will follow UIndy’s lead to help bolster the ranks of child advocates in schools through nontraditional programs. “At the end of the day, are we advocating for what’s best for this child?” she says.
“Sometimes that means recommending against special education services for a child who is able to progress with their peers, because removing them from the classroom for any amount of time can be detrimental. Other times, it means advocating for more time in special education. It really has to be about the student’s individual needs, not the needs of the school or even necessarily the needs of the parent.” As Indiana schools continue to face staffing shortages alongside growing student mental health needs, UIndy leaders predict its program will be the start of an evolving solution. —DEVON DEAN
Shark Creek
Q : I’VE HEARD THERE ARE BULL SHARKS IN THE OHIO RIVER. THAT CAN’T BE TRUE … CAN IT? A: While the chance of the highly aggressive predator (a confirmed man-eater) cruising the Ohio River is low, it isn’t zero. The beasts can live in fresh water and so have, in fact, managed to invade rivers and lakes around the world. Disturbingly, two were captured—in separate incidents—in the Mississippi near St. Louis, each having traversed the 700 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Experts say the Ohio may be a tougher nut, though, because sharks would have to negotiate a dam to reach Indiana. Even then, they couldn’t hang out year-round because bulls are a subtropical breed of shark. So while Ohio River shark tales continue to circulate, none have been verified. So far, anyway. —SAM STALL
( UNSPOKEN RULES )
Lucky Tiles Mahjong The Atelier
A MANNER-FESTO FOR THE ELEGANT NEW STUDIO IN NOBLESVILLE
Reserve a table in advance for a group. Or come alone. Many do. Arrive a little early to get comfortable and start making new friends. Park right in front or across the street. Ask questions; they’re encouraged. First timer? Your goal isn’t winning. It’s learning to recognize patterns, which is what the game is based on. Every turn, ask yourself: Which tile is least helping my hand? Celebrate loudly. It’s the Atelier way. Book a private lesson if you’d like to improve your game. Think you’ll be a regular? Get perks with a membership.
ask THE HOOSIERIST
Al Green’s Ice Cream To-Go Carton
VINTAGE: 1960
Resides at the Irvington Historical Society
LONG AGO , Al Green’s drive-in on East Washington Street was the place for ice cream. Al and sister Belle, who was known to play matchmaker to unsuspecting patrons, opened the pink stucco landmark in 1947. Al made the ice cream for frosty shakes and creamy root beer floats, which were so popular that customers began asking to buy the ice cream separately to take home. Al obliged. Vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry with hunks of fruit were scooped into cardboard to-go cartons like this one. High in butterfat, all three flavors tasted uniquely rich compared to brands sold in grocery stores at the time. In the late 1970s, Al Green’s began a slow decline. Yet, to the end, married couples set up by Belle stopped by and parked in “their spot.” In 1992, the restaurant was demolished. —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
The Card Crime Wave
WITH GEN CON HERE THIS MONTH, THE MEMORY OF A SHOCKING HEIST AT THE 2023 SHOW AND A RASH OF RECENT BREAK-INS AT COLLECTIBLE SHOPS SPUR FRESH RESOLVE IN THE GAMING COMMUNITY TO STAND TOGETHER AGAINST CRIME. BY
SAM STALL
JUST BEFORE the 2023 Gen Con gaming extravaganza opened at the Indiana Convention Center, two New Yorkers carried out an odd crime.
Thomas Dunbar and Andrew Giaume—who were known in the gaming community and had attended Gen Con as buyers for years—slipped into the vendor area and used a pallet jack to stroll out with boxes full of brand new packs of trading cards. Then they loaded the booty into a rented vehicle and headed back East.
This was no penny-ante theft: The cards were later valued at $300,000.
The brash act was not an isolated incident. As cards for games like
Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering grow more coveted, theft is becoming a headache for game store owners, collectors, and convention organizers.
In 2024, burglars broke into Tofu’s Trading in San Jose, California, and escaped with more than 35,000 Pokémon cards valued at $1 to several hundred dollars apiece. Then a Texas store reported the loss of more than $100,000 worth of vintage Pokémon cards during an overnight break-in. And in Los Angeles this past spring, thieves smashed display cases and ran off with rare Pokémon and One Piece cards. Similar incidents have been reported from Australia to the UK.
Why trading cards? They’re almost impossible to trace, and, being small and light, are far easier to boost than,
say, cars or art. And the payoff can be substantial. A typical Pokémon booster pack sells for around $6, but elite specimens have recently fetched astonishing sums. YouTuber Logan Paul purchased a 1998 Japanese CoroCoro Comic Pikachu Illustrator card for $5.28 million in 2021. He resold it earlier this year for $16.49 million. That’s the extreme upper end of the market, but it’s easy to see why criminals target the cards.
How did a black market develop for small rectangles of cardboard? Chalk it up to what economists call the “subjective theory of value.” It holds that the price of everything, from a diamond ring, to a bottle of perfume, to a tub of hummus, isn’t determined by objective standards but by what people are willing to pay for it. The first comic book featuring Superman sold for millions. As for game cards, plenty of well-heeled 40-ish people who want to reclaim a piece of their childhoods have decided they’re valuable, so they are.
Not surprisingly, Pokémon—which happens to turn 30 this year—sets the standard. “There’s just more demand for those,” says Bob Orr, owner of Greenwood store Ye Gamer’s Guild. “A lot of people grew up with it. There’s a nostalgia factor. And now they’re older and have the disposable income to buy them.”
Orr and other game shop operators typically have tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of inventory on hand at any given time—goods that, in theory, can easily be carried out unseen. And that doesn’t even count the cards that the throngs who attend the stores’ game nights haul in. While local owners don’t necessarily believe the theft issue is getting worse, it is a concern. “I know I’ve always heard game store owners talk about it,” Orr says.
Thefts are big news these days mostly because of greater visibility. If a thief broke into a store a few decades ago, the news rarely traveled beyond the immediate area. “With social media, if something happens, everyone knows,” Orr notes.
Craig Casares, manager of Good Games in downtown Indianapolis, says he’s dealt with two significant thefts over the years, one of which was resolved in a couple of hours and
THE BEAT
the other in about a week. Most local cases have involved the random theft of one or two high-value cards, not the sort of smash-and-grab operations we’ve seen so much of elsewhere lately, during which teams of thieves rush a store after hours and cart out thousands of cards. That, admittedly, is a nightmare scenario for local retailers. “I do think it’s a big issue because it’s something that smaller shops could potentially not recover from,” Orr says. “That’s someone’s livelihood.” A smash-and-grab hasn’t happened in Indianapolis—so far.
Collectibles shop owners aren’t the only ones on edge. Casares says the average game card aficionado’s biggest fear is someone making off with a prized tournament deck they’ve built over many years. Those decks are often kept in easily pilfered backpacks when players gather for public tournaments or game nights. “The average worry is along the lines of [the loss of] a legacy deck that might be worth $10,000,” Casares says.
Competitive players have taken to sticking Tile trackers in their back-
packs. (Although if the perpetrator thinks to look for one, it’s not hard to remove.) The gaming community itself has morphed into an informal security network. “What we do here is we try to have a good rapport with all of our fellow game stores in the area,” Casares says. “If for some reason someone comes to us or we find out that a card from our inventory has disappeared, we immediately put the word out to the other stores.”
That sense of community may explain why our city’s annual Gen Con, in town this month, has stayed safer than one might expect after 2023’s notable incident. It would seem to be the perfect place for bad actors: enormous crowds, millions of dollars in merchandise, and enough churn to conceal their deeds. Yet both Gen Con officials and local retailers describe a different culture. “Most of the people who go, they’re here on a weekly basis or at their local game store regularly. They’re not typically people who are going to try and grab something,” Casares insists. Indeed, players who accidentally leave with a game
containing someone else’s card usually return it as soon as they realize. “The honor system is alive and well,” Casares says.
Technology also helps. While Dunbar and Giaume operated with Oceans Eleven precision, they didn’t notice they were being monitored. Cops got footage of them loading their cart and then packing the boxes into their car. In one shot, a graphic on the shirt one of the men was wearing was identifiable, which was their undoing.
According to Jackie Martin, Gen Con marketing director, better coordination between law enforcement and convention center officials is in place today. “Since [the 2023 theft], no repeat incidents have been reported, thanks to upgrades in security protocols at the Indiana Convention Center.”
Three years later, the Gen Con robbery is part of the convention’s lore, but fear of it happening again is distant. Stealing cards may seem easy. But thanks to organizers’ thoughtful planning and the supportive nature of the gaming community, getting away with it is considerably harder.
(1) Darius Rucker Songs of Summer Tour
August 1
That signature baritone voice and country sound of the Hootie & The Blowfish frontman is heading to Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
Special guests are folk artist Evan Honer and country artist Austin Williams. livenation.com
(2) Dear Evan Hansen
August 5–9
The moving story about the challenges of adolescence in the digital age takes the stage in a Summer Stock Stage production at the Schrott Center for the Arts at Butler University. Bring the tissues. butlerartscenter.org
(3) Top Hat
August 6
The Summer Nights Film Series at Newfields is celebrating its golden anniversary. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dance to an Irving Berlin score in one of the first films shown at Summer Nights 50 years ago. discovernewfields.org/ events-exhibitions
(4) Gladys Knight
August 8
We heard it through the grapevine that the Empress of Soul is descending upon the Payne & Mencias Palladium at the Allied Solutions Center for the Performing Arts for one evening only. thecenterpresents.org
(5) Polkas Norteñas Fest
August 22
The free Northern Polka Festival at the Indiana State Museum will showcase dances celebrating polka-inspired Mexican corrido, norteño, redova, and Tejano music and include an arts and crafts fair. indianamuseum .org/event
Single-level living defined by expansive 10-foot ceilings and a light-filled, open design
Solid concrete-and-steel construction offering exceptional quiet and private, covered parking
Gourmet kitchens appointed with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and custom cabinetry
Resort-style amenities including a private fitness center, club lounge, and curated outdoor spaces
WANTED
Rodeo Drive
From Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter tour to Brandon Maxwell’s spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection, the styles of the American West are as hot as Houston in July. Galloping into the spotlight along with designer chaps and cowhide-printed jackets is the bolo tie, an accessory whose appeal has spread far beyond its Southwestern roots. Traditionally, bolos took the place of a necktie. Now, you see them worn with tees and jeans, with open-collar shirts, and as jewelry. One favorite: this 36-inch M&F Western Double S Bolo Tie. It pairs a concho medallion embellished with a leaf design and set off by a turquoise stone with a braided cord tipped in silver. $53. Cowpokes, 1812 E. 53rd St., Anderson, 765642-3911 —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
Photo by TONY VALAINIS
( SHOP TALK )
A Perfect Fit
THIS PURPOSE-DRIVEN BOUTIQUE IS TAILORED FOR INCLUSIVITY. BY CHRISTINA
INSTALLED IN the former digs of The Best Chocolate in Town near the Bottleworks District, Feelin’ Fine boutique welcomes with a bright, homey entry. An apricot bouclé love seat sits on a green striped rug in front of a windowsill arrayed with succulents and spider plants. A light-wood end table is topped with a tome titled The Style Thesaurus. The welcome from the staff is just as warm. The shop offers a fresh, thoughtfully curated mix of higher-end women’s and men’s clothing and accessories from brands like Benson, Jenny Krauss, and Saccharine New York. Browsers will also find tightly edited selections of intimates, jewelry, and underwear displayed in baskets.
What really sets Feelin’ Fine apart, though, is its origin story. Created as an initiative of the Indianapolis nonprofit the LEL Foundation, the store provides employment, skill building, and community integration for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. And each purchase directly supports that mission of creating paths to independence through retail experience, including helping customers find their ideal pieces. Shopping, it turns out, is even more fun when it supports a great cause.
DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS. Relaxed. Tomboyish. Quietly loud.
TELL US ABOUT WHAT YOU’RE WEARING.
This isn’t the artsiest or most fashionable outfit I own, but it’s the most me. Overalls, jumpsuits, rompers, they’re all my jam. I like to doll them up with lots of fun accessories.
DO YOU HAVE A SIGNATURE ACCESSORY?
I have these gigantic hoop earrings. No matter what I have on, when I put the hoops in, I’m in beast mode.
WHAT’S THE ONE PIECE YOU’LL NEVER GET RID OF?
A Square Cat Vinyl sweatshirt that is basically disintegrating. But they’ve discontinued it. I’ve gone to throw it away a handful of times, but I just can’t do it. –C.V.
scouted
(1) Saccharine New York bomber-style sweater, $250
(2) Sock Candy sheer dress socks, $18/pair (3) I’m With The Band Harvest Moon velvet scarf tie in Antique Gold, $28
(4) Benson crochet-style men’s camp shirt, $140
Mina Keohane Composer PHOTOS
SPOTLIGHT ON INDY BUSINESS
SPOTLIGHT ON INDY BUSINESS
HOME DECOR & ART STUDIO
317Home
A unique home decor boutique and art studio nestled in Carmel City Center 715 Hanover Place, Carmel 317homestudio.com | 317homestudio
HOME GOODS + GIFTS
Chatham Home
Offering thoughtfully curated home accents and unique gi s
22 W. Main St., Carmel ChathamHome.com | ChathamHome
CUSTOM FRAMING
Creative Custom Framing
Custom framing designed to protect and celebrate your memories
1326 Alimingo Dr., Indianapolis ccfindy.com | creativecustom_framing
RESTAURANT
His Place Eatery
Soul food, BBQ, chicken & waffles, and genuine hospitality in Indianapolis 6916 E. 30th St. | 1411 W. 86th St. hisplaceeatery | hisplaceeatery.com
CHILDREN’S CLOTHING
Little Tulip Tree
A Beaufort Bonnet Company Signature Store
offering clothing for babies and children with a refined sense of style
840 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel | littletuliptree.com
RESTAURANT
Diavola Italian Restaurant
An Italian family-owned restaurant known for authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas fired in a traditional brick oven 1134 E. 54th St., Ste. I | diavola_indy
PHOTO & VIDEO BOOTH EXPERIENCE
Indy Photo Fun
A customizable photo and video booth experience to elevate any event indyphotofun.com | indyphotofun
FACIAL SPA
The Only Facial
An 11-step custom facial service providing honest advice and no upselling, with gratuity included 3742 E. 82nd St., Indianapolis | theonlyfacial.com
RESTAURANT
Goodness Gracious
A comforting breakfast and lunch restaurant
offering catering, events, and curated picnics
24 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel i_love_goodnessgracious
Katherine & Josephine
Local designer specializing in antique-inspired fine jewelry 1030 S. Rangeline Rd., Ste. 280, Carmel katherineandjosephine.com katherineandjosephine
CUSTOM FRAGRANCE EXPERIENCE
Penn & Beech Candle Co. Candle shop featuring a custom “pour your own” fragrance experience Locations in Indianapolis, Carmel & Fishers pennandbeech.com | pennandbeech
JEWELRY DESIGNER
RESTAURANT
Pizzology
Pizzology Cra Pizza + Pub is a chef-driven pizzeria with unique pastas, salads, cra cocktails, and more. 13190 Hazel Dell Pkwy., Carmel | pizzologyindy.com
COFFEE COMPANY
Tinker Coffee Co.
An Indianapolis roaster cra ing specialty coffee with care since 2014 1125 W. 16th St., Indianapolis tinkercoffee.com | tinkercoffee
Ra Opticians
An independent optical practice with expert styling and holistic eye exams 1101 Mass Ave., Factory Arts District raopticians.com | raopticians
RESTAURANT
LAKESIDE RESORT
Raccoon Lakeside Lodge
A charming, tranquil resort committed to providing the vacation of a lifetime 9460 Paw Paw Ln., Rockville, IN raccoonlodge.com | raccoonlakesidelodge
SPOTLIGHT YOUR BUSINESS
Twenty Tap
A neighborhood scratch kitchen offering a unique selection of cra beers and cocktails in Meridian-Kessler 5408 N. College Ave., Indianapolis | twentytap.com
Interested in advertising your business? Scan the QR Code to get started!
