Move over, Diet Coke. Your days as the goto for booze-free bar-goers are over. Wildly creative, zero-proof cocktails are on the menus at Indy’s best restaurants and bars as more and more drinkers decide alcohol isn’t necessary for a spirited night out.
BY EVE BATEY
42
BEYOND BOOKS
As more Hoosiers deal with issues like marginalization and lack of access to resources, library workers are stepping into the breach—and we need them now more than ever. Meet five librarians revitalizing and connecting their communities.
BY SAM STALL
Photograph by
Tony Valainis
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL SCHRADER
CIRCLE CITY
9 SPEED READ
The city’s Vacant to Vibrant program is transforming abandoned properties into assets for the community, one house at a time. 11
BEST BETS
Five can’t-miss events in Indy this month, from the longest running play in world history to a colossal monster truck rally.
THE HOOSIERIST
Our Indiana expert listens for hints of an identifiable Hoosier accent.
UNSPOKEN RULES
A manner-festo for exploring the popular Indianapolis Home Show at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. 13
ARTIFACT
A vintage 1920s Pluto Water bottle once held a French Lick–derived mineral elixir promoting good health.
A
RESTAURANT GUIDE
GOOD LIFE
15
WANTED
Channel your inner Bruce Wayne with a Polaris Slingshot three-wheeled roadster that gives strong Batmobile vibes.
16
SHOP TALK
Salt & Ash Soap Co. grows into its new Factory Arts South space with displays of handmade soap and bath products, gifts, and more.
16 MY LOOK
Art director and designer Justin Muse shares his personal style secrets and love of fall fashion staples.
18
BODY+SOUL
Adaptive sports programs create empowering competitive opportunities for local athletes.
20 TRAVELER
Once a silver-mining town, Park City, Utah, offers more than skiing and Sundance. THE DISH 25 SWOON
Celebrate Mediterranean flavors with whipped feta and strips of house-made pita from Dusk Lounge.
26
FIRST BITE
Everest Momo House opens on the west side, curated art adorns 1656 Club’s interior, and Yazsh owner Lora Popov dispenses a breadmaking tip. 27
FOODIE
Motivated by motherly love, baker Jama Matthews crafts small-batch Butter Boy Pretzels with heart.
28
TASTE TEST
Originating in Hong Kong, airy bubble waffles land in the Circle City with an array of flavors and toppings.
30
REVIEW
The InterContinental Hotel’s in-house restaurant, Serliana, brings French-inspired fare to Monument Circle.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Toasts of the Town
THE BEGINNING of a new year brings with it a fresh opportunity to reflect on the past, hit the reset button, and set new intentions for the future. As such, gyms experience an annual January flurry of activity thanks to so many well-intentioned, if shortlived, resolutions. While I have mostly eschewed the habit of setting “new year, new me” initiatives, I made a midyear decision last summer to stop drinking. For many years, I thought I could easily live without alcohol if not for the social pressure to fit in at gatherings and dinners. But I see the old norms and standards starting to fall by the wayside. Shops that specialize in no-ABV products have opened, restaurants are adding more alcohol-free selections to their drink menus, and I’m able to identify more and more nondrinking peers in my network. Is it hip and cool to skip the booze these days? If I wasn’t convinced before, our cover feature (p. 32) reinforces the notion by putting mocktails on full, gorgeous display. Senior contributing editor Eve Batey talked with local bar and restaurant owners about shifts in drinking trends, pulling together a dazzling array of zero-proof libations that taste indulgent without inducing unpleasant aftereffects like impaired brain function, sleeplessness, and hangovers. I’ll certainly raise a glass to that.
Andrea Ratcliff Editor-in-Chief
PUBLISHER Ivy Bayer
EDITORIAL
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Andrea Ratcliff
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Julia Spalding
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
Christina Vercelletto
SENIOR CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Eve Batey
MANAGING EDITOR Camille Graves
DIGITAL EDITOR Clay Maxfield
EDITORIAL INTERN Livia Wininger
Art | production
DESIGN DIRECTOR Margo Wininger
PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Vu Luong
EDITORIAL ART DIRECTOR
Maura Broderson
ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR Christiana Bertsch
Advertising | Business
SALES DIRECTOR Holly Whitney
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Amy Cecil, Jena Jennings, Nancy Oliphant
If spending more time at your local library is aligned with your goals for 2026, we also shine the spotlight on a handful of progressive librarians who bring new life to bookshelves and online collections, inspiring and serving patrons of all ages (p. 42). Check out these literacy champions who are writing a new chapter for library culture, services, and accessibility in Central Indiana.
( CONTRIBUTORS )
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Missy Beiting
IndianapolisMonthly.com/ advertise-with-us
PUBLISHED BY Cincinnati Media, LLC, A SUBSIDIARY OF HOUR MEDIA, LLC
CEO Stefan Wanczyk
Based in Cincinnati, Hatsue is a photographer, educator, and gallery curator. She juggles multiple jobs to explore how she exists at the intersection of community and art. She loves the human endeavor and the ways people are brought together. Designing the Best Bets page (p. 11) each month shows her the importance of surrounding oneself with good people.
Michael Schrader
Multimedia visual artist
Michael Schrader is better known as his alter ego Pink Bike Mike for tearing up asphalt on a pink chopper. He studied photography at Marian University, falling in love with portraiture for its ability to make everyday people, like librarians (p. 42), look like rock stars. His favorite compliment is from his father: “No one ever smiles in your photos.”
This month, executive editor Julia Spalding returns to the dining beat, overseeing IM’s Dish section, which features her piece on a new Fountain Square coffeehouse (p. 26).
“Spaces like 1656 Club are why I love covering Indy’s dining and creative scene,” Spalding says. “It’s refreshing to write about people who recognize Indy’s energy and are feeding it.”
PRESIDENT John Balardo
EDITORIAL / ADVERTISING OFFICES
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HATSUE
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50
// TOP DENTISTS
Keep your smile healthy and gleaming with the help of outstanding dentists in Central Indiana. Our roster of more than 250 peernominated dental professionals recognizes the top practitioners in endodontics, general dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, and prosthodontics.
TRUSTED ORTHO EXPERTISE COMES TO CARMEL
HEART HEALTH:
February is American Heart Month. We’ll focus on this vital organ and provide expert advice on monitoring and maintaining cardiovascular health. Local medical professionals weigh in on physical factors and lifestyle choices that can reduce the risk of heart disease and promote overall wellness.
READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS:
What are the city’s favorite restaurants, shops, personalities, festivals, and hot spots? We asked, and our audience answered. Find out who took top honors in our annual Readers’ Choice poll, which encompassed a wide array of categories—from the best cover band to the premier White River State Park attraction.
SCHOOL GUIDE:
Let us help you make educated choices about where to send your kids to school. Our annual list details test scores, tuition rates, and contact information for public, private, and charter schools, as well as enrollment numbers, room and board fees, and degrees offered at statewide colleges and universities.
Parkview Health—Central Indiana’s newest option for orthopedic care—is now available in Carmel. Whether you need same-day treatment, inpatient or outpatient surgery, or specialized care for sprains, strains, and joint pain, our orthopedic experts deliver advanced care backed by proven outcomes. Known nationally for excellence in safety, quality, patient experience, and workplace culture, Parkview Health unites its co-workers and providers around one mission: delivering exceptional care to every person, every day.
CIRCLE CITY
Abandonment Issues
Signs emblazoned “For Sale” are popping up in some of Indy’s most neglected neighborhoods— but the seller isn’t a fly-by-night flipper; it’s City Hall. Read on to learn how the Vacant to Vibrant program is transforming abandoned properties into assets for the community, one house at a time.
( SPEED READ CONTINUED )
WHILE THE SIGNS YOU’RE SEEING ARE NEW, THE PROGRAM ISN’T. Indianapolis launched the Vacant to Vibrant (V2V) program in 2023, funded by $4.5 million from the post-pandemic, economyboosting American Rescue Plan. It was originally overseen by the Department of Metropolitan Development (DMD), which sold abandoned properties to developers for renovation or rebuilding. Those properties were then offered as below-market-rate residences for people who earn 80 percent or less of the region’s median income. (It’s worth noting that the American Rescue Plan provided Indy with more than $50 million for local housing initiatives; Vacant to Vibrant is just one of the infrastructure programs that was kicked off with that capital.)
IT WAS INITIALLY A ONE-TIME EFFORT.
Those rescue bucks were enough to support the sale of about 100 properties across Martindale-Brightwood, the near–northwest side, and the near–east side to developers interested in V2V’s affordable housing mission. Then things went quiet as Indy leaders sought avenues to continue to pay for the program’s management. But the program relaunched in spring of 2025, kicking off with more than 200 abandoned parcels or vacant lots across Indy’s residentially zoned neighborhoods. V2V 2.0 is officially part of the county’s 2026 operating budget.
TAX SCOFFLAWS PAVED THE WAY FOR V2V’S GROWTH. Fail to pay your property taxes for long enough, and the county will foreclose and offer it to buyers as a tax sale. If the property doesn’t sell after four months, the county can take steps to take possession of it—or transfer it into the county land bank. Most recently, that land bank was operated by a nonprofit called Intend Indiana, but with the advent of V2V 2.0, DMD took the land bank over—and now Vacant to Vibrant is the sole land bank in Indianapolis.
LEADERS HOPE TO AVOID SOME OF THE AFFORDABLE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES OF THE PAST. In 2024, developer Gary Hobbs of Indianapolis-based BWI
Development made headlines when complaints about his Canal Village project—built with abundant financial support from the city—reached a fever pitch. Residents claimed the homes were of poor quality, and local officials cried foul at how different the completed buildings looked from the renderings first presented to officials. In public meetings to discuss V2V, officials didn’t address the Canal Village scandal directly—but representatives with DMD signaled that they had learned from past mistakes.
YES,
YOU CAN
BUY A V2V HOME EVEN
IF YOU’RE NOT A
DEVELOPER.
There are three types of sales under Vacant to Vibrant, with each requiring the buyer to pay a different amount for the same type of property. Let’s use the example of 2657 Burton Ave., which is available via the program as of this writing in November. A “standard buyer” can purchase the property for $14,000 with a plan to renovate or tear down and rebuild it, then resell or offer it as a rental. An “affordable buyer” can pay $5,000 but must demonstrate a proven track record as the kind of developer the city seeks and is required to sell or rent it to someone who makes less than 80 percent of Indy’s median income. In the middle is the “homestead buyer,” a private citizen like you or me who can pay $11,200 with the promise to make the completed home their primary residence for the next two years.
IMPATIENT SHOPPERS NEED NOT APPLY.
Under Vacant to Vibrant, aspiring buyers must apply to purchase a property offered for sale by the land bank. It’s not a swift process: Applications completed by the first Friday of each month get sent to a review committee, which
A SIGN OF THE TIMES
The V2V program was relaunched in 2025 and is making strides in its affordable housing mission.
evaluates them on the second Tuesday of the following month. Depending on the property type, an additional review from the Metropolitan Development Commission is necessary; new construction plans must also be evaluated by Indy’s Urban Design division and the city architect. Assuming none of those agencies require corrections or clarifications and your application is approved, it takes an additional 90 days for the property title to clear.
GOT AN EYESORE NEXT DOOR? Watch the map. People who live in a home adjacent to one offered by Vacant to Vibrant can purchase that property as a standard buyer, but they won’t be required to develop, rent, or resell it. Side-lot buyers, as they’re known, can make that land their yard or turn it into a community park or garden. They can also hang onto it as an investment. Think of it as a reward for living next to a blighted house for all those years. Watch for a Vacant to Vibrant sign on the property or go to indy.gov/activity/ vacant-to-vibrant and click on the “Get Started” button to see every location currently on offer.
THIS ISN’T A PROFIT PLAY. If visions of becoming the next Good Bones–style TV star are dancing in your head as you head to that link, calm down. Wellheeled investors scour county tax sales for properties they can convert into market-rate houses. Vacant to Vibrant properties are projects the tycoons passed over. What’s left is—depending on your point of view—either a handyperson’s dream or a potential money pit. That said, the positive feeling you’ll get from helping turn a neighborhood around? Priceless.
