Broad Ripple Magazine February 2019

FEBRUARY 2019

SERVING MERIDIAN HILLS, WILLIAMS CREEK AND NORA

MAGAZINE

Fit for Midtown

ORANGETHEORY FITNESS SET TO OPEN NEW BROAD RIPPLE LOCATION

atBrip.com

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TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE BROAD RIPPLE PUBLISHER Tom Garriott

10

Tom@atBRip.com / 317-797-8135

TOWNE POST PUBLISHER Tom Britt

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TOWNE POST PRESIDENT Jeanne Britt

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ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Robert Turk

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CREATIVE DIRECTOR Austin Vance

ADVERTISING DESIGNER Valerie Randall

EDITORIAL MANAGER Josh Brown

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FEBRUARY WRITERS

FIT FOR MIDTOWN: ORANGETHEORY FITNESS SET TO OPEN NEW BROAD RIPPLE LOCATION

Jennifer Haas had a feeling the Broad Ripple area would be a fitting location for an Orangetheory Fitness facility – even before opening her successful studio on 86th Street three years ago. Haas, who owns and operates the 86th Street location at Ironworks at Keystone, as well as the soon-to-launch facility in the mixed-use MK apartment building on College Avenue, had explored the possibility of a Broad Ripple location back in 2015 prior to settling on Ironworks.

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Jon Shoulders / Megan Jefferson Christy Heitger-Ewing

FEBRUARY PHOTOGRAPHERS Amy Payne / Michael Durr Brian Brosmer

SHOP LOCAL! Help our local economy by shopping local.

Advertising supporters of the Broad Ripple Magazine offset the costs of publication and mailing, keeping this publication FREE. Show your appreciation by thanking them with your business.

Business Spotlights are sponsored content The Broad Ripple Magazine is published by the Towne Post Network and is written for and by local Broad Ripple area residents.

Magazines are distributed via direct mail to more than 10,198 Broad Ripple area homeowners and businesses each month.

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Drink Up: Broad Ripple Tavern

Owner Talks Nearly 20 Years of Success

10 Fit For Midtown: Orangetheory

Fitness Set To Open New Broad Ripple Location

14 Time To Unwind: Cholita Brings

18 Laugh It Up: America's Got Talent Fan Favorite Drew Lynch Blends Authentic Comedy With HomeGrown Humor

21 White River Documentary Films Debut in Central Indiana

Tasty Tacos & Top-Notch Tiki Bar to Broad Ripple 5 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / atBRip.com

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. P.O. Box 36097, Indianapolis, IN 46236 Phone / Fax: 317-810-0011

Nicole Best, Promotions & Event Manager

Broad Ripple Tavern Owner Talks Nearly 20 Years of Success Writer / Megan Jefferson Photographer / Michael Durr

One of the most popular destinations on the famous Broad Ripple strip is the Broad Ripple Tavern. Now, in its 18th year of business, the tavern serves bar food made from scratch, cocktails and local brews.

The burgers and tenderloins are some of the tavern’s best sellers.

Broad Ripple Tavern is located at 745 Broad Ripple Ave and used to be known as Micky Quinn’s.

“I had a tenant that operated a pub where the current Broad Ripple Tavern is located,” says owner Rick Lux. “He was

thinking of selling, and I decided to buy the business to control the liquor license, which was a big deal at that time.”

When the two businesses next door vacated, Lux took over those spaces, opened up the walls and turned all three spaces into Broad Ripple Tavern as it is today. Currently, the tavern is the largest bar in Broad Ripple.

The interior has been kept original, and the bar is the same bar that has been in the space for more than 20 years. Assistant General Manager, Nicole Best says the music is never too loud, everyone can have great conversations with one another in an awesome atmosphere.

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Best has been working at the tavern for five years, the General Manager has been there for 10 years. There’s a longevity with the staff and they all work well together.

“My favorite thing about our bar is our small staff who seem like family. We are a well-oiled machine,” Best says. “It’s great when the staff comes in with a great attitude, that reflects well on the customers.”