Purrpose Built
A UNIQUE CAT RESCUE OPENS TO MEWLS—AND OINKS—OF DELIGHT.
BY CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
THEY HAD US at cuddle. A Brownsburg home for pigs has expanded its mission with a cat adoption program run out of a storybook-esque tiny house, the Kitty Cuddle Cottage. For Oinking Acres Farm Rescue & Sanctuary owner Olivia Head, the move feels like a natural extension of a lifelong love. “I was actually a cat person before I was a pig person,” she says. “My mom was a faithful cat foster, and I grew up around cats, especially those with special needs and babies that had to be bottle-fed. I became a great bottle-feeder.”
On a recent hot day, the guests—a mother with a caboodle of ginger and tabby kittens—seemed at home. Two sprawled on the rug in a sunbeam, purring along with the air conditioner. The others boinged between armchairs.
“The environment is such that you can see how the cat will actually behave, their personality, which often isn’t the case at a shelter when a cat is in a cage,” Head notes.
Same-day adoptions aren’t permitted, which
disappoints some. But Head stands by her vetting process. “I make sure each cat is matched with the right home,” she says. “We take everything into account. Whether the adopter works from home or long hours, which cats are good with dogs or other cats, or which are destined to be only cats. We call vet references.”
One success story is Maude, an emaciated mother who gave everything she had to feed her kittens. They were in good shape, but Maude needed time to recover. In the end, she was adopted with one of her daughters. Such multi-cat adoptions are encouraged if the situation allows. “Cats like companions,” Head observes.
Locals will drop off strays, but most of the felines come from Indianapolis Animal Care Services.
“They’re overwhelmed. There is such tremendous need,” Head says. She’s thinking about eventually devoting a barn to the purpose.
“The cottage is cute, but word is getting out.” 8420 N. County Rd. 650 E, Brownsburg, 317-225-1761, oinkingacres.org
( PLAY FETCH )
Curiosity Unleashed
Put yourself in your pet’s place at the Indiana State Museum.
IF YOU’VE ever wondered how your pup or puss perceives the world, you have until September 27 to find out at the Indiana State Museum. Cats & Dogs: The Exhibition (indianamuseum.org/ experience/cats-and -dogs) is set up from a pet’s perspective and breaks down their behavior. It digs into the science behind the zoomies, decodes what your cat is thinking—if you’re sure you want to know—and illuminates how your fur bestie tries to communicate. Breeds from the perky Chihuahua to the majestic Great Dane and the plush Persian to the goblin-esque sphynx are represented. Jump like a cat (good luck with that) and tackle a canine agility course while interactive tech helps you see, hear, and feel what the animals experience. The exhibit also busts myths: Dogs and cats usually get along perfectly fine; felines don’t always land on their feet, unfortunately; and toy breeds … well, they’re just misunderstood. Props to all the wee ones out there. —C.V.
pet project
The High Life
ELEVATE YOUR NEXT GETAWAY IN THE WINDY CITY. BY
IN A BUSTLING CITY full of big-shouldered skyscrapers, it can be easy to feel a bit claustrophobic. But if that bustling city is Chicago, you’ll thankfully find a slew of opportunities to rise above it all, literally.
The iconic Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) was the tallest building in the world when construction was completed in 1973, a brag it held onto until the late 1990s. Today, it still holds rank for its Skydeck (theskydeck.com) observation platform on the 103rd floor. Perched at 1,353 feet, it’s the highest public viewing platform in the U.S., besting even One World Trade Center in New York City. On a clear day, you can see four states: Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and, of course, Illinois. Feeling brave? Step out onto The Ledge, the west-facing glassbottomed balcony, and look straight down to South Wacker Drive and the Chicago River.
Chicago, IL
AMY LYNCH
Not to be outdone, 360 Chicago (360chicago .com) is home to Tilt, a daring attraction that slowly cantilevers plucky participants over the Magnificent Mile from 94 stories up. If you need a little liquid courage, CloudBar on the same floor is a lofty setting for cocktails overlooking Lake Michigan. Meanwhile, the perennial favorite Centennial Wheel at Navy Pier (navypier.org) spins riders around in an enclosed gondola at heights reaching nearly 200 feet.
Cap off your high-altitude escape by hopping on a helicopter tour of Chicago’s famous landmarks with Vertiport Chicago (vertiportchicago.com). Prefer to keep your feet on solid ground and leave the skies to the professionals? Head to the annual Chicago Air and Water Show (chicago.gov) on the lakefront on August 15 and 16. The largest free event of its kind in the country, it’s a unique chance to witness impressive aerial acrobatics by stunt flyers and precision military teams.
IF YOU GO
FLOAT ON. The EmotionAir Balloon Museum (balloon museum.world) fills The Fields in Logan Square with giant installations.
STAY. In Wicker Park, the art deco–style Robey hotel (therobey .com) boasts panoramic views of the skyline along with an intimate pool scene on the sixth floor and the swanky Up Room lounge on the 13th.
EAT. Feast on oysters, truffle fries, and duck pie under the atrium of Cindy’s Rooftop (cindysrooftop.com).
The TERRE HAUTE AIR SHOW is bringing its sky-high magic back with a twist. On August 22-23, the Terre Haute Regional Airport will transform into an outdoor arena. This year features new evening programming with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds tearing through the golden hour, followed by a drone and fireworks spectacle. terrehauteairshow.com
THE DISH
Slam Dunk
The Swiss Gruyere cheese fondue at Noblesville’s new hi-fi listening lounge, The Pretender, hits all the right notes. Paired with dippable bites of oven-roasted tomatoes, grilled steak, croutons, and Texas hot links, this starter tops a menu of greatest hits created by chef Ricky Hatfield for restaurateur Blake Fogelsong’s (of Clancy’s Hospitality and The Fountain Room) far-north mashup of eating well and listening to high-quality music. “He wanted to do some of those nostalgic 1970s-style food items,” Fogelsong says. You can also expect puff-pastry pigs in a blanket with honey-mustard crema, lobster bisque, and gourmet deviled eggs, served alongside cocktails with names like Heart of Gold and Velvet Underground, to vibe with the disco-chic decor. —JULIA SPALDING
SWOON
Photo
( ROAD TRIP )
Home Grown
A NEW FAR WESTSIDE MARKET IS LOCAL IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD. BY JULIA SPALDING
HOUSED IN a building constructed by the Knights of Pythias fraternal order in 1900, Roots Market + Eatery in Plainfield opened in late May, the latest renovation along the town’s Main Street. Owned by Doug Huff of L.D. Huff Construction—who was also behind the restoration of Plainfield’s Oasis Diner and the Prewitt Restaurant & Lounge—this pantry-stocking destination includes a butcher shop featuring premium meats from Indiana suppliers, an in-house bakery, a deli counter, and a cafe. Above the market, The Eyrie event space serves as a chic wedding venue with a combination of historic and modern details that befit the building’s original castle-like features. “There’s a turret on the east corner of the building with spires along the front,” says Lauren Harlan, marketing manager for the market’s parent Marquee Hospitality Group. “We want people to feel like royalty when they’re up there.” 115 W. Main St., Plainfield, 317-203-8818, rootsthemarket.com
PINCH OF WISDOM
“Salt, pepper, and butter are the secrets to good food. If you’re making a turkey sandwich, salt and pepper it. If you can’t figure out why a dish doesn’t taste like it does at a restaurant, it’s butter.”
—Abby
Ripberger, owner of The Love Bug
( NEW IN TOWN ) Munch Love
A pop culture snack shop moves into Midtown.
MIKE SCHOTT , owner of The Toy Pit near the corner of 38th Street and College Avenue, decided the empty building across the street could use a little love. Recasting the former vape shop in bright colors and anime decor, he opened The Pit Stop snack shop in May. A Fort Wayne native, Schott started buying and selling collectibles on eBay in 2009, launching his toy showroom in October 2024. “I’ve been to Japan and South Korea, and I’ve always had an interest in the snacks and candy there,” he says. At a cozy 1,000 square feet, The Pit Stop offers a whimsical inventory of international and American candies, savory snacks, cotton candy, shaved ice, flavored popcorn, and sealed mystery packages containing collectible items. 3840 N. College Ave., 317-703-8697, pitstopindy.com —AMY LYNCH
LEADING ROLLS Offering cocktails and sushi (including omakase sets), Niku has joined Zionsville’s Sylo Crossing development. FLOUR POWER The Cake Pantry is now open in Fishers, serving desserts—from pain au chocolat to custom cakes—plus croissant sandwiches. NORTH BY NORTHWEST Broad Ripple Seafood North & Bar, a spinoff of Broad Ripple Seafood, is the newest resident of Westfield’s Restaurant Row. —J.S.
Local Bark
USING HIS PEOPLE SKILLS AND LOVE OF DOGS, PAWS ON TAP OWNER CHAD JOHNSON MAKES FETCH HAPPEN.
BY JULIA SPALDING
BEFORE opening Paws on Tap in Whitestown at the beginning of June, Chad Johnson spent nearly 30 years in the software industry, including almost 15 years at Salesforce. The client management work he did there as senior director of professional services came in handy as he conceived and launched his 2,500-square-foot dog-friendly taproom.
Johnson’s idea for Paws on Tap started to form during travels with his daughter’s national-level youth soccer team. Looking for places to unwind between games, he noticed a coastal trend toward self-pour beer wall technology. Back home in Zionsville, he also saw a gap in a specific type of restaurant. “There were places that would allow dogs, but you could never bring them inside unless they were service dogs,” he says. “Even with service dogs, you would get seated in the back patio, hidden far away.”
For obvious reasons, health rules don’t allow dogs anywhere near food prep. But Johnson worked closely with the Indiana Department of Health and architect TJ Swanson to
create a restaurant from the ground up, with those self-serve wall taps, a large beer garden, and a kitchen specifically designed so that dogs could never enter. Customers can order from a surprisingly dense menu of flatbreads, melts, tacos, and hot dogs as well as a tail-wagging selection of freeze-dried meatballs, peanut butter balls, and doggy ice cream.
(1) His two French bulldogs, Stella and Stewie. “They only get to come after hours. They aren’t good dogs.” (2) Ciders. “I have had the opportunity to sample many different ones.” (3) Flatbreads. “We make ours from scratch at the taproom.” (4) Noah Grant’s. “My wife and I love it.” (5) Dinner at home with friends. “It’s not about the walls that you’re sitting in. It’s about the people within those walls.”
Color-coded leashes provided to four-legged customers signal whether a dog is friendly (green), needs some space (red), or is somewhere in the middle (yellow). Johnson hopes to eventually franchise the model. For now, he enjoys watching his customers connect with their best friends and new friends. 6827 Phipps Ln., Whitestown, pawsontap.com
(6) Barbecuing. “I’ll spend hours in front of a smoker, getting things just right.”
FAVORITE THINGS
FOODIE
TASTE TEST
Olive Branch
BUTTER MAY REIGN IN MAKING DECADENT PASTRIES, BUT MORE BAKERS ARE REACHING FOR BOTTLES OF OLIVE OIL FOR ENVIABLY MOIST CAKES WITH A SAVORY EDGE. GRAB A SLICE AT ONE OF THESE LOCAL SPOTS. BY TERRY KIRTS
Apicio Ristorante & Enoteca
All the best parts of a cannoli gild the towering slices of Torta di Olio D’Olivia at this recent Zionsville addition from Emilio Cento. Lush, thick frosting is encrusted with chunky pistachios, chocolate chips, and even crushed cannoli shells, all of which will transport you to a Sicilian bakery.
3311 S. U.S. Hwy. 421, Zionsville, 317-344-0100, apicioindy.com
The Lawrence
The artful, deconstructed presentation of this sweet finale from Cunningham Restaurant Group’s recent opening in a historic barn in West Lafayette makes this version stand out from the rest. Orange-vanilla whipped cream, grapefruit supremes, and a shower of crushed meringue play on both the citrus notes of the olive oil and the lightness of the cake. 150 McCutcheon Dr., West Lafayette, 765-690-1020, thelawrencerestaurant.com
Napolese Pizza
The richness of chocolate pairs beautifully with vegetal olive oil in this fudgy, brownie-like cake. But a colossal scoop of vanilla gelato and a light dusting of crushed pistachios lend sophistication to this playful, gluten-free version of the cake that replaces standard flour with oat flour. 114 E. 49th St., 317-925-0765, napolesepizzeria.com
Stacco House by Mammamia
Don’t pass up this seemingly simple confection among the more dolled-up cakes in the pastry case at this Main Street Carmel bakery. Ricotta adds a tangy lightness to the sturdy crumb, while a lush glaze inspired by limoncello enrobes the cake. 834 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-740-0113, staccohouse.com
Monti Aperitivo & Cucina
The sweet, moist Olive Oil Spritz Cake at this Fountain Square standout takes its cue from the Italian aperitivos at the restaurant’s bar with a bright simple syrup and bits of citrus zest. A dollop of cream on the side cuts the richness. 1110 Shelby St., 317-602-2037, monti.us
PHOTO BY JES NIJJER
Dinner Invitation
LOVE HANDLE 877 Massachusetts Ave. 317-384-1102 lovehandleindy.com
TASTING NOTES Gut-busting brunch fare with Friday and Saturday dinner plates
A FUNKY, CREATIVE STALWART OF INDY’S DAYTIME DINING SCENE ADDS POLISHED BUT APPROACHABLE DINNER PLATES TO ITS WEEKLY OFFERINGS. BY
TERRY KIRTS
REVIEW
WHEN CHRIS and Ally Benedyk broke into the local dining scene in early 2015 with their playful lowmeets-high brunch spot inside a defunct Subway on East 10th Street, I knew this was something Indy hadn’t quite experienced before. With all the pickling, curing, and fermenting happening in the storefront’s decidedly tiny kitchen just to create sandwich fillings and garnishes on breakfast platters, not to mention all the mixing and baking, I could tell the care being taken would make an
everyday lunch plate something special, even spectacular. Even if I couldn’t make it in, Love Handle’s Instagram, which quickly became one of the city’s most colorful and beloved, filled my screen with salacious shots of towering pork belly breakfast sandos, beef tongue cheesesteaks, lox home fries, and biscuits and gravy the likes of which Indiana has never seen, often enlivened with shiitakes or summer squash gravy. Chris took the art of cooking with offal to new heights with fried gizzards, sweetbreads sandwiches, and his legendary Egg on Headcheese Mountain, a throwback
NEIGHBORHOOD Mass Ave
MUST-ORDER
A decadent dinnertime wedge salad atop a thick tranche of fork-tender pork belly; light, flaky battered cod with tangy tartar sauce, fries, and coleslaw; smoky, fall-apart ribs with crisp, buttery cornbread and broccoli salad; tart lemon bars and Key lime pie
3 STAR RATING
’50s aspic mold that you actually want to eat. Ally flexed her pastry muscle with innovative sweets such as tamarind coffee cake, excellent hand pies, and one of the best cheesecakes in the city. While the original Love Handle, which they operated for two years in Milwaukee before bringing it home to Indiana in 2015, was geared toward late-night revelers, the Indy spot, which moved from 10th Street to Mass Ave in 2018, excelled at hair-of-the-dog morning fare.
An inveterate late riser, I long waited for the Benedyks to add dinner service, but brunch was the couple’s mainstay. The menu they debuted at the 10th Street location was determined by the size of the kitchen. Brunch felt right and made sense. The pair flirted with evening meals on Mass Ave, planning for a chicken rotisserie focus that didn’t take off. And during Lent most years, they opened on select Fridays to honor the Wisconsin tradition of the fish fry, with platters of cod, catfish, and even rainbow trout and skate wing, complete with slaw, fries, and seasoned biscuits, that are nothing like the Catholic fish fries I grew up on in Illinois. But dinner came around only a few nights a year.