EVE BATEY
(1) Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap
January 6–February 15
Catch this latest incarnation of the longest running play in history at Beef & Boards. A blizzard has trapped a group of strangers in a creepy manor. After news of a grisly murder in London reaches them via a police sergeant, you’ll be kept guessing until the final twist. beefandboards.com
(2) Move & Groove with The Call
January 17
This session of the Peanut Butter & Jam series,created for ages 1-7, features Indy-based Okara Imani and her band at The Studio Theater. Take the littles for an outing full of funky beats and playful vibes. thecenterpresents.org
(3) The Harlem Globetrotters
January 17
The Globetrotters have been giving us gravity-defying dunks and smile-grabbing tricks for100 years. They face off against longtime rivals the Washington Generals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Stick around for autographs after the game. gainbridgefieldhouse.com
(4) Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone in Concert
January 30–February 1
Watch the wand choose the wizard on screen at Hilbert Circle Theatre as the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra performs the film’s iconic score. Hogwarts-appropriate attire encouraged. indianapolissymphony.org
(5) Monster Jam
January 31–February 1
If 6-ton trucks tooling around on two wheels and flying through the air is your idea of a good time, get to Lucas Oil Stadium Competitions for audience votes include racing, skills, and the crowd favorite, freestyle. lucasoilstadium.com
Accent Marks
Q : DO INDIANAPOLIS DWELLERS HAVE A DISTINGUISHABLE ACCENT? A: If you’re hoping for something as distinctive as Chicago (where “this” is “dis”) or Boston (where a “yard” is a “yad”), the answer is no. Linguists put Indy squarely in the Midland dialect region, where Northern and Southern speech patterns meet and mix. In the southern part of the state, you’ll hear a lot more “y’alls.” Go far enough north and Hoosiers start trading “the” for “da.” But here in the great gray middle of the state, speakers sound mostly like generic TV news anchors. Research at Indiana University finds that Indiana natives can sometimes detect the subtle regional differences found in Indianapolis as opposed to other parts of the state, but to outsiders, they’re as hard to identify as the taste of mayonnaise in egg salad. —SAM
STALL
( UNSPOKEN RULES )
Indianapolis Home Show
A MANNER-FESTO FOR EXPLORING THE DESIGN AND REMODELING EXPO RUNNING JANUARY 16–25.
Arrive a little early. It’s a walk from the parking lot to the show. Wear comfy shoes. Enter the vendor raffles. Prizes are top-notch. Nosh on resurrected state fair foods. Wine and beer are also on offer. But save room. Michael Gomez of Indy’s Gomez BBQ takes to the weekday cooking stage. Expect a line at the Centerpiece Home. Wandering a life-size replica of a modern farmhouse is worth the wait.
Meet Bravo TV’s Craig Conover of Southern Charm on the 23rd or 24th, and check out his pillow pop-up. Inspire the kids. Both weekends host a market run by 30 young entrepreneurs.
This relatively small number is still enough to make Spanish the second-most common language after English. Interestingly, a little more than 1 percent of Hoosier households speak a West Germanic language, like Yiddish or Pennsylvania Dutch.
ask THE HOOSIERIST
Pluto Water Bottle
VINTAGE: 1920 S Resides at the Bona
“WHEN NATURE won’t, Pluto will!” was the slogan for a laxative tonic bottled in French Lick. The brand lauded the locale as “America’s garden of health.” The spring water’s efficacy came from a high content of mineral salts. The label starred Pluto, Roman god of the underworld, a nod to the product’s subterranean origin. But he looks like the Devil, and perhaps for good reason: The stuff took effect in 30 minutes. Interestingly, folks in the first half of the 20th century seem to have had an inordinate need for this sort of relief. Kurt Vonnegut references it in his first novel, Player Piano: “In almost every hand was the drink fashionable that season, benedictine and Pluto water, with a sprig of mint.” It was sold not only by druggists but at cafes and—for better or worse—on trains at 15 cents for a travel-size bottle. Pluto water went out of business in 1971 when a new ingredient, lithium—added as a mood booster—was classified as prescription-only.
— CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
Thompson Memorial Center in Irvington
WANTED
To the Batcave
Your childhood dream may be about to come true. The Polaris Slingshot is an open-air, three-wheeled roadster with serious Batmobile vibes. Mixing the thrill of a motorcycle with the comfort and familiarity of a car, it’s powered by a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder ProStar engine and an optional 5-speed manual transmission. The low ride height is designed to make it easy to handle, while the minimalist cockpit is waterproof and boasts a modern command display. Starting at $25,000. Also available in solid black, lime green, and other paint schemes. Indian Motorcycle of North Indianapolis, 3510 E. 96th St. —CHRISTINA VERCELLETTO
( SHOP TALK )
Cleaning Up
ASHTON BOEHMAN’S SEVEN-YEAR-OLD SOAP COMPANY HAS GROWN INTO A FULL-FLEDGED DOWNTOWN BOUTIQUE. BY EVE BATEY
WHEN SHE was a student at IU Indianapolis, Ashton Boehman made soap but soon realized the cost of materials made her hobby a spendy one. So she started selling the bars under the name Salt & Ash Soap Co., eventually opening a small shop in Fountain Square. And when we say small, we mean small. “It was 300 square feet!” Boehman says. “It was so tiny.”
When the opportunity to move to the still-growing Factory Arts South building presented itself, Boehman jumped at the chance. “Now we have 1,700 square feet,” she says, “and I have the chance to expand into the categories I myself love to shop.” That means a floor packed with housewares, gifts, apparel, jewelry, and snacks, all from independent makers and many from local artists. There’s also an expansive space for Salt & Ash products including bars of soap, bodywash, balms, and luxurious treats for the bath. The soap side of the room is punctuated by a long table used for events—everything from soapmaking birthday parties to First Friday perfume classes. “When people find a small business they love, they want to hang out in there. And with all this space, they finally can.”
ARE THERE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN YOUR DESIGN AND OUTFIT PROCESSES?
SCOUTED
(1) Rose + Frankie acrylic Indiana earrings, $10 (2) Bar soap, $10 or $8 without packaging (3) The Silver Spider ball caps, $38 each (4) Mixly Blueberry Lemon Sage cocktail mixer, $28 (5) Cornflower Print Co. postcard, $7
When I design, I start with a focal point. The same applies to my fashion approach. Once I determine the focal point of the outfit, I craft everything else around it. I think this might be a Virgo trait!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SEASON TO DRESS FOR?
Fall, hands down. I love feeling comfortable in my clothes, so oversized sweaters and hoodies bring me joy.
DO YOU HAVE A FASHION MANTRA?
Fashion is your personality on full display. Show people who you are; don’t fall in line. —LIV WININGER
Stronger Together
ADAPTIVE SPORTS EXPERIENCES ARE EMPOWERING LOCAL ATHLETES.
BY SETH JOHNSON
FROM BEEP baseball to wheelchair basketball, adaptive sports make it possible for Indy athletes with disabilities to compete in meaningful ways across the city. Through the Adaptive Sports Program at Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, about 375 athletes participate in competitive and noncompetitive team sports, elite and Paralympic athletic programs, and recreational clinics including yoga and boxing. The program gives youth and adults with spinal cord, orthopedic, neuromuscular, and visual impairments an opportunity to compete and excel in power soccer, sled hockey, tennis, lacrosse, and more.
In addition to providing individuals with disabilities a myriad of sports opportunities, the RHI program also empowers them through camaraderie. “It’s not just a sport,” says Karen Lawrence, director of RHI Sports at
the RHI Foundation. “You have your teammates. You get to learn about your disability and things you didn’t think you could do.”
Similarly, the Indy Thunder beep baseball team strives to give individuals who are blind and visually impaired an opportunity to compete while connecting them with others. Originally started in 2000, the team won its sixth National Beep Baseball Association championship in 2025 with an undefeated 26-0 record. Nevertheless, coach Jared Woodard says the team is out to do more than rack up victories. “My ultimate goal is not just winning on the field but encouraging my players and giving them the tools and support they need to pursue whatever it is they want to achieve off
the field.” The primary differences between beep baseball and regular baseball, Woodard explains, are that beep baseball is played with a 16-inch beeping softball and relies heavily on hearing. “If somebody hits the ball, first or third base is going to buzz, and they don’t know which one it’s going to be,” he says. “So whatever base comes on, they have to go down and touch it before the defense picks the ball up.”
As a person who’s hard of hearing, Fishers resident Jason Wagner had difficulty finding fitness classes in an accessible environment. “I faced challenges when working out,” he shares. Orangetheory Fitness made adjustments so he could fully participate. “They use clear visual cues and gestures, and the studio’s display screens show time intervals, heart rates, and exercises,” Wagner says. “I feel respected and supported in classes.”
When it comes to finding a gym that fully accommodates for a particular disability, Wagner advises having a high standard for inclusion. Ask questions. Lots of them. “To others with disabilities who are searching for a gym that feels like home, I would say this: Do not hesitate to advocate for yourself,” Wagner urges. “Fitness should be for everyone.”
BODY+
PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS
CAMARADERIE IN ACTION Wheelchair basketball practice at National Guard Armory in Lawrence
Rocky Mountain High
PICTURESQUE PARK CITY OFFERS MUCH MORE THAN SKIING AND SUNDANCE. BY
LOU HARRY
THE ACHINGLY beautiful former silver-mining town of Park City, Utah, is synonymous with skiing, and it’s no wonder. This year, the ever-popular Deer Valley Resort (deervalley.com) grew its ski lifts to 31 and doubled its runs to over 200. But not everyone, of course, is up for swishing downhill. No matter; plenty of other memorable activities abound. Try out dogsledding, sleigh riding, or snow-tubing. Take a ski lift ride up the mountain simply for the views: The Town Lift raises and lowers skiers between Park City Mountain and Main Street. You can see Wyoming from the summit. The downtown strip offers a vibrant and lengthy string of shops. Local regulations keep big chain stores out, the only exception being outfitters with hard-to-find merch. Creative dining options await as well, including Le Depot Brasserie (ledepotpc .com) with French dishes curated by James Beard Award–winning chef Galen Zamarra.
Park City, UT
DISTANCE
1,504
In a renovated Masonic Hall, Riverhorse on Main (riverhorseparkcity.com), with an emphasis on seafood and wild game, has earned a rare four-star rating from Forbes Travel Guide. And nearby High West Saloon (highwest.com), which claims to be the first ski-in gastro distillery, has a slate of awardwinning whiskeys for warming up after a day on the slopes or in and out of the shops. Just outside of town, All Seasons Adventures (allseasonsadventures.com) lives up to its name with guided fly fishing trips on the Weber and Provo rivers. Don hip waders to savor low-key hours casting in the clear water with mountain peaks in the distance and blue herons flying overhead. It’s unforgettable, whether you nab a trout or not. For luxurious downtime, the Stein Eriksen Lodge (steinlodge.com) has hot tubs and woodburning fireplaces in-room. Its five-star spa offers a heated outdoor pool and unique treatments like a Moor Mud Detox Wrap infused with CBD. You’ll also find an arcade and a lively pub with a pool table.
IF YOU GO
INDULGE Head to nearby Heber City for small batch, bean-tobar treats and a tour at Ritual Chocolate & Mocha Cafe (ritual chocolate.com).
STARGAZE Check with the Utah Film Commission (film .utah.gov) to find the spots where Thelma and Louise, Dumb and Dumber, and TV’s Yellowstone were shot.
DRIVE Head out along Guardsman Pass through the Wasatch Mountains, allowing time for photos at scenic overlooks and maybe a moose sighting.
Science Central, Fort Wayne’s hands-on museum inside a historic power plant, just opened its long-awaited adjacent PLANETARIUM . The shows satisfy the innate curiosity we all have when gazing at the night sky. The theater has the latest star-projection technology but only accommodates 60 people at a time, so plan to arrive early. —CHRISTINA
TRAVELER
SPOTLIGHT ON INDY BUSINESS
SPOTLIGHT ON INDY BUSINESS
Ageless Aesthetics
Indy’s premier medical spa for fl awless results across three locations 8860 Zionsville Rd., Ste. 300C, Indianapolis agelessindy.com | ageless.aesthetics.indy
FLORAL & WEDDING PLANNING
Jen’s Floral Design
Offering unique, personalized floral arrangements and wedding planning Fishers, IN | jensfloraldesign | jensfloral.com
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
Support independently owned businesses with this go-to guide to local shops, personal services, dining and nightlife establishments, and more.
PERSONAL TRAINING
Body Outfitters
Experts who build your confidence, strength, and deliver results 8487 Union Chapel Rd., Indianapolis bodyoutfitters | bodyoutfitters.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
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 RESTAURANT
Goodness Gracious
A comforting breakfast and lunch restaurant
offering catering, events, and curated picnics 24 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel i_love_goodnessgracious
Magic Hat Barber Shop
A premium barber shop prized for its attentive service & selection of grooming products from Brosh Pomade, D.S. & Durga, Ursa Major, and more 885 Monon Green Blvd., Ste. 101, Carmel magichatbarbershop
and
E.