The staff knows the names of many of the regulars who come in. With the fireplaces, open-air seating and friendly staff, it’s hard not to have a good time in the cozy bar. Recently, there was a proposal at the tavern. The couple met there, learned to

Open Saturdays

LOCALLY OWNED AND RIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

play pool together and now celebrated their engagement at Broad Ripple Tavern as well.

Lux says that he feels BRT features the best staff in Broad Ripple and many of the customers become regulars and friends.

“The Broad Ripple Tavern is such a friendly place,” Lux says. “Everyone is made to feel welcome and it shows by the loyalty of both the staff and the guests.”

Friends often gather at Broad Ripple Tavern to watch all kinds of sporting events on one of the bar’s 36 televisions. The tavern is also known for hosting pub crawls, fundraisers, bachelorette and bachelor parties, birthdays, corporate parties, holiday functions and much more.

Broad Ripple Tavern is located at 745 Broad Ripple Ave. You can give them a call at 317-257-6030 or visit them online at broadrippletavern.com for more details.

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8 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE /PRFEBRUARY 2019 / atBRip.com OCTOBER 2016

MAGAZINE

ONLY ONE MUSCLE GIVES YOU

MORE LIFE

CONNECT YOUR HEART TO YOUR WORKOUT

West Carmel-Zionsville 317.449.2100 Indianapolis-Ironworks at Keystone 317.542.3102 Greenwood 317.247.0000 Avon 317.542.2999 Fishers-Geist 317.960.4100 Carmel 317.688.1348 Fishers-Nickel Plate 317.806.1212 Downtown Indianapolis 317.912.1515 Broad Ripple 317.616.3800 Coming Soon!

EXPERIENCE THE SMARTEST ONE-HOUR WORKOUT BOOK YOUR FREE CLASS TODAY

*First-time visitors and local residents only. Certain restrictions apply. $28 minimum value. Free class not available at all locations.

Orangetheory® is a registered trademark of Ultimate Fitness Group, LLC. ©Copyright 2019 Ultimate Fitness Group, LLC and/or its affiliates.

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Owner Jennifer Haas

ORANGETHEORY FITNESS SET TO OPEN NEW BROAD RIPPLE LOCATION Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Brian Brosmer & Drive Social Media

Jennifer Haas had a feeling the Broad Ripple area would be a fitting location for an Orangetheory Fitness facility – even before opening her successful studio on 86th Street three years ago.

Haas, who owns and operates the 86th Street location at Ironworks at Keystone, as well as the soon-to-launch facility in the mixed-use MK apartment building on College Avenue, had explored the possibility of a Broad Ripple location back in 2015 prior to settling on Ironworks. She wasn’t able to find the perfect spot, but now she has.

“OTF Ironworks has thrived. Actually, Orangetheory has been embraced by the entire Indiana market in general,” explains Haas, who hails from Cleveland. “Broad Ripple was part of our original Ironworks territory. We ended up carving out a second territory for this studio to take some of the pressure off Ironworks, give current OTF members another option as well as to attract new members in the Broad Ripple area.”

The midtown facility is expected to be open by late spring, and presales for memberships will be offered starting in February.

“I think Ironworks and Broad Ripple share a similar vibe and the nature of the buildout – both mixed used complexes - was something I was familiar with,” Haas says. “The response has been tremendous. The amount of interest we’re already seeing in Broad Ripple is exciting. We can’t wait to hit the ground running.”

So what is an Orangetheory workout like, exactly? Haas describes a typical class, all of which are led by certified coaches, as a one-hour, total body workout, comprised of half cardiovascular training and half strength training involving a variety of equipment like free weights, treadmills and water rowers. Everyone in class wears a heart rate monitor, and each participant’s heart rate is projected real time onto screens inside the studio, allowing the coaches to keep an eye on each individual’s intensity level.

“All classes are for all fitness levels,” Haas adds. “It’s very structured and you’re with a room full of other people all motivating you. The workout changes every day, so you don’t have to worry about falling into a rut or getting bored. Another fun fact is that the workout templates are designed by master trainers at Orangetheory Fitness’ corporate office in Florida. They’re designed to be safe and effective. The quality control is built in.”