Recently, however, nights have gotten a lot more delicious. With 13 years of restaurant experience under their belts and the partnership of the affable, enthusias-
by TONY VALAINIS
tic Dominic Senibaldi of Cat Head Press, who was brought on as a part-owner in early 2025, the Benedyks finally made good on their long-discussed plans to start dinner service, opening on Fridays and Saturdays in early April with a tight menu of classic Love Handle favorites and bistro plates. This means you can now get a slightly scaled-down version of the fish fry in the form of fish and chips, light and fluffy fingers of battered cod with sturdy potato wedges and some of the creamiest tartar sauce you’ll ever try. Select daytime sandwiches, bowls of chili with all the trimmings, and smoky wings with a variety of sauces are all good bets. A double burger with house-made sweet bread-and-butter pickles, onion, gooey
Wing baskets and cheesecake (left) and a hefty Nashville hot chicken sando (right) are part of the new dinner menu at Mass Ave’s ever-quirky Love Handle.
Customers consult the over-the-top daily options on Love Handle’s chalkboard menu before ordering at the counter.
American cheese, and Love Handle’s version of “special sauce” is enough to split. A recent special of smoked ribs served with a potluck-worthy broccoli salad and crisp-crusted cornbread lavished with butter is a supper you could skip eating all day for.
Ordering is still at the counter, and the dining room decorated with vintage trophies and paint-by-number still lifes has
the same whimsy as always. But things are a bit spiffier since Senibaldi came on board to handle some front-of-house duties. You can now enjoy a buttonedup steak frites plate made with skirt steak sauced with chimichurri and potato wedges with a side of horseradish aioli. And you’ll be hard pressed to find a steakhouse with a better wedge salad than the one here, served with a slab of utterly tender pork belly, pickled red onions, chunky blue cheese dressing, and a shower of bacon bits.
Dropping by in the evening means you can feel better about ordering a tallboy, and now there’s no excuse to not get one of Ally’s bright, tart lemon bars or a slice of Key lime with some of the thickest whipped cream you’ll ever sink a fork into. Brunch is still Love Handle’s focus, and its biggest crowds are still on weekend mornings. “I think what I’m most excited for with dinner is just seeing the growth,” Ally says. “Dinner has been a goal for a while now, and seeing it happen in a real way is rewarding.”
Love Handle owners include Chris and Ally Benedyk and Dominic Senibaldi.
Tickets include tastings from this year’s top restaurants, plus cocktails
Get early entrance and extra drinks when you upgrade to VIP Join Indianapolis Monthly as we celebrate the outstanding restaurants, past winners, and local favorites featured in our Best Restaurants 2026 cover story. Sample your way around Central Indiana’s most exciting dining spots during an evening that caters to all who love good food, fantastic drinks, and a great time.
Hoosier Bucket List THE ULTIMATE
Celebrating the Month of May like it’s a national holiday. Polishing off the famous sandwich comically too big for its bun. Hitting the best film festival in the country. Making the annual pilgrimage to the leafpeeper’s paradise. You may think you’ve done it all here, but there’s so much more, often hiding in plain sight. Our list of 50 must-dos is for newbies and the born-andraised alike. Here’s to a life well lived in Indiana.
edited by
ANDREA RATCLIFF AND CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
written by
CAMILLE GRAVES, AMY LYNCH, CLAY MAXFIELD, JULIA SPALDING, AND NORA SPITZNOGLE
PHOTO BY
summer
PADDLE DOWN THE WHITE RIVER. Looking for a peaceful way to explore Indianapolis? Take the path less traveled and rent a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard from an outfitt er such as Frank’s Paddlesports Livery on the White River, allowing you to float through the city and enjoy its secluded natural beauty at your own leisurely pace. Regularly scheduled 4- and 7-mile waterway tours take all the stress out of traveling along the 38th Street and I-65 corridors. 3001 N. White River Pkwy. Dr. W, 260-226-3075, frankslivery.com
PASS THE POPCORN AT TIBBS DRIVE-IN THEATRE.
Family-owned and operated since 1967, Tibbs is the perfect place to park and snack on a multitude of cheesy, butt ery, crunchy, crispy, and even vegan snacks while you take in the latest Hollywood releases. With four screens available for cinematic viewing, this is one of the best ways to bask in the movie magic. 480 S. Tibbs Ave., 317-2433810, tibbsdriveintheatre.com
FEEL LIKE A KID AGAIN. Whether you’re a parent or childfree adult, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a must-see Indy landmark. Kids and grown-ups alike can appreciate the Dinosphere, which immerses guests in a prehistoric audiovisual experience complete with giant dinosaur skeletons; the outdoor Sports Legend Experience, where families can challenge each other to every sport under the sun and climb the world’s coolest treehouse; the vibrant Take Me There exhibit space, which takes visitors around the globe, featuring Peru through 2029; and so much more. 3000 N. Meridian St., 317-334-4000, childrensmuseum.org
BROWSE THE SHIPSHEWANA FLEA MARKET. The fi rst thing you notice is the scale of it: row aft er row of open-air booths stretching across the heart of Indiana’s Amish country. With 600 vendors spread across 40 acres, it’s the largest flea market in the Midwest. Don’t kid yourself thinking you’ll just “check it out for an hour.” Around every corner is something else you didn’t know you needed: quilts; vintage signs; handcraft ed furniture; yard decorations; antiques with mysterious histories; just-baked pies; potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers; and endless odd
litt le treasures. Part of the magic is that nobody visits the market with the same aim. Serious collectors arrive at sunrise hunting for rare antiques. New homeowners leave with handcraft ed statement pieces. Gardeners fi ll their trunks with plants. Families wander, enjoying the adventure of discovery while sipping freshsqueezed lemonade and nibbling fried pies. A recent haul by a staffer included three pairs of name-brand shoes at $10 a pop, an $8 Halloween doormat, bags of Dill and Loaded Baked Potato popcorn, and a bucket of Brussels sprouts.
BITE INTO BUTTERY GOODNESS. Sure, you can go ahead and buy a bag of My Dad’s Sweet Corn at local farmers’ markets earlier in the summer if you want to, but those in the know hold out until August to enjoy the sweetest ears at their peak of fl avor. Good things come to those who wait. mydads sweetcorn.com
TAKE A FIRST-RATE TOUR. See Indianapolis on foot as you learn about the city’s rich African American heritage during a Through2Eyes Walk & Talk tour. Hoosier history expert Sampson Levingston shares his wealth of knowledge by narrating insightful group strolls down Indiana Avenue and through Martindale, Irvington, Haughville, KennedyKing, Butler-Tarkington, and other storied neighborhoods. through2eyes .com/walk-talk
SUPPORT ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN THE ARTS. Butter Fine Art Fair celebrates Black creativity with an immersive art show, live music and performances, art talks, food trucks, and more at the historic Stutz Building in downtown Indianapolis. Unlike traditional galleries, 100 percent of the proceeds from the art sold goes to the artists. Since its debut in 2021, Butter has raised more than $1 million for participating artists and expanded into a second event in Los Angeles. butterartfair.com
CATCH AN OUTDOOR CONCERT. It wouldn’t be summer without a litt le live music as the sun sets. Seats at the Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park come with the illuminated city skyline as a dramatic added perk. Over the past two decades, the downtown Indy venue has only grown in popularity, hosting everyone from Rihanna, Robert Plant, and Brandi Carlisle to Primus, the Beach Boys, and Yacht Rock Revue. Psst … the lawn seating is where the real fun happens. 801 W. Washington St., everwiseamphitheater.com
MAKE A SPLASH. Contrary to common perception, we’re not totally landlocked here in the Hoosier state. The Indiana Dunes roll out a sandy backdrop for scenic beach getaways on the shores of Lake Michigan. The water’s fi ne, the breeze is refreshing, and if the weather’s clear, you can see all the way across to Chicago. indianadunes.com
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN JULY. America’s fi rst theme park, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, opened in 1946 to keep the Christmas spirit going all summer long in Southern Indiana. Over the years, sections heralding Halloween, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving were added. Road trips to spend a day or even a whole weekend riding the roller coasters and water slides have become a cherished annual tradition for many Hoosier families. 452 E. Christmas Blvd., Santa Claus, holidayworld.com
do the state fair
DO THE STATE FAIR. For generations, the Indiana State Fair has been the summer tradition. And it’s still the best way to bask in Hoosier heart and heritage. This year, those 15 glorious days bring back family favorites like the Big Top Circus, Dock Dogs, and Parakeet Encounters. Headliners will include Don McLean, Busta Rhymes, Trace Adkins, and Gene Simmons. Whether you make a beeline for deep fried Oreos, a turkey leg, a funnel cake burger, or an elephant ear, here’s a pro tip: Bring Ziploc bags. Everyone’s eyes are bigger than their stomachs at the fair. 2026 Indiana State Fair August 7–23, closed Mondays, 1202 E. 38th St., 317-927-7500, indianastatefair.com
Confessions of an Indiana State Fair Addict
by
Nora Spitznogle
I’m an Indiana State Fair geek to the core, the enter-an-ugly-lamp-in-the-Indiana-Artscompetition-and-win-a-purple-ribbon (the highest you can receive) kind. The kind who gets ridiculously excited and wildly embarrassed when I see any color ribbon on one of my entries. Clearly, I think about the Indiana State Fair more than you do. Probably more than is healthy.
And yet every August when I walk through those gates, it feels like home. So much so that I go every day of the two weeks the fair is open. I spend most of my time skipping between the Indiana Arts Building and Pioneer Village, with side trips to the livestock barns and whatever intriguing new exhibit or event catches my eye. By the end of the fair, I’ve usually walked enough miles to justify every milkshake and pork burger.
The Indiana Arts Building is chock-full of cakes, artwork, quilts, antiques, knit goods, and every other kind of handiwork you can imagine. All Hoosiers are welcome to enter the open competitions in everything from decorative arts, to photography, to professional fi ne arts. I have fond memories of entering baking competitions as a part of the culinary arts division with my mom—though we never competed in the same category. She was a much bett er baker than I am, and I was smart enough not to challenge her directly. I still enjoy entering the baking contests even though I oft en don’t place. (Let’s blame appliances older than I am.) Occasionally, I do win a big prize. My rhubarb cake did once win
The fair has a place in every Hoosier life, for as many reasons as there are lives. One devotee shares hers.
Best of Show, even though I had to start over just hours before it was due, go to a neighbor’s in my pajamas to beg for an egg, and bake it in the oven at a friend’s house.
There are also a few quirky competitions— vintage toothpick holders, doorstops … and those ugly lamps. I have a good eye for an ugly lamp—or at least I used to. I was knocked off my ugly-lamp high horse last year aft er reigning as champion for nearly a decade.
Pioneer Village and I were both born in 1961, which means we’ve both spent decades celebrating Indiana’s agricultural traditions. Fortunately, Pioneer Village, which is full of vintage machinery, dairy cows, music, storytelling, and a bushel of corny jokes, has aged bett er than I have. It’s impossible to spend an aft ernoon there without learning something you didn’t know you wanted to know. I once got to play a typewriter as an acoustical instrument—with sharp timing and grand fl air, as one does—in an all-woman jug band on the music stage.
The Indiana State Fair isn’t just a 15-day event. It’s my year-round obsession. I spend the other 350 days of the year plott ing my arts entries, scouring thrift stores for ugly lamps, testing recipes, coaxing my vintage oven through one more season, and pondering what new thing I’ll learn from my friends in Pioneer Village or what new amazing recipe my friends in the baking competition will introduce. They might not know they’re my friends, but I’m thinking about them.
SING “JACK & DIANE” AS YOU TOOL AROUND JOHN MELLENCAMP’S HOMETOWN. Seymour is not quite as small as it was when Indiana’s native son was a kid, but it’s still well worth a joyride. You can see Mellencamp’s boyhood home, now an Airbnb; the downtown mural dedicated to him and his emblematic hit “Small Town”; the diner where he ate back then (and, once in a while, eats now); the arts center he donated to the community; and the three schools he attended. A Hoosier through and through, today he resides near Monroe Lake and operates multiple studio spaces in the area. seymourin.org
fall
ADMIRE WORLDRENOWNED ARCHITECTURE. Columbus, Indiana, is known not only as the hometown of Chuck Taylor, famous for his iconic Converse sneakers. It is also a community with a deep, rich architectural heritage. From the Eero Saarinen–designed Miller House and Garden, to the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library by I.M. Pei, to Harry Weese’s First Baptist Church, the city shows off its modernist architecture crown jewels through guided tours offered by the Columbus Area Visitors Center. 506 5th St., Columbus, 812-3782622, comeseecolumbus.com
MARVEL. Rare fossils, illuminating exhibits, and interactive displays spanning 1.9 billion years of geological history are found at the Indiana Dinosaur Museum. Among the vast collection of life-sized sculptures and skeletons, the T. rex, a 17-foot turtle shell, and a sample of real dinosaur skin you can touch stand out as highlights. Out back, you can walk along the Midwest Continental Divide or hike to a scenic overlook of the University of Notre Dame. Oh, and the South Bend Chocolate Factory happens to be on the premises. 7102 Lincolnway West, South Bend; indianadinosaurmuseum.org
EMBRACE A LEGENDARY RIVALRY. From IU football’s recent season, with its scene-stealing play, to Joe Tiller’s dominant coaching during Purdue’s heyday, the action during the Old Oaken Bucket game is a prime example of one of the best college football rivalries in the country. 2026 Old Oaken Bucket Game between the Indiana Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers November 28
TO
Founded in 1957, the annual Parke County Covered Bridge Festival is the largest in Indiana, drawing upward of 1.2 million visitors to the region each fall to shop, eat, and admire the idyllic collection of namesake landmarks. With 31 bridges and nine charming communities to discover, plan on spending a couple days to get the full experience. 2026 Parke County Covered Bridge Festival October 9–18, coveredbridges.com
LEAF PEEP IN BROWN COUNTY. Whether en route to Nashville or the home of the Hoosiers in Bloomington, take one of many scenic routes through Brown County. Over 300 miles of road boast all the yellow, orange, and red you could hope for on an autumn drive.