BARBER SHOP
CAT CAFE AND COFFEE SHOP
Smitten Kitten Smitten Kitten helps reduce the number of surrendered, abandoned,
homeless cats by fostering a peaceful, cage-free, interactive environment for both adopters and cats. 7852
96th St., Fishers | fisherscatcafe
RESTAURANT
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
MEDICAL SPA
Wise Aesthetics
A luxurious medical spa with personalized care, ensuring your unique beauty and wellness goals are met with excellence Carmel, IN | wise-aesthetics.com
Urban Homestead
At Urban Homestead, find home decor thoughtfully curated to reflect timeless sophistication and warmth. 114 East Jefferson St., Tipton, IN urbanhomesteadllc
Yours For The Making
A fun art studio offering painting, beading, wreath making workshops, parties, and so much more 13620 N. Meridian St., Carmel YoursForTheMaking.co
Unplug Soy Candles
POUR. PLAY. SHOP. Create memories, gi joy! 12550 Promise Creek Ln., Ste. 108, Fishers unplugsoycandles.com | unplugsoycandles
To advertise, email hwhitney@indianapolismonthly.com
ART STUDIO
At Dusk Lounge, which opened late last summer on Mass Ave, the DJ-driven nightlife is fueled by Miamigrade cocktails and simple Mediterranean dishes like this silky whipped feta, a shareable spread made rich and luscious with ricotta and Greek yogurt. The dairy is brightened with lemon zest and topped with mint, pistachios, and crushed Aleppo pepper. Strips of house-made pita are the perfect delivery vehicle. 409 Massachusetts Ave., 317660-4439, dusk-lounge.com —JULIA SPALDING
by
SWOON
Photo
TONY VALAINIS
(BUZZ)
Creative Spark
AT 1656 CLUB, PALOMA OROZCO MIXES ART AND COMMUNITY INTO A ONE-OF-A-KIND SPACE. BY JULIA SPALDING
THE BUSY corner of English and State avenues, where Paloma Orozco opened her third-space coffeehouse last September, has long had a magnetic pull on creatives. The intersection is also home to pop surrealist artist Mab Graves’ Monster Gallery. Former denizens have included leather goods company Howl + Hide as well as curator and art consultant Christopher West of Christopher West Presents. It’s fitting that Orozco, herself an artist and poet with a background in education and advertising, hopes 1656 Club becomes known as much for its community pop-ups as for the espresso and matcha drinks she assembles behind the counter. “We are all creatives in some way,” says the third-generation entrepreneur who turned the walls of 1656 Club into a gallery for local artists and has hosted events such as Curated Convos with local wellness experts and a collab with Fountain Square Yoga across the street. 1656 English Ave., 317-419-2589, 1656club.com
PINCH OF WISDOM
“You
have to be in a good mood when you’re making bread. You can’t be stressed. The dough will sense fear.”
– Lora Popov, owner of Yazsh
( NEW IN TOWN )
The Right Stuff
Everest Momo House reaches new heights with dumplings from the Himalayan region.
FLIP TO page 3 of the menu at Ratna Gurung’s familyrun Everest Momo House, and you will find a 17-item list of the restaurant’s namesake morsels. Momos— tiny, pinched pockets of minced meat and veggies—are the stars of this small westside restaurant where Bollywood music videos play in an enchanting loop on the single flat-screen TV, and the minimal decor includes prayer flags and a Buddha statue. The steamed chicken momos are brightened with cilantro and onion; deep-fried paneer chili momos are filled with mild Indian cheese and flavored with a vibrant red hot sauce; and sesame soup–based yak jhol momos feature the Nepali diet’s fundamental protein—a mild, earthy meat similar to beef. 3816 N. High School Rd., 317419-2666, everestmomo house.com —J.S.
FRENCH TWIST Noblesville’s Blé French Bistro opened in October, a cozy spot with steak au poivre, French onion soup, and garlic-buttery escargot on the menu. SWEET DEAL Longtime food truck Three Dolls & Co. has found a home in one of the former Angie’s List buildings on East Washington Street, its pastry case brimming with cookies, cannoli, and cake by the slice. —J.S.
Ready to Roll
JAMA MATTHEWS CRAFTS SOFT PRETZELS WITH HEART, EVEN THOUGH SHE CAN’T EAT HER OWN INVENTORY. BY BRIAN
JAMA MATTHEWS always loved cooking. But even more than that, she wanted to build a brand. At 31, the mother of a 3-year-old is channeling that ambition into Butter Boy Pretzels, a homegrown business with bigger aspirations. “I want to build something lasting,” she explains.
Her twisty path to pretzel-making began with an early college degree and several odd desk jobs. She taught herself design, web basics, and food photography, skills she applied to her first food venture making dairy-free yeast doughnuts. Her sweets had an inclusive appeal—a rare bakery treat for anyone eschewing butter and milk—but her home-based concept failed to grow. And then it screeched to a halt when Matthews was diagnosed with mast cell activation syndrome, a rare disorder limiting her diet. Today,
GARRIDO
she only eats chicken, sweet potatoes, and frozen blueberries for every meal, meaning she can’t eat her own creations. “As long as I don’t consume the ingredients, I’m stable enough to work around them,” she says.
Instead of keeping her out of the cooking game forever, the diagnosis fueled her drive—creativity making up for what she didn’t have in resources. Thus, she retooled her dough recipe into pretzels with homemade coatings and dips, from cinnamon sugar, to royal icing, to vegan chili butter. In March 2025, she launched Butter Boy Pretzels, an online shop with local pickup that has gained a loyal fan base.
Matthews is determined to make Butter Boy more than just a home bakery. “I’m working really hard to make this a real brand,” she says. It’s a legacy, built from flour, perseverance, and vision that she hopes her son can one day inherit.
(1) Long’s Bakery: “These were my favorite doughnuts growing up.” (2) Penn & Beech Candle Co.: “Candle-making is the perfect date night for my partner and me.” (3) Java House: “I love the atmosphere for working.” (4) Flix Brewhouse: “I’m a huge movie buff.” (5) Holliday Park: “It’s important for me to get out with my son and experience nature together.”
FAVORITE THINGS
FOODIE
Tsaocaa
Served hot off the griddled iron, these traditional egg waffles stay true to the Hong Kong style, filling the air with sweet, toasty aromas as they cook. Available in original, cocoa, matcha, taro, and fruitflavored options. 530 Massachusetts Ave., 317-735-1948, tsaocaain.com
On the Bubble
FLUFFIER AND EGGIER THAN THEIR TRADITIONAL COUNTERPARTS, BUBBLE WAFFLES ARE LIKE EDIBLE FIDGET POPPERS. THE SWEET TREAT ORIGINATED IN HONG KONG AS A GRAB-AND-GO STREET SNACK. NOW, IT’S MAKING DELICIOUS APPEARANCES ALL OVER CENTRAL INDIANA.
BY AMY LYNCH
Eiffel Waffle
Hot and crispy on the outside with a soft, fluffy interior, these made-toorder waffle cones are the perfect wrap for scoops of ice cream and fun garnishes. 8594 E. 116th St., Fishers, 317-567-4009, eiffelwaffle.com
Chao Vietnamese Street Food
Chao’s vanilla custard waffles reference the chewy Vietnamese dessert bánh bò nuóng. “We top them with ice cream, fruit, and sweet cream,” says owner Carlos Villagran Arias. 7854 E. 96th St., Fishers, 317-622-8820, chaovietstreetfood.com
Harmony Tea Shoppe
For a different kind of waffle cone, this boba franchise nestles a bubble waffle into a cup and then scoops in strawberry, chocolate, or vanilla ice cream. Multiple locations, harmonyteashoppe.com
Cafe Noricha
The decadent Waffle La Nori drizzles chocolate syrup on a puffy egg waffle, then crowns the whole thing with vanilla ice cream, berries, and bruleed banana. 190 Westfield Rd., Noblesville, 317-762-6262, cafenoricha.com
Serliana’s New York Sour—a frothy concoction of bourbon, lemon, and red wine—and a fresh take on the ubiquitous beet salad with salmon, oranges, radish, and grated horseradish.
Circling Back
SERLIANA
17 W. Market St. 463-303-0380 serlianaindy.com
HOURS
Mon–Sun 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m.
VIBE
French-inspired chophouse
TASTING NOTES
DOWNTOWN INDY’S DINING OPTIONS GET A LIFT, AS WELL AS SOME STRIKING VISTAS, AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL’S IN-HOUSE RESTAURANT, SERLIANA. BY TERRY KIRTS
BACK IN LATE spring, when the InterContinental Hotel on Monument Circle had been open just shy of three months, anyone hoping to spot a few celebrities downtown needed only snag a table at the lobby restaurant, Serliana. That’s because, while it would take some time for the dining and drink options to catch on among locals, visiting VIPs were booking up the boutique hotel’s 170 rooms from day one. Was that an IndyCar driver dashing to catch an elevator? A Knicks player getting a massage in a room adjacent to the bar? Just which future MVP or Oscar nominee in town for the game would stroll by that day? Shai Gilgeous-Alexander? Timothée Chalamet? Even if no stars crossed your path, you
might have felt like a superstar yourself while sipping a frothy, bracing New York Sour at one of the low-slung seats overlooking Market Street. With soaring views of the Soldiers & Sailors Monument, you could drink in the cool marble environs, curvaceous pillars, and muted metallic palette of the hotel group’s brand. Though rattan and brass accents may have reminded you more of hotels from the heyday of ’80s design, you could see how it all fit with the vibe and playful pop art for which the hotel’s owner, Indy Eleven founder and Keystone Group CEO Ersal Ozdemir, along with wife Izabela, spared no expense.
You also got a taste of the first food Indy culinary luminary Craig Baker had cooked in a restaurant kitchen in nearly a decade. Baker, who relocated from Portland in
Continental standards with modern, local upgrades, such as an Indiana ribeye French dip, brunch biscuits and gravy, and a sorghumglazed pork chop
NEIGHBORHOOD Monument Circle
MUST-ORDER
Lush smoked salmon carpaccio with roasted beets; beef tenderloin tartare with truffle aioli; beef bourguignon made with tender beef cheeks, mushrooms, crisp blanched carrots and celery root, and Boursinenriched pommes puree; beignets with an inventive burnt apple cider caramel
3-STAR RATING
2006 and quickly proved he had the chops at The Local Eatery & Pub and downtown’s Plow & Anchor, recently applied his skills outside of restaurants, working as concept consultant at the food hall and restaurant incubator AMP, among other gigs. But when he saw the cadre of kitchen talent being courted for the InterContinental, he couldn’t turn down the chance to return to the line. His all-star cast of colleagues includes Ian Stricklin from Easy Rider and The Northside Social; Hedge Row and Rook veteran Martin Burns; Travis
Hitch, recently of KanKan Brasserie; pastry chef Ben Hardy; and former Beholder grill cook Michael Burgin. Just as exciting for Baker is the crew of recent grads from the Area 31 Career Center Culinary Arts program he’s helped hire and train. “I’m surrounded by people who care and are truly passionate about food,” Baker says.
In the early months, diners may have sensed that passion was directed more toward private meals for big-name guests than toward Serliana’s publicfacing menu. Steaks, salads, and starters were all competent but too scripted by a corporate chef, with little you couldn’t get elsewhere. Where was Baker’s commitment to homegrown flavors and affection for vintage menus reimagined?
In September, he went live with a new all-day, French-inspired menu that outof-towners and native gastronomes alike should take note of. Homey sorghum provides a subtly sweet glaze to the generous pork chop on a nighttime menu that stands up to nearby steak joints. But it’s his Escoffier-worthy Continental dishes that take top billing. Cassoulet with meltingly creamy white beans, rich bits of sausage and bacon, Indiana duck,
and buttery breadcrumbs is comfort personified. Beef bourguignon utilizes deeply flavorful beef cheeks in a reduced demi-glace with mushrooms and flashpoached carrots and celeriac that retain all the freshness of the garden. A swath of Boursin-enriched pommes puree somehow avoids gilding the lily. “It was inspired by a meal at Thomas Keller’s Bouchon,” Baker says. But the skill is all his kitchen’s. A seemingly simple salmon filet has an enviably light golden crust with bright pops of caviar above risotto with a welcome chew. Could his grilled broccolini use some embellishment or a smashed sweet potato get tidier plating? It’s all part of the evolution of a lobby restaurant that didn’t even have tables for eating full-sized entrees when it opened.
Given the miles Baker has logged to showcase his prowess, we’re lucky to have him back at the city’s center—at a hotel worthy of the larger world’s eye— still learning and still injecting passion into our food scene.
Chef Craig Baker’s egg-topped beef tartare, duck cassoulet, and decadent bete noir (below) toe the line between hotel expectations and innovation.
Sorry, Diet Coke, your days as the go-to for booze-free bar-goers are over. Wildly creative, zeroproof cocktails are on the menus at Indy’s best restaurants and bars as more and more drinkers decide alcohol isn’t necessary for a spirited night out.
BY EVE BATEY PHOTOS BY TONY VALAINIS
Life might feel more stressful than ever, but people are definitely drinking less. We talked to some of Indy’s busiest bartenders to determine why that is—and how they’re adapting.
ASK
anyone who works in the hospitality industry, and they’ll tell you the same thing: People are drinking less alcohol. A Gallup poll from 2025 confirms that anecdotal claim, with just 54 percent of adult respondents saying they consume spirits. That’s the lowest number Gallup has seen since it started tracking Americans’ drinking behavior in 1939.
The number gets even lower when we look at the demographic that—in past generations—was most likely to imbibe to excess: Of adults under age 34, only 50 percent consume, Gallup reports. But before you write this off as a woke Gen Z trend, you should also know that overall, only 46 percent of Republican voters imbibe, compared to 61 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of independents.
According to Nick Detrich, owner of Fountain Square restaurant Magdalena, the tide of mocktails has been rising for over 15 years. “When I first started bartending 20 years ago, it was not a thing at all. Then around 2010, I started getting more and more people
ordering mocktails.”
Back then, that meant a creative mixologist might combine some juice, simple syrup, and soda water and call it a day. Every bartender we spoke to for this package agrees the pandemic was a tipping point.
“That first summer after Covid, everyone was partying,” says bar consultant Kendall Lockwood, who’s also the operating partner at Mass Ave’s The Ball & Biscuit. “Then people seemed to go back to real life, and they course corrected in a big way.”