A standard Orangetheory workout is formulated so participants spend at least 12 minutes out of 60 with their heart rate above 84 percent of their max heart rate, which helps to boost metabolism and facilitates the burning of calories post-workout, according to the company’s founders.

Haas was first introduced to Orangetheory in Florida while visiting her sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Shaun McDonald, and quickly became a fan.

“They were members down there, which is where Orangetheory originated,” she recalls. “I was working with a personal trainer at the time doing strength training only. I visited their studio and thought it was incredible – the combination of professional strength and cardio training in one hour for half the cost of what I was spending on a personal trainer. I started thinking, “Why aren’t these in Indiana?”

In 2014, The McDonalds became Area Developers for Orangetheory Fitness in the Hoosier state and Haas and her husband, Steve, jumped on board, opening the Ironworks at Keystone location – then just the second Orangetheory Fitness studio in Indiana - in early 2016. Membership has grown rapidly since opening, and the facility currently offers 70 classes per week.

“I was ready for a change. I quit my corporate day job after 16 years,” says Haas, who worked in the securities business before transitioning to the fitness industry. “I’ve been doing this full-time ever since, and I haven’t looked back. Knowing you’re making a difference in people’s lives by offering a workout that’s truly effective and leads to results is fulfilling. The best part of my job is hearing from members how Orangetheory has changed their lives. I’m not just talking about weight loss, though that’s a big one. Members feel better on the inside, they’re stronger, they’re using less medication, they’re working out with their families. It’s inspiring.”

Central Indiana will be home to nine Orangetheory studios once the Broad Ripple location opens, and the company now has facilities in 21 countries and 45 U.S. states. Haas says her staff at the new location will consist of six or seven coaches and as many front office associates. She adds that Orangetheory Broad Ripple will have its own character.

“This Broad Ripple location will be different than many other Orangetheory studios as far as the look and feel of it,” she says.

“I like to think of it as a community studio, where members will walk and ride their bikes to work out. I can already tell it will have a tight-knit quality to it, which is characteristic of Broad Ripple in general. It has a unique neighborhood feel, and we can’t wait to be a part of it.”

For more info on Orangetheory Fitness including membership details, call 317-616-3800 or visit orangetheoryfitness.com.

Starcraft is now available at Geist Marina

Come See Us at the Indianapolis Boat, Sport & Travel Show!

Stop by our booth to see the all new 2019 Starcraft Tritoon, Pontoon, Fiberglass, and Deckboat Lines.

February 15-24, 2019 | Indiana State Fairgrounds

Get tickets in advance online:

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317-849-8455 | www.geistmarina.com

Time to Unwind

Cholita Brings Tasty Tacos & Top-Notch Tiki Bar to Broad Ripple Writer / Jon Shoulders Photographer / Amy Payne

C

hez Roberts, general manager at Cholita on Broad Ripple Avenue, says his restaurant has begun to fill a much-needed niche in midtown.

Roberts describers the establishment, which officially opened November 9, as an upscale yet casual Los Angeles-themed taqueria, complete with a tiki bar on the downstairs level that offers a full bar and specialty house cocktails.

“It’s sort of like an ongoing party in here where you can feel the fun vibe, but it’s not too loud,” he says. “It’s sort of an upscale but relaxed thing. We want people to feel comfortable and it’s somewhat casual, but we still want to provide exceptional service and help everyone have a good time.”

Owners Michael Cranfill and Bob Kort developed the concept and decided to purchase the property at 1001 Broad Ripple Avenue late last spring, embarking on a relatively quick physical turnaround of the space, which seats 65 inside and 30 on an exterior front deck area, before the official opening in November.

“It was a fast transition for all of us,” Roberts recalls. “There was no major renovation or build-out at all. We used what there was here, with the bar in the center, and just put our own aesthetic to it. So we saved some time and money that way, but we still put a lot of money into making it what it is now.”