PICK PUMPKINS
AT BEASLEY’S ORCHARD. At this sprawling familyowned orchard in Danville, the hayride is half the fun,
bumping along through the farm’s acreage before dropping you off at the pumpkin patch. Peruse row aft er row of the fat orange gourds—some the size of beanbag chairs by the time the fall festival rolls around. Pick your prize, hoist it onto the wagon, and ride to checkout. Before you leave, take your turn at fi ring a pumpkin cannon. Refuel with a warm and sugary apple cider doughnut, an apple cider slushie, and a pork burger from the kids at the FFA stand. 2304 E. Main St., Danville, 317-7454876, beasleys-orchard.com
ATTEND THE HEARTLAND FILM FESTIVAL. With over 300 fi lms and more than 100 fi lmmakers showcased throughout an 11-day period, the Heartland Film
Festival is one of the top destinations for cinephiles. Whether it’s 2023’s smash hit Oppenheimer or the more than $60,000 rewarded to fi lmmakers, history is always on display at this can’t-miss event. 2026 Heartland Film Fest October 8–18,317-464-9405, heartlandfilm.org
HAUNT THE IRVINGTON HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL. This 80-year festival celebrates all things fearful and frightening while hosting events such as the Halloween Ball, a blood drive, and the Spooky Organ Concert. (The musical instrument, not the body parts!) The festival culminates in a parade fit for festivalgoers of any age and scare level. irvingtonhalloween.com
STROLL OVER A BRIDGE
THE PAST.
grandmother, please mind your manners. 5170 N. College Ave., 317-283-4601, redkeytavern.com
SUGARCOAT IT. Unofficially recognized as the state pie, sugar cream relies on a simple recipe of sugar, flour, cream, and vanilla. In Winchester, Wick’s Restaurant & Pie Shop has baked up what is arguably the original for more than 70 years. 100 Cherry St., Winchester; wickspies.com
WRANGLE A TENDERLOIN AS BIG AS YOUR HEAD. The origins of the pork tenderloin are widely traced to German immigrant Nick Freienstein, owner of Nick’s Kitchen. Nick’s still serves that same 1908 sandwich: hand-tenderized pork, butt ermilk-soaked, breaded, and fried thin and crispy but still juicy. It sits on its requisite undersize, cushiony bun topped with the classic lett uce, tomato, onion, pickle, and mayo. 506 N. Jefferson St., Huntington, 260-356-6618
SIP A MANHATTAN AT RED KEY TAVERN. Red Key Tavern is unapologetically old Indianapolis—a neighborhood haunt that accidentally became legendary simply by refusing to change. Its signature Manhatt an tastes fully grown-up: whiskey, sweet vermouth, bitt ers, and just enough confidence to sit quietly and mean it. And for the love of your
BRAVE A ST. ELMO SHRIMP COCKTAIL. Every Hoosier should take the dare at least once. The shrimp at this historic downtown restaurant are fat, fresh, and chilly—nothing dramatic there. But they are served in a puddle of sauce studded with shards of freshly grated horseradish. Add a squeeze of lemon, then brace yourself for the bite. The pungent heat hits your sinuses like a nuclear explosion. You’ll sputt er. You’ll squint. You’ll reach for a water glass. You might cry a litt le bit. Then, almost as quickly as it hit, the burn fades. And somehow, you’ll go back for more. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-6350636, stelmos.com
GET YOUR JAW AROUND A SHAPIRO’S CORNED BEEF SANDWICH. Don’t be discouraged by the line; customers move through the cafeteria queue quickly. That is mostly because many Shapiro’s diners already know what they want before they arrive. The corned beef sandwich is the standard order here, piled almost embarrassingly high on your carb of choice (go for the marbled rye and add a swipe of yellow mustard). The beef is salty, fatt y, juicy, and generously served. If you can’t fi nish it in one sitt ing—or need the extra
room for a slice of strawberry cheesecake— tuck left overs inside a napkin to fi nish later. 808 S. Meridian St., 317-631-4041, shapiros.com
PICK UP A DOZEN LONG’S DONUTS. The glowing sign at the corner of 16th and Tremont streets on Indy’s west side has beckoned drivers since the Haughville bakery opened in 1955. “Hot. DO-NUTS.” You need cash to purchase a white box full of these delicate yeast rings. (The gas station ATM across the street can help if you forget.) Whether you share them with your coworkers or spirit them away to enjoy at home, Long’s marquee sweets are so irresistible, it’s hard to eat just one. So they’re always bett er by the dozen. 1453 N. Tremont St., 317-632-3741; 2301 E. Southport Rd., 317-7831442; longsbakery.com
SLURP A TRIPLE XXX ROOT BEER FLOAT. Whether it’s the famed float, an 1895 recipe paired with Glover’s Family Ice Cream in a heavy, frosty mug; numerous Food Network appearances; or the Drew Brees Breakfast Special, there is plenty to att ract at Triple XXX Family Restaurant. In operation since 1929, this thirst station sits on Chauncey Hill, a prime locale for Purdue Boilermakers. 2 N. Salisbury, West Lafayette, 765-7435373, triplexxxfamily restaurant.com
DIG INTO A DOUBLE AT THE WORKINGMAN’S FRIEND. The surprisingly comprehensive menu posted on the wall behind the bar includes a pork tenderloin, bean soup, chili, a shrimp platt er, and a “Diet Plate” that includes cott age cheese.
DIVE IN!
Hoosier favorites include a Shapiro’s Delicatessen corned beef sandwich, a double cheeseburger from The Workingman’s Friend, Long’s donuts, and a St. Elmo shrimp cocktail.
But the meal of choice at this always-busy westside lunch spot is the double cheeseburger with a side of onion rings. Workingman’s burger was smashed before smashed was cool, sporting lacy edges of ground beef peeking from between the edges of a perfectly warm and squishy bun. Wash it down with a schooner of beer as cold as the hard cash you will need to pay for your order. 234 N. Belmont Ave., 317-636-2067
REVEL AT THE CAKE BAKE SHOP. Book a table at the original Broad Ripple cott age or Carmel City Center’s chandelierbedecked location to experience pure, glitt er-dusted enchantment.
by the bushel to a full-size swan sleigh parked in the front window for the holidays. The brand feels like a fairytale crossed with a royal wedding. Oh, but the cakes. From Gwendolyn’s Famous Earl’s Court Chocolate Cake to the Millionaire Cak, life doesn’t get any sweeter. 6515 Carrollton Ave., 317-257–2253; 800 South Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-257–2253; thecakebakeshop.com
Owner Gwendolyn Rogers has added plenty of magic touches, from twinkle lights
SNAP A LOVE -LY SELFIE. Recognized throughout the world, versions of the iconic LOVE by Hoosier artist Robert Indiana appear in New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Amsterdam, among other cities. Our own 12-foot-by-12-foot Cor-Ten steel installation at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields provides a perfect backdrop for capturing and recording heartfelt moments for posterity. Bonus points for snapping a shot of The Indiana Obelisk, the artist’s 48-foot-tall piece at the Indiana State Museum. 4000 Michigan Rd., 317-923-1331, discovernewfields.org
EXPLORE THE KURT VONNEGUT MUSEUM AND LIBRARY. Dig into the life of Indianapolis native and acclaimed author Kurt Vonnegut through original manuscripts, fi rst editions, family photographs, and personal artifacts, including his Purple Heart. One exhibit explores his experience
as a POW during the Bombing of Dresden, which inspired SlaughterhouseFive. Interactive displays delve into other themes that shaped his work, such as social justice. Before you leave, toast him at the upstairs bar. 543 Indiana Ave., vonnegutlibrary.org
HOLD ONTO YOUR HAT. With a total vertical drop of 90 feet, rides down Pokagon State Park’s quarter-mile toboggan run near Angola reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour. A Civilian Conservation Corps crew built the structure as a work diversion back in 1935; the dual track opens each year the Friday aft er Thanksgiving and operates through February. in.gov/dnr
PAY HOMAGE TO INDIANA’S MARK ON POP CULTURE. Set aside a weekend to bingewatch Indiana-themed movies. The Breaking Away, Hoosiers, and Rudy sports trifecta is the usual starting point, but don’t sleep on Going All the Way, The Fault in Our Stars, So Cold the River,and Dead Man’s Wire. Go ahead and add TV series Parks and Recreation , Stranger Things, Good Bones, The Upshaws, The Middle,and Eerie, Indiana to the viewing list while you’re at it.
HAVE A HOWLING GOOD TIME. Wolf Park’s Howl Nights take place every Saturday year-round. This family-friendly event is a one-of-a-kind educational night that delves deep into wolf behavior, conservation, coexistence with humans, and cultural significance through the park’s eight wolf ambassadors. Bundle up, because winter is the best season to go. Wolves are more active in the cold and look especially majestic with their plush winter coats, plus you can see them bett er when the trees are bare and crowds are thinner. 4004 E. 800 North, Battle Ground, 765-567-2265, visitwolfpark.org
HIT THE CHRISTKINDL MARKET. Holiday cheer abounds at the Carmel City Center as food and
drinks keep patrons warm while they peruse more than 60 huts offering gift s created by German artisans and craft smen. When your shopping is complete, lace up and head to the ice-skating rink that sits central to the market. 10 Carter Green, Carmel, 317-559-6608, carmelchristkindlmarkt.com
GO TOWARD THE LIGHT.
Kick-start the merry season with an evening of festive cheer as the Soldiers & Sailors Monument in Monument Circle is lit up in a tradition that celebrates its 64th year in 2026. The annual Circle of Lights is sure to cause even the most holiday-jaded att endee’s heart to grow three sizes on November 27. downtownindy.org/events/ circle-of-lights
spring
POSE AT THE PEONY FESTIVAL. Downtown Noblesville’s tribute to our state flower is a photo-ready extravaganza that takes place every May—when the large, lush perennials are in full, fragrant bloom. Most of the action happens in and around the town’s central Seminary Park. The festival is free and wildly popular, which means you should prepare yourself for crowds and (probably) a considerable walk to get to the fest. The upside: The blocks-long trek doubles as a front-yard garden tour, with plenty of lawn and landscaping inspiration. indianapeony festival.com »
RIDE THE NICKEL PLATE EXPRESS. The Nickel Plate Heritage Railroad’s adorable train station is located inside Noblesville’s Forest Park. Navigating historic tracks tied to Indiana’s railroad boom, the train’s operators keep things chugging along with vintage rides, dinner excursions, and themed seasonal trips. But if you are blessed with great cardio (and a willing partner), you can pedal your own railbike through the countryside on a human-powered excursion through backwoods and farmland. 825 Forest Park Dr., Noblesville, 317-6743840, nickelplateexpress.com
STAY AT FRENCH LICK RESORT. A getaway at West Baden Springs Hotel at French Lick Resort is one of Indiana’s most memorable experiences. Opened in 1902, the historic hotel is known for its timeless elegance and breathtaking domed atrium, complete with a pianist tinkling the ivories and the regal Ballard’s serving aft ernoon tea set to harp music. Clay bird shooting, archery, and horseback riding are still offered, and a family fi shing pond and new Billiard and Bowling Pavilion are recent additions. (Try the tiramisu cookies at the latt er, resort historian Jeff enthusiastically recommends.) A visit will put you in esteemed company: Guests have included Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt, Bing Crosby, Lana Turner, Greta Garbo, John Barrymore, Bob Hope, Abbott and Costello, Larry Bird, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan. 8670 W. State Rd. 56, French Lick, frenchlick.com
PLACE A COIN AT JAMES WHITCOMB RILEY’S TOMB.
The “Hoosier Poet” who penned “Litt le Orphant Annie” and many other nostalgic poems about rural Midwestern life was famously fond of children, known for handing out pennies to visiting kids. Aft er his 1916 death, schoolchildren from all over the United States donated pennies to help fund his memorial. Today, visitors leave loose change, which is donated to the Riley Children’s Foundation, at his tomb at Crown Hill Cemetery. The drive up may feel like San Francisco’s Lombard Street, but you’ll be rewarded with the perfect view of the downtown skyline from the highest point in Indianapolis. 700 W. 38th St., crownhillhf.org/visit
WALK THE MONON.
Spanning more than 28 miles, the Monon Trail—a paved recreation path along a former railroad line—transports users from 10th and Bellefontaine in downtown Indy to 226th Street in Sheridan. Walkers share the trail with runners, cyclists, scooters, babies in strollers, and dogs (leashed,
please) while traversing neighborhoods, parks, forest, and fields. Part of the new Greater Indy Trailways network of connected pathways throughout Central Indiana, the Monon is a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Rail-Trail Hall of Fame honoree. thetrailways.com/trail/ monon-trail
STOP AND
SMELL
THE FLOWERS. Celebrity tatt oo artist Kat Von Drelocated from LA to Vevay’s historic
(and haunted?) Schenck Mansion in 2021, making herself at home by planting a field of 15,000 black tulips—up close, they’re an eggplant color—that bloom in a stunning display each spring. She welcomes guests to drive by and even stop to snap photos but kindly requests that visitors not pick any flowers or knock on her door. Fair enough. 700 Main Cross St., Vevay
VISIT
A ONE-TIME
UTOPIA. Southern Indiana town
rock
New Harmony was purpose-built as a utopian village, with two separate 19th-century communities calling it home. Ponder its mystical heritage with a meditative wander through the Harmonist Labyrinth,a soothing maze of greenery with a small, stone temple in the middle. Just a mile to the north, the Cathedral Labyrinth replicates the original 12th century Chartres Cathedral walking path near Paris. visitnewharmony.com
CLIMB TO THE TOP OF SOLDIERS & SAILORS MONUMENT. From 275 feet above Monument Circle, you’ll get a sweeping, 360-degree view of downtown and a unique perspective of Indianapolis’ hallmark radial streets from above. An elevator is available for visitors who prefer to skip the climb to the enclosed observation deck. Touristy? Of course. But everyone needs to be a tourist in their own city at least once. At press time, the observation deck was closed for renovations but due to reopen soon. 1 Monument Circle, in.gov/iwm/soldiersand-sailors-monument
TOUCH A SHARK AND GREET AN ORANGUTAN AT THE INDIANAPOLIS ZOO. Whether it’s gett ing up close and personal with a dogfi sh shark or lett ing a great ape watch videos on your phone at the Simon Skjodt International Orangutan Center, home to one of the largest groups of orangutans in the country, the Indianapolis Zoo is the prime locale for all things wild and captivating. Walk among red kangaroos and colorful cockatoos at the Kangaroo Crossing. 1200 W. Washington St., 317-6302001, indianapoliszoo.com
DANCE ON THE YARD OF BRICKS. The fi rst Saturday in May signals the kickoff to race month, with the Mini Marathon in the morning and Indiana University Health Foundation’s annual Rev gala in the evening. The see-and-be-seen soiree at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is a showcase for nearly 100 local restaurants handing out samples of their signature dishes. But don’t worry too much about overindulging—you can work off the calories when the track opens up for a brilliant fi reworks display and dance party at the end of the evening. Decked-out guests strut their stuff on the very same strip of bricks that serves as the track’s official start and fi nish line, ushering Indy 500 winners to victory each year. revindy.org
the month of may
PREGAME THE RACE AT THE LUCAS OIL 500 FESTIVAL PARADE. This spectacle of music, floats, and helium balloons winds its way through the streets of downtown Indianapolis the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, gett ing viewers pumped with sightings of their favorite drivers and visiting celebrities. 500 festival.com/parade
TAILGATE. For hardcore Indy 500 fans, there’s no bett er place to tailgate than the Coke Lot (officially Lot 1C), named for its proximity to the nearby Coca-Cola bott ling facility. Campers start rolling in on Thursday morning, and the party doesn’t stop until aft er the checkered fl ag drops. ind ianapolismotorspeedway.com
CATCH THE CUTTERS SPIRIT. Cheer on the riders at Indiana University Bloomington’s Litt le 500 bike race— aka the “World’s Greatest College Weekend.” The spring tradition that started in 1951 gives teams of student cyclists the opportunity to compete for the Baby Borg trophy (modeled aft er its Indy 500 counterpart). iusf.bloomington.iu.edu
GIVE THE INDY 500 A GREEN FLAG. Everyone should see the Indianapolis 500 in person at least once. Between the thrill of victory and agony of defeat, as well as the chugging of celebratory milk, there is the moment of pure awe when the entire track falls silent for the playing of taps, followed by “America the Beautiful,” the national anthem, and the whoosh of high-flying fighter jets streaking overhead in honor of Memorial Day. You may want to bring a hankie. 4790 W. 16th St., 317-4926700, indianapolis motorspeedway.com
IN THE RIGHT SEAT
This past April, Indianapolis arts and culture innovators and longtime collaborators and friends Mali and Alan Bacon and Sean “Oreo Jones” Smith sat down to interview each other about their work. Here’s what they had to say.
This year, Chreece hip-hop festival takes over Fountain Square on August 29, while Butter Fine Art Fair, a project of local arts organization GangGang, returns to the Stutz September 3–6. Rapper Sean Smith, aka Oreo Jones, who founded Chreece in 2015, has been a fixture in the Indianapolis music scene for almost 15 years, releasing three full-length albums, two collaborative albums, and two EPs and acting as radio station manager for 99.1 WQRT FM. Smith is a frequent collaborator of GangGang cofounders and wife-and-husband team Mali and Alan Bacon, who are behind not only Butter but also Indy’s Black Lives Matter street mural, Black: A Festival of Joy, the I Made Rock ’n’ Roll music festival, the We. The Culture. exhibit at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and music and art activations around the city during NCAA, WNBA, and NBA events. By empowering creators, promoting equity, and building Indy’s’ creative infrastructure, especially for underrepresented Black artists, musicians, and entrepreneurs, Smith and the Bacons are making sure there is a right place for everyone.
SEAN I think we should start with gratitude. What’s filling your tank these days? What are you happy about? What are you thankful for?
ALAN I’m thankful that we could sit down and have this conversation, you know, talking about our sector, ourselves, the journey. It’s pretty cool just to sit with the homies and to speak gratitude.
MALI I am grateful for perspective. That’s a big one. Closing quarter 1 and heading into quarter 2 has been distinct in that I’m realizing it’s been almost six years of GangGang. I’m just sitting in that, like, whoa! I’m really thankful to be able to reflect and to have survived.