Jess Johnson, bar manager at near–northside restaurant Tinker Street, says the destigmatization of mental health and wellness practices spurred by the global crisis helped many people reevaluate their relationship with alcohol.
“When you’re alone with your thoughts, you can focus on how you’re caring for yourself,” she says. “For many people, that meant they decided—even if they were not an alcoholic—that drinking wasn’t for them at all, or at least not for right now or that night.”
Alex Knight tends the bar at downtown Noblesville’s Bar Ellis; he’s also been sober for three years. “Sometimes, the only thing that keeps someone in recovery on track is feeling like they belong,” he says. “Having a cocktail in your hand means you’re still part of the group. No one’s going to grill you to see if there’s alcohol in it.”
Whether by choice or by necessity, these teetotalers are on the right track, says Carmel physician Dr. Tod Huntley. “Alcohol is
Learn how to make this mocktail step-by-step on page 41
metabolized into a byproduct called acetaldehyde, which is a known human carcinogen and a toxin that can affect DNA and certain proteins,” he says. Comparing ongoing use of booze to cigarettes, he notes that it will increase risks of illness and decrease quality of life. For many people, the perceived benefits of alcohol as a social lubricant, stress reliever, or delicious thing to consume make those prospects worthwhile. But a lack of nonalcoholic options isn’t the reason to go ahead and partake that it once was, Lockwood says. “Bartenders are putting as much, if not more, creativity into mocktails,” she says. “The market demands it, sure, but it’s also an interesting challenge. That’s what makes my job so fun.”
ZERO, NOT
Some consumers still balk at a booze-free drink that costs as much as one with alcohol. Here’s why that thinking misses the mark.
THErent is too damn high, as are prices for most things these days. But mocktails, many of which have a price point comparable to alcoholic drinks, are less of a financial win for bars than you might think. “A bottle of no-proof spirits costs me as much as a bottle of Grey Goose,” Magdalena owner Nick Detrich says, referring to popular no-ABV brands like Lyre’s. The process to formulate alcohol-free versions of gin, rum, bourbon, and more is expensive, and that cost is passed on to customers.
Recipe development also has a price. “Most cocktails you’ll order were developed 100 years ago or more,” drinks consultant Kendall Lockwood says, citing classics like the sidecar (early 1920s) or the old fashioned (1880s). “But most mocktails are the result of very recent research and development, maybe by the bartender who’s pouring you that drink. Creating a great drink, no matter the ingredients, takes time, and time is money.”
The costs of operating a business, from rent, to wages, to the AES bill, are also built into every
FR E R
menu item’s price. Those overhead costs aren’t reduced when someone orders a cocktail made with coconut water instead of Malibu.
That said, most places try to knock a buck or two off their mocktail list items to avoid confrontational customers—but you’ll be
surprised to hear that you often end up spending more on mocktails at places that price them slightly less. While people tend to order multiples of alcoholic cocktails, nondrinkers typically restrict themselves to one when they’re comparably priced. But at Noblesville’s Bar Ellis, mocktails are
priced $3-4 less than their boozy equivalents. This spurs patrons to keep ordering, co-owner Lisa Wampler says. “It’s all a game of psychology. People know they’re getting a deal, so they’ll get two or three, maybe more. That ends up being very, very good for us.”
THE “MOCKTAIL” DEBATE
THEword “mocktail” might seem like an innocent descriptor, but to many in the alcoholfree community, it’s an offensive portmanteau. According to some folks, including bartender Josh Harris, using the word “mock,” a synonym for fake with negative connotations, “trivializes what is in some cases a really significant thing, which is choosing to not drink alcohol for whatever reason, for any amount of time.”
But others, like hospitality consultant John deBary, feel it’s an “unambiguous, commonly understood word” and that the history of the word mock shouldn’t impede its present-day use. That said, no one ever got in trouble for not saying “mocktail,” so if you’d like to be on the safe side, use a phrase like “nonalcoholic,” or “zeroproof” to place your order, or adopt an industry term like “no-ABV” when you belly up to the bar.
One verboten moniker everyone agrees on: “Shirley Temple,” which one bartender describes as “a drink you’d get at a middle school talent show.” That is, unless you’re in a bar called “The Good Ship Lollipop,” in which case we heartily encourage you to give the cutesy designation a go.
but there isn’t anything with a comparable flavor profile in the no-ABV space. But since “most bartenders also love that drink,” many are working to create mocktails that reflect its herbaceous vibe.
Julian Acosta, bartender at Kennedy-King coffeeto-cocktails spot The Alchemist, says techniques like fat-washing and smoking of ingredients is the key to a savory cocktail. “Think about foods that cure your craving for salt or sour,” he says, then look for drink ingredients that match that.
Communication is key to getting the drink you want. Grace Donlon, bar manager at upscale Carmel restaurant Freeland’s, says she loves concocting bespoke mocktails on the fly. “I’d rather someone tell me what they’re in the mood for than settle for something they’re not completely happy with,” she says. “Let me make you what you want. That’s what I’m here for.”
IT SUGAR-COAT
Most alcohol-free cocktails are made with sweet-tasting syrups and juices, but those who prefer tart, bitter, or savory drinks have a growing range of options.
WHENHelm Coffee’s Justin Bull stopped consuming alcohol four years ago, he was frustrated by the lack of non-sugary alternatives available. “I’m a coffee guy, and my palate skews toward those types of flavors,” he says. “I don’t want something that’s basically just sweet soda water.”
Bull isn’t alone. “Look at the popularity of Fernet,” says Kristen Alderson, the owner of Broad Ripple cocktail bar Thieves. The bitter and aromatic spirit has a passionate following,
If that still sounds intimidating, Katie Slonim, owner of cocktail education brand and event company Mixo, suggests you learn how to make a couple mocktails yourself. “You can take a class from us,” she says, “or just go to YouTube! There are so many amazing mocktail makers on there talking people through incredible drinks.”
That’s what Bull did, citing online sensation Morgan Eckroth as his favorite resource for creative coffee-based no-ABV drinks. “There’s literally an influencer for any palate, though,” he says. So if worst comes to worst, let the algorithm guide you to some savory mocktail offerings, then take your findings to your local watering hole for an IRL experience.
3
DIY DRY: WITH MIXO INDY’S
KATIE
SLONIM
Zero-proof Lambrusco and alcohol-free coffee liqueur make for a bold and sophisticated drink.
2 5 4 1
COFFEE & LAMBRUSCO SPRITZ
1. Fill your favorite glass with ice. Add 5 drops of saline solution, which you can pre-make using a 5:1 mix of warm water and Maldon sea salt, well-stirred.
2. Add 1 oz. of Lyre’s Coffee Liqueur
3. Gently pour nonalcoholic Lambrusco to fill the rest of the glass. Katie likes the zero-proof version made by Surely. Stir gently to combine.
4. Slice a thin strip of peel from a fresh orange. Then twist the peel (this is called “expressing”) directly over the top of the drink. This will release its oils and add sensory interest.
5. To garnish, place the orange peel in the drink with a sprig of rosemary. Extra credit: Have a small butane torch or lighter on hand? If so, quickly singe the top of the rosemary to add a smoky final note to the mocktail.
As
more Hoosiers deal with issues like marginalization and lack of access to resources, library workers are stepping into the breach—and we need them now more than ever.
Photos by MICHAEL SCHRADER
TThe librarian’s job is not for the weak. Once upon a time, their primary tasks were shushing chattering kids and making sure the books were reshelved properly. But today’s community librarians and university academicians must deal with a far longer, far more complex brief. Nobody knows this better than Anderson Public Library director Edra Waterman, who endured a monthslong struggle to keep John Green’s novel The Fault in Our Stars from being removed from the young adult section of the library where she worked. Waterman, who was one of Indianapolis Monthly’s 2025 “50 Over 50” honorees, told us, “You never know when you’ll be tested.”
She’s not the only one being tested— and passing with flying colors. For novelist and Afrofuturist Maurice Broaddus, the challenge meant turning a long-neglected school library into a thriving community resource. And for Laurel Setser, director at Avon-Washington Township Public Library, the test is ongoing as she races to stay ahead of social and cultural trends that are transforming the mission of the system she oversees.
In a digital age rife with misinformation, privacy worries, and growing social inequality, libraries matter more than ever. Each of these handpicked Indiana librarians demonstrate why. They battle censorship, attract a new generation of readers with unorthodox offerings, and give fresh life to forgotten community assets. Their work reminds us that while libraries are still about books, they’re equally about creating opportunities, forging connections, and building community resilience.
LAUREL SETSER: The
Noisy Librarian
WWHEN LAUREL SETSER began her multidecade career at the Avon-Washington Township Public Library back in 1989, the building was still out in the country. So far out, in fact, that its nearest neighbor was a barn. But that didn’t last long.
“I remember when they were tearing the barn down to put in a subdivision,” Setser recalls.
Over the decades, as the village she served morphed into a bustling suburb, the mission of her library changed too. It transformed from a quiet book depository into a buzzing community hub. And Setser, like numberless other smalltown Hoosier librarians, hustled to keep up.
“If somebody told me I’m afraid of change, I’d tell them they don’t know what librarian life has been like over the last 35 years,” she says. “We have done nothing but adapt.”
Today the library is a community center in all but name, offering everything from classes to a convenient spot for groups to hold meetings. “We assist many people who are here all day every day but have never checked out a single book,” Setser says. “They’re trying to get jobs, or collect benefits, or take some form of digital training. We help local history researchers combing our digital archives. Every day, it’s a new day.”
With the increase in local population, modernday scenarios have seeped into the stacks. Folks who are likely unhoused show up regularly, and the library has adopted a live-and-let-live attitude. Anyone is welcome to use the building as long as they don’t cause disruptions. Each week, the library hosts three or four supervised parental visits. Librarians prefer to be notified in advance but aren’t always, and Setser has had to ask disorderly parents to leave, though that’s atypical. The loudest static usually comes from the representatives of the agencies who set up the meetings. “If you talk to them about the way their clients are behaving, you can get very irate caseworkers who are truly unpleasant to deal with,” she says. “Obviously our desire is for children to be reunited with their parents, and we want to help them with any service we can, but we can’t give them more than we would give anybody else.”
Of course, books are still a part of the mission. These days, patrons want them in every format
Avon-Washington Township Public Library
from large print to digital. One of Setser’s chronic headaches is predicting which media formats will remain relevant. She still painfully recalls dropping $20,000 on state-of-the-art CD storage systems, only to see the format fall out of favor shortly thereafter. And change just keeps on coming. The library will soon add new makerspace rooms,
“We assist many people who are here all day every day but have never checked out a single book.”
anticipating a future “library of things” where patrons can borrow tools and other creative equipment. One tradition Setser wants to see go is libraries being as quiet as tombs.
“We’ve always been a loud library,” she says proudly. “If I hear parents shushing their children, I’ll usually go over and say, ‘It’s OK. We’re not into that life here.’”
to him permanently. Broaddus, who’d spent 20 years as an environmental toxicologist and 20 more as a writer, found himself reviving a piece of history: the Paul Laurence Dunbar Library at The Oaks Academy Middle School in the Hillside neighborhood. “It was the first library to serve the Black community in Indianapolis,” he says. Built in 1922, it had fallen into disuse until Broaddus restored it to its former glory.
“Now we have three special collections,” he says. “A Harlem Renaissance collection, an Afrofuturism collection, and a Black Arts Movement collection.” Also, the library hosts the Mari Evans Residency for Authors and Artists of Color, drawing creatives from across the country in honor of the lauded Indianapolis poet who played a major role in the Black Arts Movement.
The
MAURICE BROADDUS: The Accidental Librarian
Oaks Academy
MMAURICE BROADDUS never planned to be a librarian. “When my boys were in The Oaks Academy, I sort of shadowed them as a substitute teacher, partly as support for them but also because I knew who I was raising and that the system was not going to be ready for them,” he laughs. One day he was called to the principal’s office. “My youngest pulled some antics,” he says. “I figured I was going to be fired, but instead he says, ‘The way you work with kids can’t be taught. Can you teach for us full-time?’”
Shortly after, he was asked to cover the school librarian’s maternity leave. She passed the job
Broaddus says Afrofuturism, a cultural and artistic movement blending sci-fi, history, and fantasy to explore the experiences and futures of the African diaspora through a Black cultural lens, ties his work with students together. “It’s imagining ourselves into the future but being rooted in our history.”
He doesn’t plan to leave his impromptu role anytime soon. “I’ve come to adore this library space,” he says. “It’s a vibrant community. I don’t give up on important work very easily.”
BILLY TRINGALI:
The Anime Apostle
Indiana University Indianapolis
BBILLY TRINGALI’S office at IU Indianapolis feels more like a Comic-Con booth than an academic’s hidey hole. Posters of saucer-eyed anime and manga heroes cover every vertical surface, and memorabilia line every horizontal one. “It’s like an open-air museum,” Tringali says. “There’s not an inch of wall that’s not covered.”
Tringali is IU’s instruction librarian for undergraduate health sciences, which sounds pretty buttoned up. Until he starts talking about what it entails. “I teach students to hunt things down,” he says. “I do basic AI literacy training. Essentially explaining that you don’t just trust what a chatbot says, because it’s probably lying to you.”