The kitchen staff serves up their taco selection starting with made-from-scratch tortillas and puts together creative topping

Owner Michael Cranfill

Wesley Bolton, Chief Mixologist

Jessie Beasley, Tiki Captain

combinations to make each taco unique, from the Baja (beerbattered cod with pico and slaw) to the Al Pastor (marinated and fire-roasted pork with chipotle salsa and pineapple) to the Hawaiano (pork, ham and bacon with salsa verde, pineapple and caramelized onion).

Appetizers include queso fundido, chips and salsa, Indiana pork

guacamole, Tostilocos, which comes with Doritos, queso, hot sauce, pico and barbecue carnitas, and more.

“Our Baja taco is one of our highest sellers right now,” Roberts says. “Our queso fundido appetizer has really done well, too. It’s not your typical queso that you can get at any taqueria, and you can get it with chorizo or mushrooms.”

“It’s sort of an upscale but relaxed thing. We want people to feel comfortable and it’s somewhat casual, but we still want to provide exceptional service and help everyone have a good time.”

- Chez Roberts The TikiTiki Lounge located in the building’s basement level is geared toward the 30s-and-up crowd according to Roberts, and offers an extensive drink menu with specialty cocktails like the Cholita Margarita, which includes tequila, agave nectar, orange and lime or the La Blanquita, which comes with mezcal, crème de cacao, coconut creme and lemon.

“We have a DJ on Friday and Saturday nights as well down there,

but it’s not a club type of feel — the music’s not extremely loud and it’s more of a lounge to just hang out and chill on sofas down there, and get drinks and an appetizer with a group of friends if you want,” he adds.

Roberts says his team is optimistic about flourishing in Broad Ripple for many years, despite operating in a space that has been occupied by multiple tenants in recent years, including 10-01 Food & Drink and, more recently, Good Conduct and Miss

15 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / atBRip.com

Behavin, which served as a restaurant, lounge and weekend night club.

“I came here often to Good Conduct and Miss Behavin, and I loved it,” Roberts says. “They had a great bar setup but I don’t think they were as focused on the food aspect. We’re trying to hit both, and we’re going to do everything we can to stick around.”

In its first few months of operation, Roberts says midtown locals have thus far fully embraced the Cholita concept — residents and fellow proprietors alike.

“We’ve been really well received by the area, and people seem to be really excited about us being here,” he says. “A lot of local business owners have been over here to have dinner. I’ve been around Broad Ripple for 25-plus years, and it’s always kind of felt like a big friendly neighborhood. It feels like a family around here and we feel that at the restaurant.”

Cholita is located at 1001 Broad Ripple Avenue in Indianapolis.

Call 317-389-5555 or visit cholitatacos.com for more information including menus and details on private event packages.

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16 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / atBRip.com

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America’s Got Talent Fan Favorite Drew Lynch Blends Authentic Comedy with Home-Grown Humor Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided

18 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / atBRip.com

Every parent cringes when their son or daughter declares, “I want to be a professional actor!”

Drew Lynch’s parents were no different.

Though they fully supported their son’s vision, they also encouraged him to develop a Plan B. Raised on the west side of Indianapolis, Lynch’s only aspiration was to act, and he was phenomenal at it, as

evidenced by the 24 college scholarships he’d been offered by his senior year of high school. The plan was to perfect his craft in college and then head to Hollywood.

Two weeks before classes were to begin, however, Lynch, 19 at the time, announced to his mom and dad that instead of pursuing a degree, he was moving to Los Angeles because, with his baby face and small stature, he could pass for 15, which meant that he could audition for child roles as an adult.

Though his folks were anxious about his choice, they couldn’t argue with his reasoning.

“It was unnerving to move our firstborn to a city of 12.9 million people when he didn’t know a soul,” says his mom Chris, an Avon resident. “It was sink or swim.”

Though he tread water for a bit, ultimately he began landing small roles and auditions for Disney shows and Pixar movies. To make ends meet, he worked nights taking tickets at a comedy club.

Still, living in L.A. was brutal. His rent was $750, and he earned roughly $830 a month—“and that’s if I really saved,” says Drew, who sustained himself on oatmeal, orange juice and a can of tuna daily.

“I had the starving artist thing down,” says Lynch, who refused to create a Plan B for his life because he didn’t want anything to derail him from Plan A— his only plan.