SEAN I think that’s such a good point. I know how corny it can be sometimes when people are like, “It’s about the journey,” but it’s so true. Everyone thinks that things happen just like a lightning bolt. In some cases, yeah, but I feel like the journey is so important. And I’m grateful for that. Speaking of journey, how did you start your journey? Did you start out of urgency? Out of passion, fear, anger? What was the motivation for GangGang?
ALAN Mali’s been doing this type of work for years. You’re talking about two decades of somebody who’s been curating and making sure that opportunities are there for people in our universe. I mean, 2020—six years ago—was a time for everyone to sit down because it forced you to. [It was the height of Covid, and the George Floyd murder had happened, so the Black Lives Matter movement was also at its peak.] It was a very interesting time in the world
where everything was separate. So I think for us, it was like, what could we do in this moment? If the world seems like this, what are some solutions or a way forward? GangGang [came out of that moment]. I remember the day Mali got this [mental] download, and I remember her saying, “What do you think about a cultural startup?” And that was it. Then we just started riffing. It was like a freestyle between Biggie and Pac.
MALI 2020 felt so dense, and so inescapable, and so dire. It was an emergency. It was a crisis. People were getting killed in the streets [during Black Lives Matter protests]. The pressure to find a viable solution for survival, for community, for cities to keep going was very real. There were civic, and political, and art stakeholders asking, “What should we do? Mali, you’ve been talking about arts being an answer for something, or DEI. What is it? Can it work now?” I just remember such urgency in that moment and being 150-percent confident in the idea that we had just been given. I knew that it would change everything. I knew that it would change my life. I stayed up all night because it was inappropriate to call [former president and CEO of the Central Indiana Community Foundation] Brian Payne in the middle of the night.
ALAN She was like, “Let’s make this small call.” And I was like, “Man, it’s 12 in the morning!”
MALI He said, “If you still feel this strongly at 7 a.m., then you can call him.” And I did.
So to answer your question about
what it was birthed in: The context was, “Figure it out right now.” And statements weren’t going to be enough. Black squares or whatever on social media weren’t going to be enough. Writing people’s DEI protocols, things that I had been begging institutions to do for a decade—suddenly, that wasn’t even enough. We knew inherently it is the artists. They are the ones who save us in a time of crisis because they’re the ones who always have. When there’s nothing else, if there’s only rubbish and rubble, it’s the artists who restart civilizations. So we knew we had to protect them. We knew that we could start there.
SEAN Was there a lot of pressure as far as being a torchbearer for that message? I don’t mean to be so dramatic, but I feel like whenever you do something public facing, there’s always some kind of pressure.
MALI Us pioneering a thing and leading, that didn’t really feel like pressure. I felt like a vessel. I felt like in a vortex where like something came, and it filled us up, and it told us exactly what to do, and we just ran.
ALAN I remember being excited to finally do something that comes from us. It felt like a FUBU moment. It was like, “OK, this is something that our culture probably is going to really benefit from, and the world in general.” How was that moment for you? Because we then kind of collided right after that. That’s when 81355 kicked off. We did that listening party at Kan-Kan. What was going through your mental right there?
SEAN I feel like there was so much weight in that year. For the 81355 record, a lot of those themes were mirroring society. But one thing I’ve never told you guys is that, Chreece, we took a couple years off because of the pandemic, and when we came back in 2023, a good spark was because of y’all. I remember being inspired by Butter and everything you were doing. I was like, We need to keep these things going for people to feel hope and pride and share these stories. To keep people looking to the future in a positive way. I remember I called y’all, and you were busy as hell. Initially, I just wanted to see what you guys thought about it. There was a point when I didn’t think I was ever going to do Chreece again.
ALAN Right on, man. I remember those conversations, too. We were hitting back when we were doing the listening sessions with 81355. I think it was cool that we were able to come together in that moment. You mention Chreece, and then we did the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, putting it all together and doing something really, really cool and groovy for the city with [The Suite: A Sports x Culture Lounge and Nap City: The Basement].
SEAN So, after 2020, GangGang is going crazy: You have partnerships with the NBA, the Pacers, LA Contemporary Museum of Art. You’re featured in Forbes, The New York Times, the LA Times. What’s so appealing to folks outside of Indianapolis? And is that important to you?
MALI I don’t know that it’s as important as it is affirming. It’s just good to be like, OK, you should keep going, you know? But there’s not enough narratives about culture or artists out of Indiana or Indianapolis. People still seem surprised to find there’s even a large Black population. I’ve been asked if we have museums. It’s an opportunity for us to talk about the talent that is overlooked here and how we are a creative city. We get to amplify incredible, incredible, world-class artists.
that’s the cool part of doing this work: It’s not really too much work. You’re just shining a little flashlight on the city, and the artists are doing all the work. We really went into this with a Robin Hood mentality where it’s like we just wanted to take from and give back. And it worked in such a big way. There are a lot of people doing a lot of things now. There are a lot of creatives coming out with shows, and solo exhibitions, and concerts, and that’s the coolest part, being able to sit back, and see that, and have a small hand in it. And things continue to grow, as well.
ALAN It’s really about what’s hot here. It has maybe less to do with GangGang and more to do with what is actually going on and what people are now discovering. Which is crazy that they’re just discovering it. How did we miss the continuation of the story from the ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, Indiana Avenue? Why is there such a big gap that nobody knows Michael Jackson is from Indiana? It’s unfortunate that it has been somewhat erased or overlooked, but
MALI What do you guys think about the creative class here? How would you describe the city’s talent and their challenges? I have a theory that there’s something in common between arts leaders that help sustain artists over time.
ALAN What’s the theory?
MALI The theory is that you have to think of the artists here as you’re working for them. We know the talent here, so we basically dedicate our time to lifting up the city, because we know there’s nothing better.
SEAN I think the artists here are working-class artists. A lot of the artists and musicians that I interact with are working multiple jobs, as opposed to in other markets or cities where people are doing it full-time because there is easier access. That’s something that I would love to see dissipate, to where we can be a city where artists can just be ourselves. I made the transition when I started working for Big Car—and I still do; Jim [Walker] and Shauta [Marsh], shout out to them—running Listen Hear and the Big Car radio station. Being able to make a living creating: absolute dream. My 16-year-old self would be like, “You are so sick.” I was
MALI BACON
Cofounder and creative director of GangGang
ALAN BACON
Cofounder and president of GangGang
SEAN “OREO JONES” SMITH
Rapper and founder of Chreece hip-hop festival
on food stamps at one point just trying to figure it out, to be transparent. I was just trying to make shit shake. And I think that’s something that doesn’t really get talked about, the absolute hustle of trying to figure out how I’m gonna keep going. I feel like I’ve always had to hustle. I’ve had a job since I was like 13. It was really hard for people to take me seriously. The first Chreece, I had like 200 bucks in my checking account, and I was like, “All right, I don’t even know what a festival is, but I’m going to figure it out.” One of the venues was a Pizza King. But I think that was the beauty of the scene too. Living in Fountain Square, rent was super cheap. Our block was just full of bands. It was a whole other world, and I think that’s kind of where it sparked, where I was like, Yo, there isn’t space for hip-hop here, for local musicians. Art is so powerful, enough to where you’re like, I don’t care. I can figure out how to eat later. I have to do it to survive. I have to create something. That’s like my form of therapy.
MALI So, two things: The words infrastructure and advocacy. GangGang exists to talk about, we are motivated by, and I’m pissed off by the complete contradiction of the starving artist mentality and society’s commitment to keeping us in that position knowing that our quality of life is based purely on the creative class. It doesn’t make any sense that we don’t have jobs, or that it’s hard for us to find full-time work, or that we are even considered “hobbyists,” because we are supplying everything beautiful for everybody’s every day. GangGang exists to preach that. We’re advocating for the worth of the artists and for infrastructure.
SEAN There was this gallery, a collective that I was a part of in Fountain Square, and it was just a ragtag group of kids. Lisa Berlin would paint things on the front window, where Zodiac Vintage is now. And there is this one she painted that was like, “Protect what you love.” And I think that is the most powerful mantra. That’s why Butter is such a moment. It feels like a warm hug. It’s something that you cannot explain. It feels comfortable. There’s nothing you can replicate going to Butter. It’s the human experience.
ALAN And nobody else can do Chreece. That thing is a special joint. All these
ideas are giving you this density, this nourishment. You’re right; it is a feeling. You do get filled in special ways.
MALI People are looking for human experiences. That’s why people are crying at Butter, and they don’t know why. Because they don’t have enough of this. There aren’t enough places that center care, and Butter’s mission is to center care and economic power.
ALAN And that feeling was in the heart of Indiana Avenue when it was popping. But what happened to it?
SEAN Eradicated.
MALI So I guess what’s next for the scene? What should we do? What are we looking forward to? What should happen?
SEAN I’m looking forward to Chreece this year. I’m looking forward to the progression. Like I said, we started bare bones. This will be our 11th year, and we had over 430 artists submit this year.
ALAN That’s crazy.
SEAN A quarter of them are from around the world and the country. We have artists coming from Brussels, Barcelona, Ecuador, New York, New Orleans, Chicago, LA. This year will be the first woman headliner, Rico Nasty. And we have Jorjiana from Michigan City, who will be our first nationally acclaimed Indiana artist. She’s got songs with GloRilla, NBA YoungBoy, Lil Yachty.
ALAN Shout out to The Region, man.
SEAN Yeah, yeah, she’s super sick. And then Ovrkast. from Oakland, California, will be playing. But it’s always going to be Naptown to the bone. Ninety percent of the artists are going to be from here. I think it’s important to nurture the scene here. A lot of festivals around the country, the Coachellas, the Lollapaloozas, the Bonnaroos, they take over the place and dip. I think it’s important to try to figure out ways to teach artists here how to do press kits, how to communicate with booking people or organizations like GangGang. That’s important for me especially as I’m getting older. I feel like I grew up around teachers. My mom was an elementary school teacher. My aunt’s a librarian. My other aunts were
schoolteachers. I’m kind of getting into my “unc” age, so maybe it’s just naturally in me to want to teach.
MALI You said 90 percent of the artists are Indiana-based. So Butter has a rule, 50 percent of the exhibition is for Indiana artists, no matter where it is. Do you guys have a rule like that in Chreece?
SEAN We don’t necessarily have a rule, but I think it’s important. I was thinking about this the other day, how dope it is and what a privilege it is to be able to make and grow something that makes people want to come here. How amazing would it be to have Indianapolis rightfully recognized for what we create here and what we produce here? That’s super intriguing to me, to get people flying in here like it’s the Super Bowl for events like Butter or Chreece.
ALAN It is cool just to hear people not only be intrigued about Indianapolis or have this curiosity but to also be like, “I’m from New York. I’m from California. We’re from Houston.” Even friends and cats we’ve hit with who went away are moving back to town. Sometimes you can go away thinking you’re going to get some sense of proximity, not knowing how close you were when you were home, you know?
MALI OK, so what you guys are talking about right now, do you think that non-art Indianapolis realizes it? Do you think that the economic development researchers, academic institutions, tech, agriculture, and the science industries understand what has taken place in the arts sector in the last five, 10, or 15 years? Do they get it?
SEAN This is such a good question. I’d like to hope and think that they have some idea. Alan and I were talking about this. Those sectors are so vital to the existence of society, right? And I feel like people in those professions work really, really hard—and then they shut it off and turn to art and media as a palate cleanser, right? To kind of get grounded.
MALI To feel better or feel inspired.
SEAN Yeah, to evoke something. So I hope that people outside of the arts and culture scene realize how important it is for people to exist. I hope it evokes
“We’re not listening to people that say you can’t dream or you can’t become. All that ‘can’t’ stuff. We can’t stop dreaming. We’re on the other side of can’t.”
—ALAN BACON
enough feeling to where they’re like, “We cannot let this go away. We need to put as many chips as we can into this.”
MALI Our lives are better because of it. The city is better. We’re making more money because of it. Our tourism. Our narrative. Our talent retention. Our talent attraction.
ALAN Some get it, some don’t. Honestly, I think maybe the majority don’t. We’re still having this conversation about the starving artist. If the public, private, and philanthropic sectors “knew” knew, I think we would be in a different place. We’re still in the fight. So who’s joining?
MALI So we’re in a really intense political environment, micro, macro. What’s the relationship between all of that and the arts? Who gets it? Who understands that the system wasn’t made for us, and who is talking about that? Who doesn’t even question that they would support the creators? What do you guys think about the whole political thing?
ALAN What do you think, Mali?
MALI When I think about who’s leading, the shapers or influencers of cities or countries, I think about those who understand the nuances of the system they are influencing. People who know the power of artists, the power of us, and
who would not question their support of people who create things. The arts are foundational, much like conversations about justice. They shouldn’t be a seasonal priority but understood as inherent, essential to general quality of life and place.
ALAN I think there are times when we have a strong sense of collaboration, and that does feel good. There have been more conversations. When we did Swish [at the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament] back in 2021, there was some discourse on whether or not we should have live DJs. Even at that point, having to make the argument, “These are artists. That’s why they’re important.” I think we’ve seen some shifts, for sure. But not as much as we need.
SEAN We’re always going to be first on the chopping block, which is crazy. No matter what, if it’s a music program in schools, that’s always the first thing cut. So politically, I just want someone that’s going to fight for our right to exist and express ourselves and make the city a better place. Because it’s proven that it contributes to quality of life, to mental health. Imagine if there were more opportunities for kids to learn how to produce beats, or write, or learn that you don’t have to be MTV-level or on a national level to have a career in arts? These programs are vital to quality of life, inspiration, representation. Kids seeing Butter on Education Day or coming through Chreece and watching a beat battle, watching kids from Deckademics, DJ students DJing for their first time, I think is so important. I think someone that sees that should fight for it. Protect what you love, you know?
MALI A big part of our job is telling people who artists are and reminding them of all the things that they create for people every day. We need to communicate that graphic designers are the people who make the restaurant menus. Your earrings were made by a jewelry designer. The music that you listen to, the podcast you listen to, the shoes that you’re wearing, what you decided to get dressed in, all of this was created by the mind of an artist. You’re just not calling them that. It’s our job to advocate and to teach about the artists and how we’re all already using it up, we’re just not acknowledging it. We refuse to articulate it in a way that says, “This was
made by a furniture designer.” That’s an artist. We’re here to propose to cities that if they center the artists, the city will improve. That’s the deficit mindset that we need to overcome.
SEAN I think it’s important to show people that whatever you’re doing is important. Which is why we have the Last Shot at Chreece, where people that didn’t make the fest come and have the public vote them in American Idol–style, which started in a liquor store parking lot and now is in the ArtsGarden downtown. Or the G-Note panel, having people like Andrew Barber from Fake Shore Drive, who discovered Chance the Rapper and Chief Keef, and Talib Kweli giving industry advice. If they just hear one thing and can be inspired, it’s a game changer. I don’t want anyone to feel like anything is unrealistic. People told me no a whole bunch of times in my life. They asked, “Why are you doing a hip-hop fest in a red state? This is crazy.” No one likes hearing that all the time. I think it’s important to push through that. Easier said than done, but nothing’s unrealistic.
ALAN And how do you know you’re not touching the next Pharrell, or Virgil Abloh, or Kehinde Wiley, or Issa Rae?
MALI That’s my point. The arts are unrealistic to some institutions. They make us seem like somehow our dreams are outlandish.
ALAN This is part of the work, that discovery. We’re not listening to people that say you can’t dream or you can’t become. All that “can’t” stuff. We can’t stop dreaming. We’re on the other side of can’t. We can’t stop trying to tap into our people, to our artists, to feeding each other. We know this is necessary. This is what we need. If there’s ever a time in the history of this country where this work is needed, I think it’s right now. More than 2020 that popped it off. I think right now it’s so dire in the world.
MALI The world as we know it certainly is ending.
ALAN Being a part of the change, trying to hold on while things are not as clear, I think that’s a part of the work. Continuing to discover, knowing that everybody’s a Pharrell. Eastside Indianapolis has about 30 Pharrells right now.