But that’s only part of the story. In addition to his day job, Tringali is also founder and editor of the Journal of Anime and Manga Studies, which makes him arguably one of the world’s leading voices in the scholarly study of the subject. Anime has exploded in the U.S., fueled in part by its omnipresence on streaming services such as Netflix. And manga with titles like My Hero Academia and OnePiece are wildly popular among younger readers. Well, not just younger readers. Plenty of grown-ups read them too.
Tringali says people are attracted to anime and manga for simple reasons: accessibility and variety. There’s decades’ worth of materials to
Get Loud for Libraries
If you’re interested in helping libraries and librarians in Indiana further their work, any of these groups can be the place to start.
read and watch, with subject matter ranging from horror, to adventure, to esoteric philosophic ramblings—sometimes all three in the same work. “Whatever interests you, it exists in anime, and there is a massive backlog for you to explore,” Tringali says. “Anime and manga can be powerful teaching tools for enhancing cultural understanding and improving language skills.”
In addition to reading and watching pretty much everything in the anime/ manga world, he’s also analyzed this corner of the pop culture universe in great detail.
His journal is the only open access academic periodical that exclusively publishes works discussing the worlds of anime, manga, cosplay, and their fans. What began as a graduate school project now attracts scholars and aficionados from around the world. Every year, Tringali helps run a standing-room-only academic conference at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. “We pack the house,” he says. “Fans are really, really hungry for academic analysis of popular culture.” His influence is such that within the community he’s known as the anime
“Whatever interests you, it exists in anime, and there is a massive backlog for you to explore. Anime and manga can be powerful teaching tools for enhancing cultural understanding and improving language skills.”
Indiana Academic Library Association focuses on issues in higher education libraries, offering conferences and advocacy tools. ilfonline.org/ iala-academic-librarians
Indiana Freadom to Read challenges book bans and censorship at Indiana libraries. infreadomtoread.org
Indiana Library Federation is the statewide professional association for librarians,
library workers, and trustees. It promotes advocacy and offers continuing education and resources on intellectual freedom. ilfonline.org
Indianapolis Public Library Foundation supports Indy’s library system through private donations that fund children’s literacy programs, author events, and an array of community initiatives. indyplfoundation.org
apostle. He got hooked on the genre early, spending his childhood sitting on his grandmother’s “horrendously purple” living room rug watching endless episodes of Pokémon. When he realized his local library didn’t offer manga, he established a substantial collection simply by donating books from his own trove. “I watched them all being cataloged and thought, Oh, this is going to be a huge problem for me,” Tringali recalls.
Today, his enthusiasm burns just as hot as it did during his Jigglypuff-besotted youth. He channels his devotion by helping students see not only the academic value in his favorite pop culture genre but also the importance of other subcultures. For instance, he’s developing a student sewing circle for cosplay fans who dress up as characters to learn how to sew their own costumes. For the anime apostle, it’s all about spreading the word.
Indiana State Library Foundation raises funds to support programs across the state like digitization efforts and literacy outreach. indianastatelibraryfdn.org
The Remnant Trust is an Indianapolis-based educational foundation dedicated to preserving and sharing rare books and documents that promote freedom of expression and thought. remnanttrust.org
WILLA LIBURD TAVERNIER:
The Organizer
Indiana University Bloomington
WWILLA LIBURD TAVERNIER admits she’s the kind of person who reorganizes other people’s cupboards. “When I was visiting a friend in Pennsylvania, she said, ‘Why are you doing this?’ and I said, ‘Why are your taco shells in two different cupboards?’” she recalls. “That’s not efficient.”
That penchant for order also informs her work as Indiana University’s Research Impact and Open Scholarship librarian. In a nutshell, she democratizes access to information. “You’d be surprised to know how much of my job is dealing with data,” she says. “I work with a lot of Excel
spreadsheets. I track and monitor publication data.” Whether she’s analyzing research output or helping to shape open access publishing agreements, her goal is the same: to make sure everyone, regardless of social class or economic means, is able to obtain the same information.
That mission guided one of her proudest achievements, the Land, Wealth, Liberation Project, a sweeping digital archive tracing the financial lives of early Black communities. “We pulled together various resources that describe Black communities across the U.S. and what it was like in terms of trying to build economic wealth or parity with the general population,” Tavernier says. Her path to librarianship was almost as challenging as the literal and figurative stacks of information she turns into accessible academic resources. “I was a practicing lawyer,” she says, “but after a hurricane destroyed my office and home in the British Virgin Islands, I couldn’t go back.” Tavernier decided to study library science. The IU offer came the day she graduated. “I’m still here seven years later,” she says, adding that she is proud of the difference she’s making. “I’ll probably be organizing information until I retire,” she says. “And then I’m going to open a bakery.” With the most organized muffin case around, no doubt.
TTHE TRADITIONAL mission of libraries is to store and lend books. But Lisa Lintner believes they also have a higher calling: to make sure the public can freely enjoy them. All of them.
As director of the Johnson County Public Library in Franklin, as well as through her ongoing work with the Indiana Library Federation and Indiana Freadom to Read (a statewide coalition battling book censorship), she has become one of our state’s leading voices for intellectual freedom and equal access to information. It’s a passion she comes by naturally—she regularly sees firsthand the need for information to be
more readily available.
“Patrons come to us for all kinds of reasons that have nothing to do with checking out a book,” Lintner says. “In 2026, we’re connectors. We connect people with the information or services they need.”
Like modern libraries nationwide, hers
LISA LINTNER: The Connector
Johnson County Public Library
coordinate statewide efforts to defend the dissemination of diverse materials and support librarians facing book challenges. Lintner underscores the importance of protecting the right to read for all Hoosiers.
“The thing I like to tell everyone is that it’s absolutely fine for you to not like a book,” Lintner says. “It’s also absolutely fine for you to not allow your child to read a certain book. But you do not have the right to demand that book be removed for everybody.”
serves everyone, from immigrants who rely on the free internet to access needed resources to seniors learning new technology. Her desire to expedite the unfettered flow of data to hungry minds drives her work with Indiana Freadom to Read, with which she helps
She sees today’s library as a frontline institution in the struggle against censorship, the nurturing of democracy, and the growth of community well-being. Lintner believes that no matter your background or current circumstances, you should be able to tap into the same resources as anyone else.
“I’m not a guardian of books,” she says. “I like to think of myself as a champion for people.”
Dentists Top
Meet more than 250 peer-nominated dental practitioners who made our annual Top Dentists list, which is sorted into seven specialty categories. The accompanying profiles showcase Central Indiana practices with expanded information about their services, treatments, qualifications, and philosophies.
METHODOLOGY : The professionals listed herein were selected by their peers in a survey conducted by Professional Research Services Company of Troy, Michigan. Professionals may be screened and selected through the verification of licensing and review of any infractions through various applicable boards, agencies, and rating services. For further information, visit prscom.com or email PRS at sshevin@prscom.com
TLC Family Dentistry 7625 S. Meridian St. 317-881-8271 tlcfamily.dental
SCOTT ROSENFELD, DDS
8902 N. Meridian St., Ste. 237 317-846-6653 drscottrosenfeld.com
KURT A. RUPENTHAL
Rupenthal Dentistry
5790 E. Main St., Ste. 110, Carmel 317-844-2810 rupenthaldentistry.com
GRANT RYAN
Fishers Family Dentistry
8410 E. 116th St., Fishers 317-576-0611 fishersfamilydentistry.com
BRAD SAMMONS
Center for Advanced Dentistry
8325 S. Emerson Ave., Ste. A 463-363-3432 bradsammonsdds.com
STEVEN SANDERS
Sanders Dentistry 6314 Rucker Rd., Ste. B 317-253-8004 sandersdentistry.net
TIM SCHAFER
Post Road Family Dentistry 1527 N. Post Rd. 317-895-6713 postroaddental.com
CANDICE R. SCHNEIDER
Parkway Dental Care 7103 Whitestown Pkwy., Zionsville 317-342-9530 parkwaydentalcare.com
K. C. SCHNEIDER
Schneider Dental 8928 E. 96th St., Fishers 317-598-9380 schneiderdentaloffice.com
AW ORTHODONTICS
Ariel Wong
CHRISTOPHER SCHULTZ, DDS
6068 N. Keystone Ave. 317-257-7198
LYNNA C. SCOTTDIGGS
Scott Dentistry 5501 E. 71st St., Ste. 3 317-257-2688 docscott.com
SAMIA SHAIKHMILHARCIC
Salazar Family Dental 2001 W. Washington St. 317-636-2002 salazarfamilydental.com
LORI SHATTUCK
Franklin Family Dentistry 1035 W. Jefferson St., Franklin 317-736-6361 franklinfamilydentistry.com
BRYAN SIGG
Cornerstone Family Dentistry 8602 E. 10th St. 317-897-8970 cornerstonefamilydentistry.com
ELIZABETH SIMPSON
Indiana University School of Dentistry 1121 W. Michigan St. 317-274-7433 dentistry.iu.edu
At AW Orthodontics, we proudly serve patients of all ages in Lebanon and Zionsville with high-quality care in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Our expert team treats every patient like family, providing orthodontic care that truly feels like home. We focus on tailored, customized treatment designed to meet each patient’s unique needs. Dr. Ariel Wong is a board-certified orthodontist, president of the Indiana Association of Orthodontists, and part-time faculty at the IU School of Dentistry. Our “pup-lick relations officer,” Leo, is available upon request to support nervous patients. Your smile journey starts with a free consultation, and we look forward to meeting you!
INDIANAPOLIS ENDODONTICS, P.C.
Unparalleled Endodontic Care
Since 1978, the root canal specialists at Indianapolis Endodontics have been dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care, comfort, and service.
Dr. William Adams, Dr. Paul Ley, Dr. Ashleigh Rexford, Dr. Joseph Adams, and Dr. Andrew Sullivan uphold the highest standards of clinical excellence and safety.
As one of the largest endodontic practices in the Midwest, Indianapolis Endodontics offers advanced laser treatments and GentleWave technology at both its Avon and Indianapolis locations. For anxious patients, sedation options include nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, and general anesthesia administered by a board-certified anesthesiologist.
With five experienced endodontists and two convenient locations, the practice is able to accommodate patients in pain quickly and efficiently.
Whether you have been a patient before or are being referred by your dentist for the first time, rest assured you will be in good hands. TWENTY-YEAR WINNERS
8555 N. River Rd., Ste. 160 317-495-2789 clearchoice.com
CHRISTOPHER A. BURNS
Geist Oral & Facial Surgery
8170 Oaklandon Rd., Ste. B 317-823-4260 gofsindy.com
CAMERON H. CONKIN, DDS
8101 S. Shelby St. 317-882-2595 drconkinoralsurgery.com
JAY E. COWAN
Cherry Tree Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 9602 E. Washington St. 317-536-0748 cowanoms.com
At Endodontic Specialists, we are dedicated exclusively to comprehensive endodontic care. Our compassionate team includes an experienced staff that provides the highest level of professional care in a warm, friendly, and comfortable environment.
Our locations are state-of-the-art endodontic facilities that utilize cuttingedge technology, including surgical operating microscopes, digital imaging, and cone beam technology, which allows superior visualization of dental structures.
Our doctors are highly skilled, and with the use of the latest technology, we are able to provide our patients with exceptional endodontic care. Patient comfort is very important to us, so we offer several types of anxiety control techniques, including a full range of sedation options. We have also incorporated anesthesia technology to make injections more comfortable. We offer same-day emergency appointments and are always on-call and available for our patients.
Dr. Tod Moretton, Dr. Mychel Vail, and Dr. Caley Mintz are certified endodontists who teach continuing education classes and maintain active involvement in the dental community. They also lecture at Indiana University School of Dentistry.
Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 1630 W. Smith Valley Rd., Greenwood 317-882-3370 iomsa.com
JOHN W. PRUITT
Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 1630 W. Smith Valley Rd., Greenwood 317-882-3370 iomsa.com
JOHN J. SCHIER
Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates 12036 N. Michigan Rd., Ste. 200, Zionsville 317-733-0926 iomsa.com
JARED M. SHELTON
Avon Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
6695 E. U.S. Hwy. 36, Avon 317-272-2200 avonoms.com
KIRKWOOD DENTISTRY
ELEVEN-YEAR
Dr. Brian Kirkwood brings more than 30 years of professional experience in dentistry and an unwavering commitment to clinical excellence. His comprehensive practice encompasses a full scope of dental services, including crowns, bridges, implants, cosmetic restorations, dentures, and root canal therapy. Dr. Kirkwood is dedicated to providing personalized, high-quality care that prioritizes patient comfort and long-term oral health. He is known for his precision, depth of knowledge, and continual pursuit of the most effective treatment techniques in modern dentistry. Dr. Kirkwood is currently welcoming new patients who seek an experienced and trusted partner in their dental care.