After a year of living in L.A., momentum for his career began building. It was the night before he was to audition for a role on the successful television show “How I Met Your Mother” when a freak accident changed the trajectory of his life. He got hit in the throat with a softball, an injury that caused an incurable stutter. Lynch’s agent and manager promptly dropped him.

“Nobody wants to represent an actor who doesn’t have control over his motor skills,” he says.

While he was still recovering from the accident, Lynch scribbled down some thoughts on hospital napkins.

“I needed to decide whether I was going to embrace this new me — this guy with a speech issue — or if was I going to settle into 19 / BROAD RIPPLE MAGAZINE / FEBRUARY 2019 / atBRip.com

being a failed actor who took tickets,” Lynch says. “I decided I wanted to reprove myself in a whole other light.”

Two months later, Lynch performed standup comedy at an open mic night. Ultimately, his stutter proved to be his niche for his act.

Not only that but joking about his situation proved therapeutic.

“It was such a human moment in my life,” he says. “And that’s critical in standup because if you’re not being honest with yourself, the audience picks up on that.”

Prior to his accident, Lynch used comedy to belittle others so as to not shed light on his own insecurities.

“I was trying to protect my ego, but really that was a form of bullying,” says Lynch, now 27.

The accident, however, changed his perspective.

“Now I use comedy to empower myself and show others that they can do the same,” says Lynch, the oldest of four children.

The public identified with Lynch, viewing him as a source of inspiration.

As for Lynch, he set lofty goals, making a promise to himself to perform on 101 different stages in one year.

“I went to the Mongolian Grill, the Korean BBQ, Whole Foods, women’s book clubs, senior centers, the chemo unit at the hospital. I performed anywhere for anyone,” Lynch says. “I’ve done shows with just one or two people in the audience.”

Regardless of crowd size, every show taught him something. Mostly, he learned to feel comfortable performing in any environment. He sprinkled in some gigs at college campuses and clubs and met his “101 goal.” Then he upped it, over threefold, vowing to do 500 sets in 2014, which breaks down to performing at least once a night, often twice.

“I ended up doing 592 that year,” Lynch says.

Two months later, in February 2015, he auditioned for America’s Got Talent (AGT)

where he won over the judges, particularly Howie Mandel, who hit the Golden Buzzer, sending Lynch straight through to the live show at Radio City Music Hall.

Lynch appreciated how Mandel addressed him on such a human level.

“He wasn’t just speaking to me as a comedian,” Lynch says. “He understood what I was going through because of his own mental barriers, neuroses and anxieties.”

MAKE EVERY DAY FIVE STAR

Following the show, Mandel became Lynch’s mentor, encouraging him to “just do it” whenever he was offered an opportunity rather than allowing mental anguish to rationalize why not to do it.

Ultimately, Lynch was the runner-up on AGT, a loss which he admits stung.

“I wanted so badly to be the first comedian to win the show,” Lynch says.

Once again, he put his ego in check and counted his blessings.

“Comedy has taught me that failures shape us and make us better,” says Lynch, who did several impromptu performances last spring when he was back in town at Avon’s Red Curb Improv Comedy Club. He enjoyed the intimate experience of just having 50 people in the audience, though honestly, he likes mixing it up.

Following AGT, Lynch went on to book roles in movies and other standup specials. Last year he also appeared on Conan O’Brien, which he found far more nerve-wracking since he was performing in front of his comedic peers.

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Lynch also has an impressive YouTube following with 80,000 subscribers who watch Lynch with his 5-year-old Vizsla named Stella. In his hilarious “Dog Vlogs,” Lynch recounts silly stories while Stella sits beside him, donning a deadpan expression as funny captions float above her head.

“It’s a simple format, but people like it,” Lynch says.

And they like Stella. In fact, when Lynch does “meet & greets” following shows, fans are often just as excited to pet his pooch as they are to shake his hand. Some wait in line for several hours to do so. Though his agent has encouraged him to charge for these interactions, Lynch refuses.

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“I want to give everyone the same opportunity, regardless of their financial situation,” says Lynch, who is currently on a 150-city tour.