105,649
Median earnings 4 years after graduation
U.S. Department of Education FAFSA Earnings Data
#1 Undergraduate Engineering
— U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT —
At Rose-Hulman, our mission is to provide students with the world’s best STEM education in an environment of individual attention and support, and the results speak for themselves. We’ve maintained a 95-99% placement rate across our entire graduating class for 20+ years. With hands-on experience, personal mentorship from world-class faculty, and a career services team that connects students with top employers, it’s no surprise Rose-Hulman ranks among the top 50 U.S. colleges for return on investment.
rhit.edu/earnings
COLLEGE GUIDE 2026
Compare by-the-numbers stats and learn about the strengths, academic offerings, and philosophies of 20 Midwest colleges and universities.
DEPAUW UNIVERSITY /
204 E. Seminary St., Greencastle, IN 46135 765-658-4800 / depauw.edu
DePauw University has prepared students for consequential lives since 1837. A private liberal arts university of 1,900 students in Greencastle, Indiana, DePauw offers an education that is both rigorous and professionally practical. DePauw’s diverse and inclusive learning and living experience, distinctive in its rigorous intellectual engagement and its global and experiential learning opportunities, leads to a life of meaning and means.
Students choose from three distinct schools—the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Creative School, and the School of Business and Leadership—while accessing all three regardless of major. Every class is taught by a professor, not a graduate assistant. Seven honors and fellows programs,
including Management Fellows, embed students in applied learning paths pairing coursework with real internships, mentors, and professional networks from the fi rst year. More than 84% of students complete at least one internship before graduation, and 75% study abroad. DePauw alumni rank in the top 7% of lifetime earners nationally among college graduates.
The DePauw Promise commits to meeting 100% of calculated fi nancial need for every incoming student, making an ambitious education possible for families across the income spectrum. More than 90% receive fi nancial aid. All students are considered for generous merit based scholarships.
THE Earlham
100
National Liberal Arts College (#76) — U.S. News & World Report
82%
medical school acceptance rate — nearly double the national average
4th in the nation for study abroad participation according to the Institute of International Education
THIS ADVANTAGE BELONGS TO ANYONE READY TO SEIZE IT.
At Earlham, we never gatekeep exceptional opportunities. Our approach to teaching and learning will show you what’s possible, and then help you actually do it. The depth and distinctiveness of the advantages you’ll own here will set you up for a great career — but beyond that, they’ll prepare you for a fulfilling life.
Skills to pivot before the world does. A deep education in your field plus the critical thinking to adapt across disciplines. In a world where 70% of job skills will have changed by 2030, that combination pays you back in dividends.
A nationally ranked classroom experience. High standards, for you and for us. Expect to be engaged, challenged, and supported as the full human you are. Top 20 Classroom Experience, 10 years running.
Confidence in what’s next — and how to get there. A dedicated coach from day one who won’t just point you toward a career, but will help you land on the right one.
Resume-ready experiences before you graduate. Career-discerning, hands-on, global opportunities to build your resume and your confidence. Graduate with stories that interviewers will keep you in the room to hear.
Up to $5,000 guaranteed for an Epic Experience. Intern in Tokyo (without cost of living holding you back). Support a public health campaign in Peru. Perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Where would you go?
Faculty who champion you. When it’s time for that first career or grad school application, you’ll have hands-on support from people who know your name, your work, and your potential.
YEAR FOUNDED: 1847 // CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 656 // STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 7:1// TUITION COST BEFORE AID: $56,784 // AVERAGE COST OF TUITION: $27,107 *Based on the latest data from the National Center for Education Statistics, not guaranteed, costs may vary. Estimate based on first-time, first-year students. // PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID: 99% // EARLHAM.EDU
AT FRANKLIN COLLEGE Find Your Future
ACADEMICS
Franklin College offers more than 50 majors and 40 minors in 24 academic areas, allowing you to create an educational path suited for your goals. Upon graduation, you will have the knowledge, digital fluency skills and internship experience to succeed in the field of your choice.
CONVENIENT, SAFE CAMPUS
Our 207-acre campus is located just steps away from Franklin’s vibrant downtown, featuring restaurants, shopping, parks and walking trails, movies, free outdoor concerts, Saturday farmer’s markets and themed festivals all year.
GET INVOLVED
There are so many ways to make your Franklin College experience unforgettable. Meet up with friends or make new ones at one of our numerous annual events. Find your fit in more than 30 campus clubs and organizations, and make connections that matter with our network of supportive alumni.
GO GRIZ
Cheer the Grizzlies on to victory or participate in one of our 22 NCAA Division III sports or 3 co-ed athletic programs. Our newest offerings include volleyball, bass fishing, cheerleading and esports.
SCHEDULE YOUR VISIT!
TAKE ROOT AND RISE
Sycamores See Results
At Indiana State, we believe an exceptional foundation supports extraordinary possibilities. Here, personalized support, practical learning experiences, and attainable opportunities will help you
97 %
Job Placement Rate*
$ $
71K+
Average Starting Salary*
15.6M in Scholarships Awarded Each Year
100+ Undergraduate Programs and Credentials
NCAA Division I Athletic Teams
*Class of 2025 First Destination Survey
“Indiana State has not only prepared me for my career through academics; I’ve also met my best friends here and experienced things I never expected. I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland on a faculty-led trip. It was an amazing experience!”
Abigail Crane, ’26, Linton, IN
1820 YEAR FOUNDED
48,626 CURRENT ENROLLMENT
17:1 STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO
200+ UNDERGRADUATE MAJORS
80+ LANGUAGES OFFERED
300+ STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
$12,142 IN-STATE TUITION
76% OF STUDENTS RECIEVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE: business, public health, informaticsand computing, engineering, public affairs, global and international studies, nursing, media, music, arts and humanities
TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS:
No. 1 best business program in the state, Kelley School of Business (U.S. News & World Report)
No. 1 public affairs program in the nation, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs (U.S. News & World Report)
No. 1
in the U.S for the number of foreign languages taught and number of Language Flagship programs
AT
INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON, DISCOVERY DRIVES WHAT YOU DO — AND HOW YOUR FUTURE TAKES SHAPE.
From your first semester, you’ll connect with advisors who help guide your academic journey, join communities tied to your interests, and begin turning curiosity into clear areas of study and opportunity.
With hundreds of majors and experiences to choose from, you’ll have the flexibility to explore widely while steadily focusing on what fits your strengths and ambitions.
Outside the classroom, you’ll build hands-on experience early through research, faculty collaboration, and real-world opportunities that connect what you study to real outcomes.
IU Bloomington helps students turn academic exploration into focused preparation for meaningful careers, with confidence and readiness for what comes next.
GO FAR. START HERE.
Turn curiosity into confidence. Ideas into impact. Learn from world-class faculty. Lead research from day one.
Be part of Indiana’s proud traditions in academics, leadership, and student life.
At IU, you don’t just thrive. You grow into a leader ready for what comes next.
SUCCEED IN INDIANAPOLIS
Earn a degree built for the future and make connections that last a lifetime.
Gain real-world experience in Indianapolis through internships, research, and hands-on learning.
Get the best of both worlds at IU Indianapolis.
THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Make the most of your campus and your city. IU Indianapolis provides students with future-ready degrees and real-world career experience in Indy, with access to major healthcare systems and Fortune 500 companies like Eli Lilly and Salesforce.
START YOUR FUTURE HERE
Who do you want to be? We’ll help you get there. Explore high-demand
SAVINGS IN THE CITY
Our students begin their bright futures without breaking the bank. students, and nearly half of our undergraduate students graduate with zero additional debt.
LIVE THE JAGUAR LIFE
Race your canoe through the canals at Regatta. Roar with the crowd at D1 basketball games. Make lifelong friends and get leadership experience at 400+ student clubs. IU Indianapolis is an experience like no other, pairing city living with college campus vibes.
KETTERING UNIVERSITY /
Kettering University isn’t for everyone. It’s for those who demand more from their education and themselves.
What began in 1919 as a night school for automotive engineers has grown into a university that produces leaders across industries.
At Kettering, students don’t just study. They alternate every 11 weeks between rigorous on-campus learning and full-time Co-op employment. One term is spent mastering concepts in classrooms and labs; the next, applying those skills on the job with one of our 570+ employer partners across the country. By graduation, students can earn $55,000 to $75,000 (often more) and gain up to 2.5 years of professional
1700 University Ave., Flint, MI 48504 810-762-9500 / kettering.edu
experience, well before most peers enter the workforce.
Forged from a history of industry-embedded education, Kettering continues to lead at the forefront of next-generation technologies like advanced mobility, new energy vehicles, intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence, and sustainability.
Kettering has built a STEM learning experience where students work shoulder to shoulder with professors and industry leaders, testing ideas, solving complex problems, and developing the confidence to tackle what comes next.
Our students don’t wait for opportunity. They build it. They graduate miles ahead, and they never look back.
by
ANDRE B. LACY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AT BUTLER UNIVERSITY
At the Lacy School of Business at Butler University, academic rigor is intentionally paired with real-world experience. From their fi rst days on campus, students are immersed in authentic business environments that transform theory into practice and prepare them not just for careers—but for immediate impact.
The Lacy curriculum is built on an experiential learning model that connects students, faculty, and more than 5,000 corporate partners. Signature programs such as the First-Year Business Experience and Sophomore Real Business Experience place students on collaborative teams to solve sustainability challenges, launch and manage real companies, and pitch ideas to industry professionals and mock investment panels. These experiences build
625 Butler Way, Indianapolis 317-940-9221 / butler.edu/lacy-business
résumés with tangible results long before graduation.
Career development is woven throughout the fouryear journey, including two required internships and personalized mentorship through Butler’s structured career program. Students also gain hands-on experience through student-led enterprises, global study opportunities, and nationally recognized initiatives such as the Student-Managed Investment Fund, which oversees millions of dollars from Butler’s endowment.
With a 99% graduate placement rate, international opportunities across six continents, and a philosophy rooted in learning by doing, the Lacy School of Business puts students in the real world—before they ever leave campus.
/ TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 2026 USASBE Model Re-Emerging Program Award; U.S. News & World Report No. 21 Best Online MBA Program; Poets&Quants Best Undergraduate Business School Rankings (2025), No. 23 in academic experience, No. 29 in career outcomes, one of only eight business schools nationwide where 100% of students complete internships
Prepared to lead FROM DAY ONE.
Most business students study theory. Ours put it to work.
At Butler University’s Lacy School of Business, students work alongside executives, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to solve real challenges before they graduate.
The result? Graduates who show up ready—confident, capable, and built to contribute immediately.
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 50 national public universities by U.S. News and 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 20,000 undergraduates across more than 100 areas of study, and more than 2,000 graduate students through 75 master’s and doctoral degree programs.
At this comprehensive research university, students engage and conduct research with premiere teacher-scholars. All undergraduate students benefit from a well-rounded liberal arts foundation, developing lifelong skills for any career. In 2024-2025, 51% of Miami students graduated with at least one minor or additional major, and 93% participated in at least one high-impact, experiential learning experience.
Miami adds $2.3 billion each year to Ohio’s economy through innovative partnerships and job creation.
Miami is a NCAA Division I school, serving more than 500 student athletes across 19 varsity sports.
YEAR FOUNDED: 1809 / CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 22,281 / STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 16:1 / UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: 100+ areas of study with over 200 majors and minors / MASTER’S DEGREES OFFERED: Over 60 / DOCTORAL DEGREES OFFERED: 15 / SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE: Business, Marketing, Quantum Computing, Entrepreneurship, Communication, Media, Art and Design, Education and Community, Engineering, Computer Science and Technology, Human Behavior, Culture, Languages and Literature, Law, Government, Global and Public Policy, Math, Stats and Data Analytics, Medicine, Health and Well-Being. / DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS: 96 miles / IN-STATE TUITION: $ 15,161 / OUT-OF-STATE TUITION: $38,682 / PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID: 90% / TOP AWARDS/ RECOGNITIONS: No. 2 for Undergraduate Teaching - U.S. News and World Report; No. 15 public university for producing Fortune 500 CEOs - Academic Influence; No. 10 for Internships - The Princeton Review / AFFILIATED COLLEGES/SATELLITE CAMPUSES: Miami University has two regional campuses in Hamilton and Middletown, a learning center in West Chester, a European study center in Luxembourg, and Miami Online.
PURDUE UNIVERSITY /
610 Purdue Mall, West Lafayette, IN 47907 765-494-9116
For more than 150 years, Purdue University has been preparing Boilermakers to leave their mark—through small steps and giant leaps. Our mission has even greater reach with a fully integrated expansion into the heart of Indiana’s capital city. Whether students are learning in West Lafayette or Indianapolis, they’re earning the same Purdue degree.
Purdue students are at the center of everything in Indianapolis. They benefit from high-impact internships, hands-on learning, strong industry connections, and a safe and supportive community. Valuable real-world experience—from engineering, technology and life sciences to sports, hospitality and tourism—means that our graduates are ready for careers in high-demand fields.
And our presence in Indianapolis continues to grow with the new $187 million Academic Success Building scheduled for completion in summer 2027. This dynamic space will support innovative programs and one-of-a-kind learning opportunities, reinforcing Purdue’s commitment to student success and the region’s future workforce.
UNIVERSITY SOUTHERN INDIANA OF
FIND YOUR PLACE
At USI, you’ll find more than a campus—you’ll find a community that supports your goals, celebrates your individuality and helps you grow into the person you’re meant to become. From your first class to commencement, you’ll be surrounded by people who want to see you succeed.
FIND YOUR PEOPLE
With more than 125 student organizations, Division I athletics, campus traditions and leadership opportunities, there’s a place for everyone at USI. Students build friendships, discover passions and create experiences that last a lifetime. Come see what it means to be a Screaming Eagle!
GROW HERE, GO ANYWHERE
Located in Evansville, Indiana, USI connects students to meaningful opportunities across the region and beyond. Strong partnerships with employers and organizations give students valuable real-world experience while making a difference locally and globally.
FIND YOUR PATH
USI offers innovative academic programs designed for the future. Small class sizes and dedicated faculty mean your education is personal, practical and focused on your success. Through internships, undergraduate research, clinical experiences and community partnerships, USI students gain the confidence and experience to lead in their careers and communities.
Bring your curiosity. Bring your ambition. Bring your perspective.
At the University of Southern Indiana, students are empowered to discover who they are and who they can become. Through transformative learning, supportive faculty and real-world opportunities, USI prepares graduates to thrive in a changing world.
This is where confidence grows, potential becomes purpose and futures begin.
ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI
1212 Jackson St., Cincinnati, OH 45202 513-562-6262 / artacademy.edu
Founded in 1869, Art Academy of Cincinnati is one of the nation’s oldest private, nonprofit independent colleges of art and design, and Ohio’s oldest college of art and design. Located in Cincinnati’s historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood—one of the Midwest’s most vibrant creative hubs—students are immersed in a community where art, design, and culture extend far beyond the classroom. With a 9:1 student-tofaculty ratio, students are seen, challenged, and mentored by practicing artists and designers while engaging in rigorous artistic development and professional studio practice. Through exhibitions, internships, community partnerships, and professional practice experiences, students are challenged to think critically, question deeply, and create work that reflects, critiques, and influences contemporary culture. Become part of a living network of artists, designers, and writers—and carry forward a legacy of creativity, innovation, and cultural impact.
MATTER EXPERTISE: Creative Writing, Design, Digital Arts Animation, Illustration, Graphic Design, Painting & Drawing, Photography, Print Media, Sculpture, Master of Arts in Art Education / IN-STATE TUITION : $38,625 / OUT-OF-STATE TUITION: $38,625 / DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS: 112 miles / PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID: 100% / TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: 2026 Best Colleges of Art & Design; 2026 #2 City for street art in the country - USA Today’s 10BEST; 2025 ArtsWave Catalyzing Impact Grant with support from National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
HANOVER COLLEGE /
517 Ball Dr., Hanover, IN 47243 812-866-7000 / hanover.edu
Hanover College, founded in 1827, is a nationally recognized liberal arts institution and Indiana’s first private fouryear college. Set on a scenic 650-acre, pet-friendly campus overlooking the Ohio River, Hanover is known for strengths in the natural and life sciences, education, and business. The College fosters a challenging, supportive community focused on transformative learning, meaningful service, and lifelong inquiry. Students take ownership of developing their talents while pursuing more than 35 undergraduate majors. Hanover also offers accelerated, hybrid doctoral programs in physical and occupational therapy. Nearly 100 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid.