101 N. State St., Greenfield 317-462-3456 | dockirkwood.com
KEVIN STOCKTON
Avon Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
6695 E. U.S. Hwy. 36, Avon 317-272-2200 avonoms.com
SAMUEL A. TANCREDI
Indiana Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Associates
2647 Waterfront Pkwy. E. Dr., Ste. 200 317-297-1007 iomsa.com
DR. DAVID D. TRIGG
Southside Surgery Center 385 Meridian Parke Ln., Ste. A, Greenwood 317-889-9000 drtrigg.com
ORTHODONTICS
JAYME ADELSPERGER
Adelsperger Orthodontics
670 Patrick Pl., Brownsburg 317-858-4688 adelspergerortho.com
SARAH J. BAXTER
Stonegate Orthodontics
6857 W. Stonegate Dr., Ste. B, Zionsville 317-790-2611 stonegateorthodontics.com
A graduate of Indiana University School of Dentistry, Dr. Trent Kirkwood is committed to delivering advanced, patientfocused dental care grounded in clinical integrity and compassion. His practice includes preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry, with a focus on achieving exceptional results through the latest innovations in dental science. Dr. Kirkwood is recognized for his meticulous attention to detail and dedication to creating a positive, comfortable experience for every patient. He is currently accepting new patients and looks forward to providing comprehensive care that supports lasting oral health and confidence.
At Special Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, we strive to make every dental visit a comfortable, positive, and engaging experience!
As a trusted pediatric dental office in Zionsville, Indiana, Dr. Siegel recognizes that every smile is unique and provides care that’s tailored to your child’s needs. Our goals are to help every child establish a strong foundation for a lifetime of oral health and to help every patient enjoy the benefits of a healthy and beautiful smile.
10801 N. Michigan Rd., Ste. 210, Zionsville 317-873-3448 | specialsmilesdentistry.com
Dr. Jennifer Satterfield-Siegel EIGHT-YEAR WINNER
JAMES NICHOLSON
Village Orthodontics
95 E. Oak St., Ste. B, Zionsville 317-873-6927
vosmiles.com
JOHN PRITCHETT
Pritchett Orthodontics
9602 E. Washington St. 317-898-9473 p2ortho.com
ANDREW RABER
Hallmark Orthodontics
13590-B N. Meridian St., Ste. 205, Carmel 317-574-0612 hallmarkorthodontics.com
JOHN RAPP
Associated Orthodontists of Indiana, Inc 370 Medical Dr., Ste. C, Carmel 317-844-4104 associatedorthoin.com
Dr. Thompson began her journey in dentistry as a foreign exchange student from South Korea. She graduated from Butler University and obtained her doctorate degree from IU School of Dentistry in 2012. Meeting different people and families throughout her life as an exchange student played a big part in forming who she is today and helped her develop the Thompson Family Dental motto: “Come as a patient and leave as family!”
When you walk into our practice, it’s evident that we love every interaction with our patients. You will always feel the warmth of our love through the laughter and tears we share with you. We are also passionate educators and are zealous about expanding our knowledge and skills to provide up-to-date services in the infinitely advancing world of dentistry. We focus on tailoring the treatment for each patient to their needs in a comprehensive manner, including providing services such as Invisalign, implants, dentures, smile makeovers using crowns, veneers, and bridges, and more. We strive to earn our patients’ trust through mindful and intentional care. We would love to welcome you to our dental family tree!
1060 E. 86th St., Ste. 59, Indianapolis 317-846-9444 | thompsondentalatnora.com
Trillium Dental Care 8354 Little Eagle Ct., Ste. A 317-209-3000 trilliumdentalcare.com
RACHEL M. BLACK
Peak Periodontal and Implant Specialists
3003 E. 98th St., Ste. 200, Carmel 317-843-1281 peakperio.com
ADAM CHRISTMAN
Implant Dentistry and Periodontics
8801 N. Meridian St., Ste. 103 317-842-2273 indyimplants.com
JULIE COMBS
Greenfield Periodontics and Implant Dentistry 120 W. McKenzie Rd., Greenfield 317-477-3000 greenfieldperio.com
MICHAEL D. EDWARDS
Implant Dentistry and Periodontics
8801 N. Meridian St., Ste. 103 317-842-2273 indyimplants.com
DANIEL GOMES
Central Indiana Periodontics
8235 Country Village Dr. 317-836-2340 centralinperio.com
MICHAEL GOSSWEILER
Gossweiler Periodontics & Implantology 7537 38th St. 317-329-9291 gossweilerperiodontics.com
SARAH HERD
Perio Indy 4725 Statesmen Dr., Ste. F 317-436-7162 perio-indy.com
KRISTIN JACKSON
Indiana Periodontics & Dental Implants 45 N. Madison Ave., Greenwood 317-887-3180 indianaperio.com
RYAN JACKSON
Indiana Periodontics & Dental Implants 45 N. Madison Ave., Greenwood 317-887-3180 indianaperio.com
VANCHIT JOHN Indiana University School of Dentistry 1121 W. Michigan St. 317-274-7433 dentistry.iu.edu
BRITTANY LANE
Indy East Periodontics 115 N. Shortridge Rd., Ste. 100 317-357-2235 indyeastperio.com
AILEEN C. HELTON, DDS
Over the last 25 years in dentistry, I have cherished the great relationships my team and I have developed with so many families. We at Dentistry on 116 are committed to creating and maintaining healthy smiles that last a lifetime! We offer family and cosmetic dental services that include painfree dentistry, Invisalign®, and sedation dentistry in our high-tech facility. My husband, Patrick, and I are from Munster, Indiana, and we met in high school. We live in Carmel with our children, Bruce, Luke, and Ruby, and our golden retriever, Bryzzo. We enjoy visiting amusement parks and the beach, watching movies, and trying different restaurants. We are avid Chicago sports fans. My favorites are Michael Jordan, Kris Bryant, and the ’85 Chicago Bears.
If you are looking for more than “just a dentist,” visit us to receive dental care like you’ve never experienced before. We pride ourselves in taking the time to listen with care and kindness to meet your expectations. After your thorough exam, we decide together how to accomplish your dental needs. Check out what our patients have experienced in our Google reviews. We invite you to be a part of the Dentistry on 116 dental family!
Dentistry on 116
890 E. 116th St., Ste. 210, Carmel 317-575-8993 | DentistryOn116.com
ANAND PATEL Indianapolis Periodontal & Dental Implant Associates 5594 E. 146th St., Ste. 100, Noblesville 317-342-8518 indyperiodontal.com
BRYAN J. ROY, DDS, MSD, PC 6825 Parkdale Pl., Ste. A 317-293-7171 royperio.com
LAUREN ROY
Bryan J. Roy, DDS, MSD, PC 6825 Parkdale Pl., Ste. A Indianapolis 317-293-7171 royperio.com
STEPHEN B. TOWNS Sonrisa Dental 508 Indiana Ave. 317-269-0402 sonrisadental.com
KURT D. VAN WINKLE, DDS, MSD, PC 8902 N. Meridian St., Ste. 138 317-844-2792 vanwinkleperio.com
BRUCE B. WILAND IndyPerio 5162 E. Stop 11 Rd., Ste. 2 317-888-3322 indyperio.com
FIFTEEN-YEAR WINNER
No dental insurance? Call us today to ask us about our VIP membership plan.
PROSTHODONTICS
SAVI ABEY
Prosthodontics of Central Indiana
11405 N. Pennsylvania St., Ste. 110, Carmel 317-574-0866 prosthodonticsin.com
FIDEL BARBOSA
Clear Choice Dental Implant Center
8555 N. River Rd., Ste. 160 317-495-2789 clearchoice.com
ORLANDO L. CAYETANO
Fildent, Inc.
6202 N. Broadway St. 317-254-0433 drcayetano.com
AMMAR LOULY
Louly Dentistry 11530 E. Washington St. 317-869-0000 snorenomoreindiana.com
MARK S. LUND
Atkinson Family Dental 9893 N. Michigan Rd., Ste. 180, Carmel 317-872-6325
GENE MARGIOTTI, DDS
385 Meridian Parke Ln., Ste. B, Greenwood 317-859-8100
CARMEN Y. PÁEZ DE MENDOZA
Bridgewater Dental Care 4728 Limerick Dr., Ste. A, Carmel 317-581-1280 bridgewaterdentalcare carmel.com
JOHN R. PHELPS, DDS, MSD
8902 N. Meridian St., Ste. 139 317-818-9858 johnrphelpsdds.com
KELLIE SCHAUB
Indianapolis Dental Center 8445 S. Emerson Ave., Ste. 101 317-884-8633 indianapolisdentistks.com
RICHARD J. STUART, DDS
3021 E. 98th St., Ste. 240 317-846-0509 carmelindianadental.com
TYLER J. THOMAS
Indiana Restorative Dentistry
370 Medical Dr., Ste. B, Carmel 317-844-4155 ird.dental
CATTON DENTISTRY
FOURTEEN-YEAR WINNER & FIVE-YEAR WINNER
Drs. Mark and Nick Catton are grateful to be among Indianapolis Monthly ’s Top Dentists. Patients have trusted the excellent team at our family-owned and operated practice with their general dentistry needs for over four decades. With a focus on preventive and conservative dentistry, we are proud to stand behind our work. Visit us and discover compassionate care along with your best smile!
Dr. Mark Catton
Dr. Nick Catton
4809 N. Pennsylvania St. Indianapolis, IN 46205 317-923-2561 14747 Oak Rd., Suite 400 Carmel, IN 46033 317-663-8957, cattondds.com
SVETLANA BERMAN, DDS, MSD
Dr. Berman is a Board of Endodontics eligible specialist, dedicated to providing high-quality and patient-centered endodontic care. Her practice is proud of its experienced, knowledgeable, and caring team and modern, state-of-the-art office. To confidently diagnose and comfortably treat the most complex conditions, the Berman Endodontics professionals use surgical microscopes, cone beam CT for 3D imaging, digital radiography, STA® computer–assisted local anesthesia, conscious sedation, and relaxing chair-side television. The latest technology in endodontics is used for the most successful and efficient root canal treatment, such as the GentleWave System® and the EdgePRO™ laser.
704 Adams St., Ste. D Carmel, IN 46032 317-815-5552
SEVENTEEN-YEAR
EDUCATION:
IU School of Dentistry, DDS with high distinction IU School of Medicine, General Practice and Hospital Dentistry Residency IUSD Graduate Endodontics program
MEMBERSHIPS AND AFFILIATIONS: IUSD, part-time faculty member Member of the American Association of Endodontists, ADA, IDA, and IDDS: Leaders & Mentors Award 2021
OKU National Dental Honor Society Pierre Fauchard Academy Fellow Founder of the Pain Management and Sedation in Dentistry Study Club Fellow of the American College of Dentists
Dr. Michelle H. Edwards, a board-certified pediatric dentist with over 20 years of experience, founded Children’s Dental Center to give families a long-term dental home. Alongside pediatric dentists Dr. Rebecca Rafla and Dr. Naheed Ahmad, our team delivers expert pediatric and orthodontic care in one trusted location. What sets us apart is our use of advanced digital diagnostic technology combined with extensive clinical experience to improve outcomes and streamline care. We take pride in supporting pediatricians and referring dentists with our collaborative care approach, early interventions, and a commitment to making kids feel safe, supported, and excited to return.
9885 E. 116th St., Ste. 100 Fishers, IN 46037 317-842-8453
babytoothcenter.com
Dr. Michelle H. Edwards THIRTEEN-YEAR WINNER
Dr. Naheed Ahmad
Dr. Rebecca Rafl a
WINNER
HALLMARK ORTHODONTICS
At Hallmark, we are dedicated to creating confident, beautiful smiles that last a lifetime. Our team takes a personalized approach, using the latest advancements in orthodontic care to ensure your treatment is tailored to your unique needs. Drs. Hall and Raber and the Hallmark Orthodontics family thank you for another wonderful year!
Dr. Tim Hoftiezer and his staff at The Extra Smile excel at providing outstanding care! From your initial welcome through lifelong visits, our wonderful team listens while thoughtfully catering each appointment to best serve your needs.
Dr. Hoftiezer is an Indiana University School of Dentistry graduate. He completes at least 100 hours of continuing education per year and is active in several local study clubs to provide the best in dental care with the latest technology.
Please visit our website to see reviews from our happy patients!
HILL ENDODONTICS
Dr. Scott Hill is a board-certified endodontist. He graduated from Indiana University School of Dentistry and completed a general practice residency at the VA Hospital in Indianapolis, where he gained additional training in the treatment of medically compromised patients before attending Indiana University’s Graduate Endodontic Program. Dr. Hill is also a part-time assistant clinical professor in the Graduate Endodontic Department. Dr. Hill’s priority is providing compassionate care for his patients with the highest level of expertise. Professional life aside, Dr. Hill enjoys spending time with his wife and three children.
Dr. Scott Hill NINE-YEAR WINNER
5520 Pebble Village Ln., Ste. 200, Noblesville 317-399-7255 | hillendo.com
CARMEL DENTAL GROUP
Exceptional Quality Care and Comfort You Can Smile About!
We would like to welcome you to our state-of-the-art practice serving patients of all ages. Carmel Dental Group is privately owned and operated by Dr. Cami L. Hovda, DDS, PC. Our practice is devoted to comprehensive and preventive patient care in a relaxed setting that will put you at ease.