He maintains a busy schedule, typically flying out of L.A. on Wednesdays, doing gigs on Thursdays through Sundays and flying home on Mondays. Last year he was gone more than 200 days.

“It was the sickest and most exhausted I’ve ever been,” he admits. “But I know the way my mind is wired. I have to always be doing something to actively move my career forward.”

Despite a modified Plan A in a “sink or swim” town, Lynch is doing swimmingly.

White River Documentary Films Debut in Central Indiana Provided Story & Photos

T

hree new films about the White River — and the lives it touches — recently premiered Jan. 17 at Nickel Plate Arts.

The films, funded by Indiana Humanities, build on the award-winning Next Indiana Campfires program, which focused on the White River in 2018 and will continue to do so in 2019. The films debuted in a series of public events in January and February and will be available to stream online in March.

Over the last year, Indiana Humanities focused its Next Indiana Campfires program on the White River watershed and the larger question of how Hoosiers relate to water and to each other across watersheds. To explore these connections further — and to document a particularly exciting moment for Indiana waterways — Indiana Humanities selected local filmmakers to create three short films about the White River. The films are each between 11 and 15 minutes in length. A trailer is available to watch at IndianaHumanities.org/CampfiresFilms.

Through the films, viewers will meet volunteers, artists, activists, farmers, engineers, developers, city officials, hikers and parents.

They’ll paddle downstream with Friends of the White River, tunnel under the city with Dig Indy and soar overhead with the great blue herons of our region. The filmmakers were chosen through a competitive RFP process initiated earlier this year.

At the free launch party in January, Indiana Humanities, in partnership with Hamilton County Tourism, screened the films and held a Q&A with the filmmakers. Attendees enjoyed snacks and beers compliments of Upland Brewing.

Work on a two-county White River Vision Plan coincides with the release of the film.

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“The planning team has met with hundreds of individuals who live near or are passionate about this river during this planning period,” says Hamilton County Tourism President & CEO Brenda Myers. “Nothing we have done in the visioning process captures the community conversations about this river as these three films have.”

Leah Nahmias, director of programs and community engagement at Indiana Humanities, says “We are excited to debut these films, made in Indiana by Hoosier filmmakers, which show views of the river and perspectives on the White River watershed you never knew existed. We hope they awaken new appreciation of the White River and spark meaningful conversations about its future.”

Here is a list of the films and filmmakers:

• “Braided with the Current” by Katelyn Calhoun and Hannah Hodges: Katelyn Calhoun has spent the past five years in Indianapolis creating documentary content.

She is currently in pre-production for an Appalachian Trail short documentary, (Tr)alias. Hannah Hodges co-founded and runs Hodges Marketing Solutions, a digital marketing agency, with her husband Mark. She is involved in the Indianapolis film community and has a variety of experience ranging from work on documentaries and narrative shorts to corporate videos and live events.

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“Onward Ever: The Becoming of Indiana’s White River” by Brandon Walsh: Brandon Walsh is an Indy-based video producer. His narrative short films have screened at a number of festivals across the Midwest, and he has made national award-winning commercial work with the advertising agency CVR. “White River: Perspectives” by Hannah Lindgren: Hannah Lindgren is a visual storyteller who works for The Story Shop in Pendleton and hails from the northeast side of Indianapolis. She specializes in telling the stories of nonprofits, causes, small businesses and communities through short videos. This is her fourth documentary film.

In March, the full-length films will be available online, along with a discussion toolkit designed to help people talk about the ideas they raise with neighbors, students, friends and family.

Indiana Humanities will also be offering stipends to community groups who host public screenings and discussions of the films in 2019 and 2020. You can learn more at IndianaHumanities.org/ CampfiresFilms.

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iNcLuDiNg aDdItIoNaL sOuR aLe tApS, cOcKtAiLs, & a cArEfUlLy-cRaFtEd mEnU fEaTuRiNg lOcAlLy sOuRcEd iNgReDiEnTs, pLeNtY oF vEgEtArIaN bAsEd oPtIoNs & a kIdS mEnU.

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