/
/
ON FINANCIAL AID: 100% of undergraduates / TOP AWARDS/ RECOGNITIONS: Ranked #115 national liberal arts college by U.S. News and World Report. Listed among the best colleges in Midwest and most green colleges by Princeton Review. / AFFILIATED COLLEGES/SATELLITE CAMPUSES: Hanover College South Campus, Jeffersonville, Indiana
INDIANA TECH
/ 1600 E. Washington Blvd., Fort Wayne, IN 46803 260-422-5561 / indianatech.edu
Indiana Tech is a comprehensive university dedicated to helping students achieve their goals through career-focused education and personalized support. Founded in 1930, the university offers more than 100 associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs, along with certificates, across the arts and sciences, business, engineering, and computer sciences. Serving students of all ages and backgrounds, Indiana Tech provides flexible learning opportunities both online and on campus. Located in Fort Wayne, the university features a vibrant campus community, modern facilities, engaging student activities, and competitive athletics. Indiana Tech empowers students to build meaningful careers and lives of purpose.
EXPERTISE: Indiana Tech specializes in career-oriented degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines that include business, engineering, computer sciences, criminal justice, cybersecurity, marketing, health sciences, communication and helping professions. / DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS:
$32,872 /
OF STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID: 97% / TOP THREE AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: Indiana Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission • Six degree programs within Indiana Tech’s Talwar College of Engineering and Computer Sciences have been accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). They are: biomedical engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering, electrical engineering technology and mechanical engineering. • Programs within Indiana Tech’s College of Business have been accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE). / AFFILIATED COLLEGES/SATELLITE CAMPUSES: Indiana Tech has admissions service centers located in Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Hammond, Jeffersonville, Mishawaka and Warsaw
•
IVY TECH COMMUNITY COLLEGE - INDIANAPOLIS
/50 W. Fall Creek Pkwy N. Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46208 888-489-5463 / ivytech.edu/indy
At Ivy Tech Indianapolis, we have the resources, focus, and flexibility to meet students where they are, then walk with them to where they’re going. No two students’ paths to the future look the same. We get that. So, we listen. We support. We guide. We’re your local community college, and Ivy Tech Indianapolis comprises Marion, Boone, and Hendricks counties. We provide Hoosiers with affordable degrees, short-term certificates, and other credentialing or professional development tailored to their needs. We serve students through in-person, online, or hybrid learning modalities and can also tailor custom training and education programs for our partners.
STATS YEAR FOUNDED: 1963 / CURRENT ENROLLMENT: 39,168 / STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO: 27:1 / UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED: 56 academic programs + skills training / SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE: Advanced Automation & Robotics Technology, Biotechnology, Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing and Production, Smart Manufacturing & Digital Integration / DISTANCE FROM DOWNTOWN INDIANAPOLIS: 2.6 miles / IN-STATE TUITION: $2,577.11/semester / OUT-OF-STATE TUITION: $4,967.51/semester / PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID: 78% / TOP AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS: #1 in Nursing - Ivy Tech graduates the highest number of associate-level nurses in the nation; Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ adds more than $637.6 million in income through its students, alumni, and operations. That’s equal to more than 6,834 jobs supported. Awarded the inaugural Collegiate Purple Star of Indiana (CPSI) designation, which recognizes Indiana postsecondary institutions that provide outstanding support to U.S. military-affiliated students, including veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. / AFFILIATED COLLEGES/SATELLITE
CAMPUSES: Downtown Indianapolis: Full-service campus; International Marketplace: Automotive Technology Center; MADE@Plainfield; Emerging Manufacturing Collaboration Center (EMC2) at 16 Tech: Manufacturing Innovation Training Center
Valparaiso University
WE BUILD LIVES FOR GOOD.
130+ Student Organizations
$69,000 Median Starting Salary for Valpo Graduates
25+ Study Abroad Programs 98% of Valpo graduates are employed or enroll in graduate school within nine months of graduation.
140+ Majors and Minors
19 NCAA Division I Athletics Teams
DISCOVER YOUR IMPACT
At UIndy, you’ll find small classes, meaningful connections and career-focused programs designed to help you grow with purpose and make an impact from day one. UINDY.EDU/APPLY
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For over three decades, Phantom Screens has defined the luxury outdoor experience. From our North American roots to becoming the industry leader in retractable screening solutions, our commitment to quality has never wavered. We’ve built our reputation by providing homeowners with the perfect blend of style, comfort, and unobstructed views.
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Design and Build: McKenzie Pierrot Homes
Jodi Pierrot and John McKenzie
Contemporary by Nature
The Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home offers a fresh take on modern luxury in Holliday Farms. BY
WITH CLEAN LINES, a symmetrical footprint, oversized glass windows, and a stacked limestone facade, the Indianapolis Monthly Dream Home at 4430 Elmscott Ridge in Zionsville makes it comes into view. “We’re really proud both on the outside as well as on the
CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
interior,” says builder Scott Bates of Scott Bates Custom Homes.
The vision for the project leaned modern from the outset, though what that means depends on whom you ask. Designer Jennifer O’Connor of Dare 2 Design prefers Scandinavian modern, while architect Steve Goldberg of Goldberg Design Group likens it to
“Texas Hill Country modern,” drawing inspiration from the warm, natural aesthetic often found around Austin. “We wanted to do modern, but we wanted to do modern in a different way. We wanted it to be something spectacular.”
Their combined vision succeeds at that goal in spades. The experience begins in the motor court, where landscaper Phil Ennis of PJE Lawn Care & Landscaping created a calm and inviting arrival vibe. Cobblestone pavers from Hardscapes are softened by pockets of grass, while a recessed alcove provides space
low-maintenance native species and a specimen tree dramatically illuminated after dark. As to the outdoor furnishings, O’Connor is clear. “We didn’t want these spaces to feel like an afterthought. Your outdoor spaces deserve the same love, the selects outdoor pieces, she ensures they “speak the same language” as those inside. “Here, that language is warm neutrals, natural wood tones, and clean, elevated lines. The creamy linen-colored upholstery, the teak platform bases, the black steel details, it’s all part of one cohesive conversation.”
Beyond the glass-cubed entryway, visitors are greeted with a wowing view through the home to the pond and golf course beyond. Wood accents, live plants, and artwork that mimics textured stone reinforce the connection to the landscape. “People sometimes tend to think of modern as being cold,” O’Connor notes. “But this combination gives a sense of warmth.”
Anchoring the entry is a monotube
basically one big steel tube running down the middle,” Goldberg explains. “This thing is a structural feat.”
While the main level serves as the are reminiscent of a boutique luxury features a collection of cushy, modern an intimate conversation area where friends can gather or siblings can debrief on their days before going to provides warm textural interest against sconces and bathroom niches and under vanities adds depth rarely seen overseas, they have all this layered
The lower level is dedicated to wine room, bourbon lounge, and pool facilities create the ultimate downtime steam shower, cold plunge, massage
Every detail works in unison in this exceptional home that’s sophisticated yet deeply livable—a modern retreat that balances architectural ambition
Tour Details
This year’s Dream Home tour starts Friday, August 14, and runs three consecutive weekends until the $25 each and available online at indianapolismonthly.com/ dreamhome
by
Photo
TONY VALAINIS
BR 2025
key NEW
Named one of IM’s Best Restaurants in 2025 New addition to the guide
$$$$ $50 and up
Kid friendly Solo dining Cocktails
$$$ $30–$40
$$ $20–$30
$ Under $20
Restaurants included in this guide are selected at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff based on food quality, innovation, atmosphere, service, value, and consistency. IM does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for dining coverage. Price symbols indicate the average cost of a meal per person (without tax, tip, or alcohol). Due to limited space, this list does not cover every evaluated restaurant. For a more comprehensive guide to Indianapolis dining, visit IndianapolisMonthly.com/Dining. Feedback? Please email jspalding@IndianapolisMonthly.com
9th Street Bistro
BR 2025 CONTEMPORARY Samir and Rachel Firestone Mohammad’s tiny seasonal innovator continues to delight diners who secure a coveted reservation. A standby at collaborative wine dinners and dining festivals, its take on globally inspired Midwestern flavors has served as an influence for a number of other restaurants on this list. 56 S. 9th St., Noblesville, 317-774-5065, 9thstbistro.com $$$$
1933 Lounge
STEAKHOUSE
This St. Elmo spinoff serves a similar core menu of steaks and seafood to its sister spot, then widens its scope to encompass sushi, sandwiches, and sliders. It also boasts a slightly more contemporary and glitzy style to its dining room, making it a place to see and be seen. An ambitious cocktail menu lends a speakeasy vibe, and well-portioned desserts lend themselves to sharing. Multiple locations, 1933lounge.com $$$$
Almost Famous
COCKTAILS
The fruit-infused spirits and five-option Negroni list make this Mass Ave tapas bar an evening stop for any mixed drink fan, while the extensive menu of coffee and long drinks keeps things buzzy all day. 721 Massachusetts Ave., 317986-7877, almostfamousindy.com $$
Anthony’s Chophouse
STEAKHOUSE The interior of this swanky heavy hitter has the polished gleam of a Vegas hotel, with an upper-level lounge containing the salvaged mahogany bar from The Glass Chimney, another fine dining legend. The food has equal flourish. Lobster bisque with a hunk of tempura-fried meat begins a meal that might include a cowgirl ribeye, a flight of filets, or a domestic wagyu burger. Take note—the steak menu also lists a spinalis. You may never eat another steak this perfect. 201 W. Main St., Carmel, 317740-0900, anthonyschophouse.com $$$$
Apicio Ristorante & Enoteca
ITALIAN Chef Emilio Cento applies his more
than three decades of restaurant experience to this upscale Italian spot featuring fresh pasta and Roman-style pizza alongside extravagant chef’s creations like a rich and creamy squid-ink pasta tossed with shrimp, lobster, and crab and a decadent stuffed beef filet. 3311 S. U.S. Hwy. 421, Zionsville, 317-344-0100, apicioindy.com $$$
Ash & Elm Cider Co.
CIDER Ash & Elm’s array of complex and quaffable ciders gets broader all the time, with funky cocktails demonstrating a flavor profile well beyond sweet apples. The food pairs beautifully with the drinks, from the now legendary elote fritters made with Indiana corn and cilantro crema to the crispy fried Brussels sprouts flavored with, of course, cider vinaigrette. A thick-cut Cuban and an Italian hoagie with all the meats are great choices among sandwiches, though the pimento cheeseburger with pickled green tomato is hard to beat. 1301 E. Washington St., 317-600-3164; 525 N. End Dr., Carmel, 317740-1991; ashandelmcider.com $$
Beholder
BR 2025
CUTTING EDGE Jonathan Brooks patterns himself as a renegade, but the consistent excellence of his restaurant, Beholder, suggests the chef/owner is becoming Indy’s fine dining standard-bearer, not its outsider. Between the urban chic dining room and the two glossy bars (one by the mixologist, the other at the kitchen), there’s a rock-star gloss to the restaurant that makes you feel cool just for showing up. And when you do, the always-changing fixed-price menu is a great place to start, though the a la carte dish list offers intriguing surprises daily. Its awardwinning wine list is calculated to pair with the seasonal food offerings, and its cocktail lineup is witty and strong. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com $$$$
The Bestie’s Table
NEW BRUNCH Scratch-made shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, and a sweet French toast flight are among the daytime options at chef Tyler Williams’s bright and cozy southside restaurant. 4022 Shelby St., 317-492-9615, tcbesties.com $$
Blé French Bistro
FRENCH In an art-filled dining room designed to look like a sweet brasserie, French classics such as steak au poivre, lemony chicken paillard, and escargot bathed in butter combine French technique with the comforts of Hoosier home cooking. 16771 Clover Rd., Noblesville, 317-764-2219, blebistro.com $$
Bluebeard
based on what’s in season. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, bluebeardindy.com $$$$
Bodhi
THAI This family-owned restaurant bills itself first as a “craft cocktail bar,” and for good reason: Its drinks are some of the prettiest in town. Its vaunted menu also shines, with prettily-plated takes on Thai and pan-Asian classics. 922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-941-6595, bodhi-indy.com $$$$
Borage
BR 2025
ONE-STOP SHOP Josh Kline and Zoë Taylor’s expansive Speedway spot hits all the craveable notes: One side is all coffee and pastries, while another is a specialty market with fresh food, rare condiments, and gorgeous little things. Its other wing is for brunch, lunch, and dinner, with comfy chairs and table service. It can be a lot to get your head around—especially when you’re trying to figure out what menu to order from—but that’s also part of the fun. While a dish you’re attracted to might not be on offer during one visit, it gives you a built-in reason to come back. Dishes pull from the owners’ backgrounds at some of the region’s most popular spots but are played out with their specific vision. 1609 N. Lynhurst Dr., 317-734-3958, borageeats.com $$$
Che Chori
ARGENTINEAN Marcos Perera-Blasco’s colorful restaurant offers a selection of traditional butterflied-sausage sandwiches and warm empanadas filled with seasoned meats. Make sure to pick up the house-made dulce de leche, which is sold by the jar, as well as its 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 $$
Cheeky Bastards
BR 2025
SQUISH LIST
Smash’d Midwest Burgers, which has locations in Irvington and Greenfield, is adding a third outpost this year, taking over the former Mom’s Family Restaurant spot on the south side. 510 Main St., Beech Grove, smashdmidwest burgers.com
BR 2025 CONTEMPORARY A fine dining lunch isn’t easy to find in Indy, making Bluebeard a go-to for a power midday meal. Chef Alan Sternberg brings as much attention to his noontime dishes as he does to a daily afternoon snack menu and a seven-days-aweek dinner. Favorites like the house-made chips and dips are always on deck, while entrees, salads, and desserts are switched up
BRITISH With crumpets, scones, and a jaw-dropping breakfast fry-up, not to mention afternoon teas and plenty of benedicts and bacon and egg baps, Hope Lane and Robert Carmack’s homage to all things British has long been a daytime destination. In recent years, it’s also evolved into a place for a ribsticking, mid-evening supper. Golden, lightly fried halloumi with an especially smooth and refined aioli, as well as a house salad with black currant vinaigrette and a lesshefty-than-expected Scotch egg are all reasons to stop in any time to practice your Cockney or Geordie over a pint. 11210 Fall Creek Rd., 317-288-9739, cbindy.com $$$
Commission Row
BR 2025 UPSCALE This glossy fine dining spot positioned to benefit from crowds headed to or from Gainbridge Fieldhouse makes game nights quite a scene. The baller-level restaurant gilds the lily with caviar service or foie gras and lobster tail for your steak. The wine list is heavy on the bubbles, apt for celebrating a big win at work or play. A three-figure seafood tower is a showy
SMALL BITE
special occasion order. 110 S. Delaware St., 317-550-2500, commissionrow.com $$$$
Corridor
BR 2025
LUNCH At the end of 2024, Erin Kem and Logan McMahan briefly shuttered SoBro favorite Nicole-Taylor’s Pasta + Market + Backroom Eatery, which they had purchased a few years before. After a remodel, they reopened the space as Corridor, a lunchtime restaurant dedicated to the flavors of the Mediterranean, North African, and Arab worlds. The handmade pasta Nicole-Taylor’s built its fame on remains, as does a tightly edited market of specialty goods. Also intact is the restaurant’s chef’s table, a four-figure group reservation that’s one of the hottest dining tickets in town. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-257-7374, corridorindy.com $$$
Daisy Bar
HOUSE WARMING
Lille Bønne Community Living Room, located inside a historic Danish church in Fletcher Place, opened its doors in June, offering coffees, light lunch, and a gathering place.