Active Member of the American Dental Society, American Academy of Facial Esthetics, Indiana Dental Association, Chicago Dental Society, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Indianapolis District Dental Society, Seattle Study Club and DOCS (Sedation Dentistry).
Cosmetic, Restorative & Implant Dentistry
Veneers & Tooth
Whitening Crowns, Bridges & Dentures
Root Canal Therapy
Clear Braces
Laser Dentistry Dentistry for the Whole Family Children’s Program
Digital X-Ray System
Conscious Sedation
Relaxing & Friendly Environment
Botox
Dermal Fillers
Concierge Services
In-house Insurance Plan
L.
DDS, PC FIFTEEN-YEAR
715 W. Carmel Dr., Ste. 103 Carmel, IN 46032 317-844-0022
carmeldentalgroup.com MOST
Dr. Tim Hoftiezer
WINNER
Cami
Hovda,
WINNER
IMPLANT DENTISTRY AND PERIODONTICS
Michael
Dr. Adam B. Christman THREE-YEAR WINNER
Dr. Michael Edwards, Dr. Adam Christman, and Dr. Halide Namli lead a team that elevates surgical care with vast clinical expertise and advanced digital technology. We deliver precise implant placement, personalized periodontal solutions, and multilevel sedation options with exceptional consistency.
We proudly support general and specialty dentists across Indiana through seamless communication, collaborative treatment planning, and advanced imaging that strengthens diagnostics and enhances each patient’s experience.
INDIANAPOLIS
8801 N. Meridian St. Ste. 103 Indianapolis, IN 317-574-0600
FISHERS
9885 E. 116th St. Ste. 300 Fishers, IN 317-842-2273
NEWMAN FAMILY DENTAL
Come meet the Indianapolis dentists who are dedicated to giving you a healthier smile and a happier dental experience! At Newman Family Dentistry, we provide dentistry in Indianapolis and Carmel focused on building lasting relationships with our patients, exactly like the relationships we’ve created between our dentists and team members. To us, you’re just like family! Family means trust. Family means commitment. Family means doing our best for every patient every day—because the minute you walk into our practice, we are on your side. No matter what you need, we’re here to listen, support, and provide the same quality dental services we’d give to our family members. Welcome to the family!
Indianapolis Office 3945 Eagle Creek Pkwy., Ste. A 317-293-3000
115 N. Shortridge Rd., Ste. 100 Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-357-2235 indyeastperio.com
Dr. Brittany Lane, owner of Indy East Periodontics, is an experienced boardcertified periodontist with over a decade of practice. She completed her periodontics training at Indiana University, serving as chief resident and receiving the prestigious Swenson Award. Dr. Lane is recognized for her clinical expertise and compassionate, patientcentered approach. She attributes the practice’s success to her outstanding, dedicated team and the positive office culture they have collectively established.
JULIE L. STANTE, DDS
At Julie L. Stante, DDS, Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, the dentist-patient relationship is the most important part of our practice. We offer comprehensive dental care, on-time appointments, and the latest techniques, tools, and advanced technology so our patients receive the best possible experience. Serving the Indianapolis, Fishers, Geist, and Noblesville areas, our practice focus includes family dentistry, cosmetic and restorative dentistry, and TMJ therapy incorporating the use of Botox for myofascial pain.
We fi rmly believe combining a personal approach with the latest dental technology provides the best long-term oral health for you and your family. Dr. Julie Stante completed her undergraduate degree at Butler University and earned her dental degree from the Indiana University School of Dentistry. Her commitment to exceptional dentistry is exemplified by her ongoing education and passion for providing the best patient care.
9810 Westpoint Dr., Ste 100 Indianapolis, IN 46256 317-579-1875 juliestantedds.com
Dr. Mikel Newman Dr. Don Newman Dr. Marc Newman MULTI-YEAR WINNERS
Dr.
D. Edwards THIRTEEN-YEAR WINNER
Dr. Namli Halide
ELEVEN-YEAR WINNER
Dr. Brittany Lane SEVEN-YEAR WINNER
SOUTHEAST FAMILY DENTAL
Dr. Laura Geiger TEN-YEAR WINNER
6020 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis, IN 317-359-8000 southeastfamilydental.com
Dr. Geiger is honored and humbled to be recognized again as a Top Dentist in 2026.
Dr. Geiger and her team, including Dr. Kathleen Jones and Dr. Laura Miller Mouchaham, believe that everyone deserves a healthy and beautiful smile. They are dedicated to providing each patient with this in a welcoming, family environment.
• Dentistry for all ages, infant to adult
• Most dental insurance accepted
• Budget-friendly payment plans
Call the team at Southeast Family Dental to schedule your appointment. We look forward to meeting you!
TRILLIUM DENTAL CARE
Dr. Jason Au-Yeung is a triple board-certified specialist and a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology and Dental Implant Surgery. He delivers advanced periodontal care, dental implants, softand hard-tissue regeneration, and Botox for TMJ and facial esthetics. As a member of the IU School of Dentistry faculty, he combines clinical expertise with a warm, patient-centered approach. Patients value the judgment-free environment and personal attention, supported by cutting-edge technology including 3D imaging, digital workflows, laser therapy, and in-office 3D printing. Dr. Au-Yeung believes collaboration with his referring doctors is key to providing the best patient care and experience, and he is honored to have been voted by his peers for recognition as a Top Dentist.
Dr. Jason Au-Yeung THREE-YEAR WINNER
8354 Little Eagle Ct., Ste. A, Indianapolis 317-209-3000 trilliumdentalcare.com
DR. MONA SINGH, DDS
3810 W. 86th St. Indianapolis, IN 46268-1905 317-707-6453 86thStreetDental.com
86th Street Complete Dental on 86th and Michigan road provides all dental services under one roof. Our office also provides advanced options like oral and IV sedation and oral appliances for sleep apnea patients. Dr. Mona Singh DDS is a highly qualified dentist with a fellowship in general dentistry and implant dentistry. She holds a diplomate status with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and has presented several research papers. We are now offering one year of complimentary oral sedation to our Indianapolis Monthly readers.
TRACEY TABOR WILLIAMS, DMD
We are honored to be selected as a Top Dentist for the 17th consecutive year. We are grateful for the continued loyalty and trust of our peers and patients. Many things have changed over the years, but our commitment to delivering safe, compassionate, personalized dental care has remained the same.
DOWNTOWN INDY
303 N. Alabama St., Ste. 270 Indianapolis, IN 46204 drtraceywilliams.com 317-637-4636
Dr. Williams strives to mix artistry and dental knowledge to restore and enhance the dental health of all our patients. In our practice, each patient gets customized treatment well beyond X-rays and a simple diagnosis, which we tailor to their expectations. Our expertise in restoration ranges from complex cosmetic cases to routine maintenance, with the common factor being a devotion to excellent outcomes. Each of our talented team members is devoted to making you feel comfortable, well-informed, and cared for each and every time you walk into our office. We are here to answer your questions, demonstrate proper techniques, and give you further education that will help you take care of your smile in every way. Whether you are looking for a dental home for your regular checkups or for a doctor who can give you a total smile makeover, you have found the dental practice with the advanced equipment, knowledge, and compassion to better serve you. For more information, please call our office at 317-637-4636 or visit our website at drtraceywilliams.com.
SEVENTEEN-YEAR WINNER
FOUR-YEAR WINNER
DESIGN BUILD REMODEL
by
Photo
TONY VALAINIS
Kid friendly Solo dining Cocktails
BR 2025
Named one of IM’s Best Restaurants in 2025 New addition to the guide
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$$ $20–$30
$ Under $20
Restaurants included in this guide are selected at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff based on food quality, innovation, atmosphere, service, value, and consistency. IM does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for dining coverage. Price symbols indicate the average cost of a meal per person (without tax, tip, or alcohol). Due to limited space, this list does not cover every evaluated restaurant. For a more comprehensive guide, visit IndianapolisMonthly.com/Dining. Feedback? Please email jspalding@IndianapolisMonthly.com
Almost Famous
COCKTAILS The fruit-infused spirits and five-option Negroni list make this Mass Ave tapas bar an evening stop for any mixed drink fan, while the extensive menu of coffee and long drinks keeps things buzzy all day. 721 Massachusetts Ave., 317986-7877, almostfamousindy.com $$
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. 201 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-740-0900, anthonyschophouse.com $$$$
Antilogy
BRUNCH This snug corner spot divides its energy between the morning meal and evening libations. Early birds can choose from thoughtful combinations of fat biscuits, sunny eggs, bourbon-candied bacon, and Belgian waffles, with plenty of Bovaconti Coffee–based lattes and mochas to kick-start the day. In the evening, the menu shifts to shareable plates, such as a panko-crusted crispy burrata, parmesan truffle fries, and a molten spinach-Gruyere dip. 5867 N. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-530-5312, antilogycg.com $$
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 $$
Beholder
BR 2025 CUTTING EDGE Jonathan Brooks patterns himself as a renegade, but the consistent excellence of his restaurant, Beholder, suggests the chef/owner is becoming Indy’s fine dining standard-bearer, not its outsider. Between the urban chic dining room and the two glossy bars (one by the mixologist, the other at the kitchen), there’s a rock-star gloss to the restaurant that makes you feel cool just for showing up. And when you do, the always-changing fixed-price menu is a great place to start, though the a la carte dish list offers intriguing surprises daily. Its awardwinning wine list is calculated to pair with the seasonal food offerings, and its cocktail lineup is witty and strong. 1844 E. 10th St., 317-419-3471, beholderindy.com $$$$
Bluebeard
BR 2025 CONTEMPORARY A fine dining lunch isn’t easy to find in Indy, making Bluebeard a go-to for a power midday meal. Chef Alan Sternberg brings as much attention to his noontime dishes as he does to a daily afternoon snack menu and a seven-days-aweek dinner. Favorites like the house-made chips and dips are always on deck, while entrees, salads, and desserts are switched up based on what’s in season. All this happens inside an ancient brick building once dedicated to industry then abandoned. 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1580, bluebeardindy.com $$$$
Che Chori
ARGENTINEAN Marcos Perera-Blasco’s colorful restaurant offers a selection of traditional butterflied-sausage sandwiches and warm empanadas filled with seasoned meats. Make sure to pick up the house-made dulce de leche, which is sold by the jar, as well as its churros and specialty Argentinian shortbread cookies. And don’t overlook the cook-at-home sausages, from Spanish-style chorizo to Argentinean black sausage. 3124 W. 16th St., 317-737-2012, chechori.com $$
Commission Row
BR 2025 UPSCALE Indy’s pervasive Cunningham Restaurant Group is behind this glossy fine dining spot, which is positioned to benefit from crowds headed to or from Gainbridge Fieldhouse. That makes game nights quite a scene at the baller-level restaurant, which 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 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
NEW 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., 317-3904002, daisybarindy.com $$
Fernando’s Mexican & Brazilian Cuisine
BR 2025 MEXICAN AND BRAZILIAN This restaurant built a loyal following in Broad Ripple, then in 2025 expanded to Mass Ave, allowing the business—known for sharp, upscale takes on standards—to come into its own. An order of Sinaloa Tacos at the bar remains one of the city’s greatest treats, and the Crawfish Quesadilla is a brilliant marriage of Midwestern and Latin flavors. 834 E. 64th St., 317-377-4779; 888 Massachusetts Ave., 317-7716653, fernandosindy.com $$$
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. 830 Massachusetts Ave., 463-238-3800, thefountainroom.com $$$$
Freeland’s Restaurant
EURO FUSION Tinker Street’s Tom Main says this heritage-based restaurant is his last, making it worth a visit for the farewell tour aspect, alone. But the setting also compels: A massive renovation has turned an 1890s mansion into a glossy place to drink and dine, complete with vintage china and a wildly patterned bar. The oft-changing menu defies easy categorization, with influences from across Europe as well as Indiana’s colonizer class. 875 Freeland Way, Carmel, 317-400-0436, freelandsrestaurant.com $$$
Gather 22
BR 2025
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
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Individual tickets and sponsorships are available until Wednesday, January 7, 2026. For individual tickets, please visit bit.ly/AEWHGala2026 . For sponsorship, please contact Nina Kirch at nkirch@heroesfoundation.org .
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Reinstrom’s parents own the Meridian-Kessler spot). 22 E. 22nd St., 317-258-2222, gather22.com
$$$
Harrison’s
ITALIAN
The former Regions Bank on Delaware Street has been transformed into a sit-down restaurant by owner Bill Pritt, whose FortyFive Degrees sushi bar and Metro nightclub are mainstays of Mass Ave’s dining and dancing scene. Pritt took menu inspiration from shuttered North Keystone restaurant Marco’s, beloved for its homey pasta recipes and “cheap meat” night; that spot’s signature lasagna and ham-and-cheesestuffed Chicken a la Marco can be found here. Original offerings lean toward steakhouse fare. 555 N. Delaware St., 317-826-7361, harrisonsindy.com $$
His Place Eatery
BR 2025 SOUL FOOD
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 all happy to linger and chat, are what keep us coming back. 1831 N. College Ave., 317-635-6000, kountrykitchenindy.com $$$
Late Harvest Kitchen
SMALL BITE
FRESH AIR
Plainfield’s Roots the Market + Eatery is the next project from Oasis Diner and The Prewitt owner Doug Huff. Housed in one of the town’s downtown landmarks, the market will offer goods from both a local butcher and a local bakery, as well as a deli shop and upstairs event space.