701 E. McCarty St., lillebonneindy.com
Gather 22
BR 2025
AMERICANA Owner Jon Carlos Rangel describes this food and drinks endeavor on the west end of the Factory Arts District as a modern take on the great American diner. It’s open 12 hours a day, seven days a week, offering breakfast options as well as small plates and family-style dining in the evening. Sturdy yet fluffy savory churros come mingled with flaked Verlasso salmon and a cooling, oniony creme fraiche. “Birria” mandu, Korean style dumplings in a bold soy consommé, are filled with ground pork, not the expected beef or lamb. Options for vegetarians include heirloom carrots alchemized into tasty “pastrami.” 1125 Massachusetts Ave., 317-390-4002, daisybarindy.com $$
Diavola
PIZZA Pies emerge expertly bubbled and charred from a centerpiece brick oven. Ingredients are simple but top-shelf, with herbs and produce grown in the owner’s nearby garden. Gluten-free pizzas, made with a house blend of flours, are spectacular. 1134 E. 54th St., 317-820-5100, diavola.net $$
Fernando’s Mexican & Brazilian Cuisine
BR 2025 MEXICAN AND BRAZILIAN This restaurant built a loyal following in Broad Ripple, then in 2025 expanded to Mass Ave, allowing the business—known for sharp, upscale takes on standards—to come into its own. An order of Sinaloa Tacos at the bar remains one of the city’s greatest treats, and the Crawfish Quesadilla is a brilliant marriage of Midwestern and Latin flavors. 834 E. 64th St., 317-377-4779; 888 Massachusetts Ave., 317-7716653; fernandosindy.com $$$
The Fountain Room
SUPPER CLUB This glitzy art deco restaurant is arguably the crown jewel of the Bottleworks area, with enough marble, terrazzo, and chandeliers to outfit Jay Gatsby’s West Egg mansion. Like Fitzgerald’s doomed millionaire, the Fountain Room speaks to the aspirational crowd with a showy lineup of steaks, seafood, and cocktails, as well as Midwestern stickto-your-ribs sides. Ask to be seated by the
windows for maximum clout, like Jay would. 830 Massachusetts Ave., 463-238-3800, thefountainroom.com
$$$$
Futuro
PIZZA Fans of this downtown-ish charmer crave Futuro’s thick Detroit-style slabs characterized by a cheesy exoskeleton and sauce spooned over the toppings. Followers quickly learned to make a play for the corners for maximum crispy-crust payoff, though the single-sided squares are hardly a compromise thanks to house-made ingredients, like ground pepperoni and chickenand-ranch fixings. The thinner tavern-style and gluten-free pizzas are just as impressive and generously loaded. 19 Cruse St., 317-360-4725, futuroindy.com $$
BREEZY VIBES Indoor/outdoor living is the name of the game at Gather 22, which marries co-owner Pablo Gonzalez’s California roots with life and business partner Adam Reinstrom’s Hoosier upbringing. A stylish dining room makes way for a sweeping bar, backed by a huge outdoor (and dog-friendly) area. The menu is equally vibey, with a global menu of dishes backstopped by a list of Byrne’s grilled pizzas (Adam Reinstrom’s parents own that Meridian-Kessler spot). True to its name, the restaurant was conceived by its owners as a social center for the neighborhood, with public events and gatherings multiple times a month. 22 E. 22nd St., 317-258-2222, gather22.com $$$
Izakaya Japanese Restaurant
HIBACHI Take a seat at the hibachi for an object lesson in Japanese grilling, with dishes that span land and sea cooked before your very eyes. A sushi list gives equal attention to sashimi, nigiri, and huge and inventive rolls, while a kids menu includes noodles, katsu, and tempura for the small set. 7325 E. 96th St., 317-915-8988, indyizakaya.com $$$
Josephine
CONTEMPORARY FRENCH Ambrosia Hospitality Group might be best known for its Italian ventures, but for Josephine, Dan Cage and Anna Pizzi Cage looked back to their newlywed days spent in France. The result—named after Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte’s first wife—is a modern take on bistro fare. Chef Andrew Popp has built a menu that balances out classics of the genre (yes, escargot and steak tartare are on the list) with twists on French onion soup—lightened here with chicken broth and sherry—and a citrus and fennel salad. Standout desserts include pot de crème topped with amaretto cream and an individual goat cheesecake topped with syrup-soaked cherries. 110 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-548-3589, josephinecarmel.com $$$$
Juniper on Main
LOWCOUNTRY This Southern coastal charmer’s lunch and dinner menu offers the standard seafood, salads, and boils—then surprises us all with a lineup of tacos that are a lot of fun. High
chairs and booster seats are in abundance, and a kids menu moves well beyond the standard grilled cheese and nuggets. 110 E. Main St., Carmel, 317-591-9254, juniperonmain.com $$$
Kanoon Smoked Meat & Steakhouse
MIDDLE EASTERN SMOKEHOUSE Smoked meats ranging from beef short ribs, to bone-in lamb shoulder, to stuffed chickens are sold by the pound at this house of hearty plates. Firsttimers should go for a family-style dinner starting with an assortment of cold spreads like thick and garlicky baba ghanoush and vibrant tabbouleh salad. Empanada-like sambousek pastries filled with spiced ground beef are standouts among hot starters. For dessert, a wedge of baklava with a welcome undertone of rosewater and a scoop of vanilla ice cream is the best bet, especially alongside a demitasse of stout Turkish coffee. 8594 E. 116th St., Fishers 317- 567-4021, kanoon-indiana.com $$$
Kountry Kitchen
SOUL FOOD This cozy soul food spot hits all the classics, including greens, mac and cheese, and deep-fried mains. Its engaging servers, who are happy to linger and chat, are what keep us coming back. 1831 N. College Ave., 317-635-6000, kountrykitchenindy.com $$$
Late Harvest Kitchen
CONTEMPORARY A luscious comfort food menu delivers top-shelf versions of dishes such as mushroom-stuffed half chicken under-a-brick, tagliatelle pasta loaded with pork Bolognese, and crispy chicken-fried oysters. Fully loaded potatoes Minneapolis is the essential side dish, as is the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. 8605 River Crossing Blvd., 317-663-8063, lateharvestkitchen.com $$$
Macizo
BR 2025
LATIN If there were an award for the cheeriest eatery by first-time restaurateurs, this Peruvian-Mexican charmer would win hands down. Owners Luz and Omar Gonza have created an atmosphere of bright colors and hip beats that align perfectly with the fruit-forward beer and wine cocktails at the cozy bar. The vibrantly plated food completes the scene: Tiradito, luscious slices of tuna with citrusy leche de tigre, is a must for fresh seafood fans, and Sopa Criolla with beef and a runny egg, along with creamy Pasta Huancaina with hearty lomo saltado sauce are perfect Peruvian comfort foods. 6335 Intech Commons Dr.. 463-202-2853, macizorestaurant.com $$$
Magdalena
BR 2025 NEW ORLEANS This funky New Orleans–inflected bar and bistro from spirits enthusiast and restaurateur Nick Detrich reflects his experience running spots in the Big Easy, with expertly mixed elixirs, including perhaps the best Sazerac in town, and dazzling seafood towers, ultra-fresh oysters from the Alabama Gulf, and a tidy menu of mains with Lowcountry influences. 1127 Shelby St., 317-691-8021, magdalena.bar $$$$
Maialina Italian Kitchen + Bar
ITALIAN Straw-wrapped chianti bottles, wooden cross-back chairs, and family photos give a throwback trattoria feel to this addition to the
SMALL BITE
city’s Italian scene. Meatballs from a family recipe with a solid house marinara are always a good choice. Pastas range from a straightforward toss of rigatoni with sausage and broccoli rabe to a rich, three-meat Bolognese lavished atop plump gnocchi. 1103 Prospect St., 317-982-7676, maialinaindy.com $$$$
Marrakesh Moroccan Cuisine & Bar
MOROCCAN A refined seasonal menu by Casablanca-born chef Aziz Mountassar honors his roots through aromatic tagines, seafoodrich bisque Atlantique, and spice-driven cocktails. Special earthenware vessels enhance the immersive experience. 4923 N. College Ave., 317-600-3039, marrakesh-indy .com $$$
Monti Aperitivo & Cucina
NEW ITALIAN Inspired by owner Francesco Settanni’s Pugliese roots, this stylish restaurant brings a refreshingly authentic taste of regional Italy to Fountain Square. Hand-rolled pastas, airy focaccia, saffronscented arancini, showstopping whole branzino, and succulent lamb chops are among the menu highlights. The cocktail menu leans into Italy’s aperitivo culture and includes several nice low-ABV options. 1110 Shelby St., 317-602-2037, monti.us $$$
Natural State Provisions
Serliana
FRENCH-INSPIRED STEAKHOUSE Located inside the InterContinental hotel on Monument Circle, this posh, French-inspired restaurant with chef Craig Baker at its helm features continental standards with modern, local upgrades such as an Indiana ribeye French dip, brunch biscuits and gravy, and a sorghum-glazed pork chop. 17 W. Market St., 463-303-0380, serlianaindy.com $$$$
Shadow Lounge
ROYAL COURT
Simon Property Group has announced that Ohio-based Kitchen Social and North Italia, owned by The Cheesecake Factory, will be among the new dining options featured in a 2027 revamp of The Fashion Mall at Keystone.
SOUL FOOD After a major renovation, the former Marco’s Restaurant and Lounge has been transformed into a rollicking dining destination. Chef Tia Wilson, formerly of wing spot Chicken Scratch, is in the kitchen, serving Southern and soul-infused dishes such as lamb lollipops, Cajun penne, and garlic-parmesan wings. The cocktails are strong, the music is loud, and while dinner is delightful, brunch is the real scene. 2380 E. 54th St., 317-9749288, shadowloungeindy.com $$$
Shapiro’s Delicatessen
brain tells you its staff must be working as hard as hell. From the sip of bubbles you’re offered when you walk in to the pitch for ricotta doughnuts you get at the end, it’s a breezy dining affair with food of the highest possible caliber. You can feel the kitchen staff having fun with the menu, which changes on the regular—and that fun translates into one of the warmest, most generous dining experiences around. 402 E. 16th St., 317-925-5000, tinkerstreetrestaurant.com $$$$
Tlaolli
MEXICAN There’s a reason the Food Network keeps featuring this taco shop on its programs: Owner and chef Carlos Hutchinson, who is often behind the register, might be one of Indy’s nicest residents. And that kindness extends to animals, as Tlaolli’s menu has an abundance of vegan offerings, including a vaunted plantbased birria. 2830 E. Washington St., 317-4109507, tlaolli.org $$
Vicino
DOG FRIENDLY A hybrid dive bar, restaurant, and dog park, Natural State is a fun and funky neighborhood spot for wings, sandwiches, and house-made soft serve. A solid mixed crowd of families, hipsters, kids, and pups (which must remain outdoors) makes for a fun and welcoming environment. 414 Dorman St., 317492-9887, naturalstateprovisions.com $$
Rick’s Cafe Boatyard
SEAFOOD You don’t have to be a Parrothead to appreciate the pontoon-life allure of Eagle Creek’s waterside restaurant with its breezy dining room on stilts over the Dandy Trail boat slips. The menu gets creative with all the casual dining tropes, mixing smoked salmon nachos and chicken cordon bleu fingers in with the jumbo shrimp martinis. With a full menu of mules, tropical cocktails, and nonalcoholic concoctions, this is also a great spot for a couple of snacks and a drink or two at sunset. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-290-9300, ricksboatyard.com
$$$
Sam’s Square Pie
BR 2025 PIZZA With its limited hours and three-day baking schedule, Jeff Miner’s pizza passion project still feels like an insider score when you can get it. And get it you should, given that the NFL camera operator boasts a second-place ranking at the International Pizza Expo for his pies, with a crust that’s deeply browned around the edge yet pillowy in the middle, and generously loaded with sauce, meats, and dollops of ricotta. Takeout is an option, but eating in the slender dining room dressed with funky outsider art allows Miner’s fans to catch him in his element. 2829 E. 10th St., samssquarepie.com $$$
DELI Slide your tray along and take your pick of East Coast–style comfort foods at this familyowned downtown institution. Hot pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on rye have drawn long lines for more than a century. The Reuben is a contender for the city’s best, and heartier fare such as potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, and matzo ball soup are perennially satisfying standbys. If you don’t load up on a massive slice of cheesecake or pie, you haven’t really had the proper Shapiro’s experience. 808 S. Meridian St., 317-631-4041, shapiros.com $$
St. Elmo Steak House
BR 2025 CLASSIC In a city so rich in steakhouses, can a familiar favorite like St. Elmo still hold its own? Yes, absolutely—though the restaurant is one of the city’s longeststanding, it’s never taken its foot off the gas. Shrimp cocktails, giant slabs of beef, and martinis remain the stars of the show and are prepared just as excellently now as they were the first time you visited (for a birthday or prom, perhaps). It’s been hitting it hard since 1902 and shows no signs of slowing down. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-635-0636, stelmos.com $$$$
Strange Bird
BR 2025 RAMEN Trained in Japan, chef Kyle Humphreys came to Indianapolis to eventually open his Shoyu Shop inside Irvington tiki bar Strange Bird. It’s a glorious pairing, as the thatched and 1970s-leaning interior lends itself equally as well to fun, rum-heavy drinks as it does to big bowls of hand-cut noodles. Broths are layered and umami-laden, while additions like pork belly and scallops are of peerless quality. 128 S. Audubon Rd., 317-550-4115, strangebirdindy.com
$$$
Tinker Street
BR 2025 CONTEMPORARY The Pedro Pascal of Indy, Tinker Street makes excellence look loose and easy, even when your
ITALIAN This modern, colorful trattoria from the owners of The Oakmont measures up to some of the best Italian spots anywhere in the city, with a nicely edited menu of familiar classics and a few twists for the more daring. 350 Massachusetts Ave., 317-798-2492, vicinoindy.com $$$
Vida
BR 2025 PRIX FIXE Don’t be intimidated by the menu. Though diners are restricted to a six-course tasting affair or a four-course dinner, even within that structure, options abound—there are fully vegetarian menus for both choices, and allergies and dietary restrictions are thoughtfully accommodated. Ingredients are sourced as locally as possible. Its wine list might be Indy’s finest, as the restaurant uses a special Coravin extraction system to open rare and unexpected bottles for a single glass. 601 E. New York St., 317-420-2323, vida-restaurant.com $$$$
Wisanggeni Pawon
BR 2025 INDONESIAN Aji Wisanggeni and Putri Pratiwi’s Indonesian knockout has quickly evolved into a fixture of Indy’s food community. An ever-expanding menu offers spice-forward dishes such as beef rendang simmered in coconut milk or fried duck with rice and nose-clearing homemade sambal, as well as one of the tastiest fried rice plates in the city. Those eager to try it all should opt for street food–style small plates such as martabak, vegetable fritters, and dumplings. 2450 E. 71st St., 317-756-9477, wpawon.com $$
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SMALL BITE
by CLAY MAXFIELD
Landmark for Peace
ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST IMPORTANT MEMORIALS REOPENS AFTER AN $8 MILLION REFRESH.
BY MICHELLE MASTRO
INDIANAPOLIS is second only to Washington, D.C., in its number of monuments and memorials, and one of its most important just reopened. Located in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park on the near–north side, the Landmark for Peace Memorial commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert Kennedy, placed in the park in memory of events on the date of King’s assassination, April 4, 1968. On that day, Kennedy, who was running for president, was in Indy preparing to deliver a speech when he first learned the news of King’s murder. “His campaign team urged him to cancel, but instead he went on to deliver one of the most iconic speeches,” says Morgan Snyder, vice president of communications and community relations at Visit Indy. “He broke the news to a predominantly Black audience—to listen to the audio is goosebump-inducing,” says Snyder. Only two months later, Kennedy too was assassinated. On April 4, 2026, the Landmark for Peace Memorial reopened after a significant expansion. “This reopening represents both preservation and progress. It’s an opportunity for our community to reflect, learn, and recommit to the values that shaped this historic moment,” says Kennedy-King memorial initiative board president Gregory Porter. The memorial now boasts a new plaza, fresh landscaping, and interpretative walkways commemorating the legacies of King and Kennedy.