The packed tables at both locations of His Place Eatery tell you everything you need to know about this soul food institution. Married co-owners James and Shawn Jones ensure their business runs like a well-oiled machine, with orders of comfort food standards moving from kitchen to table in lightning speed. That said, you can also taste the care put into every dish; spices and seasonings are calibrated in a way you’ll rarely find in Indianapolis. Smart diners ask their server what they recommend on any given day—with a staff this dialed-in, they’ll always steer you in the right direction. 6916 E. 30th St., 317-545-4890; 1411 W. 86th St., 317-790-3406, hisplaceeatery.com $$
Josephine
CONTEMPORARY FRENCH Ambrosia Hospitality Group might be best known for its Italian ventures, but for their newest restaurant, Dan Cage and Anna Pizzi Cage looked back to their newlywed days spent in France. The result is Josephine—named after Emperor Napoléon Bonaparte’s first wife—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 syrupsoaked cherries. For a breezier experience, ask for a seat at the bar, soundtracked with French jazz and dotted by quirky pendant lighting. 110 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-548-3589, josephinecarmel.com $$$$
Juniper on Main
LOW COUNTRY
This Southern coastal charmer’s lunch and dinner menu offers the standard seafood, salads, and boils—then surprises us all with a lineup of tacos that are a lot of fun. High chairs and booster seats are in abundance, and a kids menu moves well beyond the standard grilled cheese and nuggets. 110 E. Main St., Carmel, 317-591-9254, juniperonmain.com $$$
CONTEMPORARY A luscious comfort food menu delivers topshelf 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 $$$
The Loft Restaurant
FINE DINING With its pastoral setting on the grounds of an artisanal dairy farm, Traders Point Creamery’s farmstead restaurant (housed in one of several restored historic barns) feels like a working model for farm-to-table dining. Some of the ingredients on the menu are grown on-site, and grass-fed Niman Ranch steaks, seasonal fish and seafood, and house-made yeast rolls are always solid choices, as is the burger made with 100-percent grass-fed beef. For dessert, grab a scoop of ice cream, perfect if you just want to go a la mode. 9101 Moore Rd., Zionsville, 317-733-1700, traderspointcreamery.com $$$
Lone Pine
BR 2025 STEAKHOUSE The first solo effort of Beholder partner and award-winning sommelier Josh Mazanowski is a culinary innovator that promises to take Carmel’s dining scene in a new direction. Beef is sourced from nearby farms, and its dining spaces are dotted with edgy art. Fun starters present vegetables with as much care as their meatier counterparts. This isn’t your average upscale pleaser; this is a longtime restaurateur finally expressing his full culinary viewpoint. 710 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-907-0177, lonepinecarmel.com $$$$
Love Handle
BRUNCH This Mass Ave breakfast and lunch spot is as well-known for its fabulous fry-ups as for its eccentric and oft-changing menu. A selection of 16-bit arcade games and a wall of scary clown art either make this a family destination or a place kids will discuss with their therapists as adults. 877 Massachusetts Ave., 317-384-1102 $$$
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 $$$
Magdalena
BR 2025 NEW ORLEANS This funky New Orleans–inflected bar and bistro from spirits enthusiast and restaurateur Nick Detrich reflects his experience running spots in the Big Easy, with expertly mixed elixirs, including perhaps the best Sazerac in town, and dazzling seafood towers, ultra-fresh oysters from the Alabama Gulf, and a tidy menu of mains with Lowcountry influences. 1127 Shelby St., 317-691-8021, magdalena.bar $$$$
Max & Tilly’s
BRITISH A traditional UK-style chip shop from the owner of Tilly’s Tea Room, Max & Tilly’s serves traditional pub classics such as cock-a-leekie soup and mushy peas alongside house-baked scones, spotted dick, and Bakewell tarts. It’s the fried offerings that transport you to a cozy mystery mindset, especially the Filthy Fries with hot shredded roast beef and, of course, the golden planks of beer-battered cod over hand-cut chips. 8701 E. 116th St., Fishers, maxandtillys.com $$
Milktooth
BR 2025 BRUNCH A Saturday table at the indoor/ outdoor restaurant is a true score, even a decade-plus after Jonathan Brooks launched the spot in a former auto shop. Now under the care of Julie Brooks Komsiski and her daughter Em Elise, the rotating-menu brunch and lunch spot is still going strong— and has managed to retain its cutting-edge cool (along with its rep for next-level Dutch baby pancakes). And if you think Milktooth during the day is a scene, check out its regular nighttime pop-ups for a full slice of the cream of Indy’s creative class. 534 Virginia Ave., 317-986-5131, milktoothindy.com $$$
Mr. Patakon
COLOMBIAN The name of Diana Moreno and Brenda Sánchez’s cheerful, authentic southside Colombian eatery comes from the popular Latin and South American dish patacones—flattened, fried plantains filled with everything from shredded barbecue chicken criollo to cheese, corn, and shredded beef. Or try the Super Perro hot dog, which is topped with every meat in the kitchen, quail eggs, and a special house sauce. Mazorcada (heaps of sweet corn topped with meats, cheeses, and potato sticks) is a delectable side dish. Fruit drinks and desserts, especially obleas (wafer cookies filled with dulce de leche and cheese), offer a flavor experience like no other in the city. 7415 U.S. 31, 317-692-9829, mrpatakon.com $$
Oakleys Bistro
CONTEMPORARY Steven Oakley’s meticulously plated fare hails from a culinary era when sprigs of herbs and puddles of purees provided the flavor, and every single element on the plate served a purpose. The presentations are wild, with menu descriptions giving little more than clues as to what might arrive at the table.
Heads-up on anything that appears in quotes, such as a creative “Coq au Vin.” 1464 W. 86th St., 317-824-1231, oakleysbistro.com $$$$
Our Table
CONTEMPORARY Chef and owner Joe Miller focuses on gorgeous, rustic plates of steak, seafood, and Old World lasagna made with fresh pasta and generous layers of beef Bolognese, mozzarella, and creamy ricotta. The brioche sliders (containing buttermilk fried chicken or beef tenderloin with crispy onions and horseradish creme fraiche) are little bites of heaven. 5080 State Rd. 135, Bargersville, 317-8474920, ourtablerestaurant.com $$$
Petite Chou
FRENCH A little bit of Paris in Indy, this bistro and Champagne bar from the founders of Cafe Patachou offers all the casual French classics you’d like, from Croque Monsieur to crepes. Les enfants get their own lineup, which includes a very grown-up brioche French toast. 823 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-259-0765, petitechoubistro.com $$$
Pisco Mar
PERUVIAN Vibrant music and a spacious dining room provide a bustling backdrop for a hearty cuisine that pulls from both land and sea. Tangy, citrusy ceviche is a good starting point and comes in different versions, including Leche de Tigre or Vuelve a la Vida. Both pair beautifully with Causita de Pollo, a mound of creamy mashed potatoes layered with avocado and topped with a creamy chicken-based sauce. Shredded chicken with a lush yellow pepper sauce and a wine-enriched, vegetable-laden beef stew are the most classic main dishes for those getting a first taste of the cuisine. The big appetites at the table will appreciate meaty dishes such as Lomo Saltado, sauteed strips of beef with onions and tomatoes, or a so-called “poor man’s plate” that pairs two generous strips of Angus steak with french fries, rice, plantains, and eggs. 9546 Allisonville Rd., 317-537-2025, piscomarindy.com $$$
Revery
CONTEMPORARY This Old Greenwood bistro inside an 1800s-era drugstore offers approachable fine dining, with a more casual bar on the historic building’s back end. Small plates have included beets with whipped goat cheese and wasabi, while entrees are seasonal and skew toward seafood, with lobster, halibut, and mussels on recent menus. Whiskey drinks get priority on the cocktail menu, and their old fashioned feels fresh and new. 299 W. Main St., Greenwood, 317-215-4164, reveryrestaurantgroup .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 painstaking Detroit pie, with a crust that’s deeply browned around the edge yet chewy and pillowy in the middle generously loaded with tangy sauce, meats, and dollops of ricotta. Takeout is always 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 $$$
Shapiro’s Delicatessen
DELI Slide your tray along and take your pick of East Coast–style comfort foods at this familyowned downtown institution. Hot pastrami and corned beef sandwiches on rye have drawn long lines for more than a century. The Reuben is a contender for the city’s best, and heartier fare such as potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, and matzo ball soup are perennially satisfying standbys. 808 S. Meridian St., 317631-4041, shapiros.com $$
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 longest-standing, 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, graduation, or prom, perhaps). It’s been hitting it hard since 1902 and shows no signs of slowing down. If only we could all be as lucky. 127 S. Illinois St., 317-635-0636, stelmos.com $$$$
Strange Bird
to share that passion, serving up the type of classic tapas you might have enjoyed a few decades back, with occasional modern twists. The restaurant’s paella offerings are especially confident, but plan ahead, as those require 40 minutes to prepare. 8215 Center Run Dr., 317516-4729 $$$
Vicino
ITALIAN More than filling Mass Ave’s pasta needs, this modern, colorful trattoria from the owners of The Oakmont measures up to some of the best Italian spots anywhere in the city. New seating and light fixtures add a brighter palette to the sleek former Hedge Row location, and a nicely edited menu offers familiar classics with a few twists for the more daring. 350 Massachusetts Ave., 317-798-2492, vicinoindy.com $$$
Vida
BR 2025
TRACK CHANGE
Trax BBQ in McCordsville has started construction on a new location (literally on the other side of the tracks) at 6314 W. Broadway St. Repurposing an 8,400-square-foot brick building built in 1900, the plans include a basement kitchen and mainlevel dining room.
BR 2025 RAMEN Trained in Japan, chef Kyle Humphreys came to Indianapolis to eventually open his Shoyu Shop inside Irvington tiki bar Strange Bird. It’s a glorious pairing, as the thatched and 1970s-leaning interior lends itself equally as well to fun, rum-heavy drinks as it does to big bowls of hand-cut noodles. Broths are layered and umami-laden, while additions like pork belly and scallops are of peerless quality. And while it’s not apparent on the menu, many of the dishes are available as vegetarian or vegan preparations, making this a secret gem for the plant-based set. 128 S. Audubon Rd., 317-5504115, strangebirdindy.com $$$
Tapas Ñ
SPANISH A former liquor store in a Castleton parking lot may be an unlikely location for some of Indy’s best Spanish food, but past the nondescript facade, you’ll find a cozy dining room with a retro feel that evokes the supper clubs of the ’90s. Owner Saul Ramirez has been a fan of Iberian Peninsula cuisine since his youth, and with his first restaurant, he hopes
PRIX FIXE Don’t be intimidated by the menus at the Cunningham Restaurant Group’s flagship spot, Vida. 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, with many of the vegetables coming from CRG’s garden up the street. 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
$$$$
Wisanggeni Pawon
BR 2025 INDONESIAN Aji Wisanggeni and Putri Pratiwi’s Indonesian knockout has quickly evolved into a fixture of Indy’s food community. An ever-expanding menu offers spice-forward dishes such as beef rendang simmered in coconut milk or fried duck with rice and nose-clearing homemade sambal, as well as one of the tastiest fried rice plates in the city. Those eager to try it all should opt for street food–style small plates such as martabak, vegetable fritters, and dumplings. Watch for occasional prasmanan buffet dinner specials. 2450 E. 71st St., 317-756-9477, wpawon.com $$
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SMALL BITE
Photo by TONY VALAINIS
Fall Creek Aqueduct
A MARK OF EARLY INDIANAPOLIS’ DETERMINATION CAN BE SEEN WHERE THE CENTRAL CANAL FLOWS OVER FALL CREEK.
BY LIVIA WININGER
THE CONSTRUCTION of the Indiana Central Canal, intended to connect the Ohio River to the Wabash and Erie Canal, brought many challenges for Hoosiers in 1836.
A major obstacle to the Indianapolis stretch of the waterway? Crossing Fall Creek. The solution was an aqueduct consisting of three 32-foot spans. Lead engineer J. L. Williams claimed that the canal and aqueduct, funded by the Indiana Mammoth Internal Improvement Act, would be completed by 1838. But a financial collapse across the U.S. in 1837 halted the project for good, leaving only 9 operating miles of water instead of the intended 296. By then, the aqueduct had been completed.
Located off 16th and Aqueduct streets, it was originally built of timber due to a scarcity of quality stone in Indianapolis, but this early version collapsed 10 years later due to heavy flooding. In 1881, it came under the ownership of the Indianapolis Water Company, which used the canal to power turbines driving the pumps that distributed the city’s water supply. Repeat damage required the aqueduct to be rebuilt five times before a catastrophic 1904 flood prompted the water company to design a more durable, all-new structure. Finally completed in 1905, this is the Fall Creek aqueduct we know today. Unlike the previous iterations, this new aqueduct boasted a reinforced concrete foundation, high arches, and an impressive length of 330 feet. It is not only a significant component in providing Indianapolis with water, with about 200 million gallons passing over each day, but a symbol of Hoosier perseverance.
