Carmel Magazine October 2025 by Towne Post Network, Inc.

+ Golden Reflections

Carmel Clay Historical Society

Marks 50 Years With a 70s-Inspired Gala

+ Local Connections

Chelsea Kopelman Builds Community Through Keeping Up Local

Food, Fun & Fellowship

GOODNESS GRACIOUS KITCHEN & CUPBOARD OFFERS DELICIOUS DINING & MORE

S E R V I N G

C E N T R A L

I N D I A N A

S I N C E 2 0 0 1

RELATIONSHIPS

" B U I L D I N G L O N G T E R M O N E P R O J E C T A T A T I M E

Fall Festivals in Hamilton County, Indiana

When the calendar turns to September, that means fall is nearly upon us. Picture it: crisp air, the crunch of leaves under your feet, and the trees showing off their seasonal colors. Find inspiration for your fall festival adventures.

1. HEADLESS HORSEMAN FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 2-26

Conner Prairie in Fishers is celebrating frights and delights. Take the iconic Haunted Hayride, Thursday – Sunday, through Conner Prairie’s grounds where you will encounter spooky frights around every corner...including the Headless Horseman himself!

2. OKTOBERFEST | OCTOBER

Celebrate Oktoberfest Friday with German style food and drinks, games and live music by Der Polktaz. Peruse the Carmel City Center shops and vendors while enjoying this family-friendly evening.

3. POTTER’S BRIDGE FALL FESTIVAL | OCTOBER 4

Enjoy a special autumn day at Potter’s Bridge Park in Noblesville. Listen to live music, visit the more than 70 arts, crafts, and food booths, or simply take in the natural beauty from the White River Greenway Trail.

4. CORKS IN CARMEL |

OCTOBER 4

Sip, savor, and celebrate the season at Corks in Carmel, featuring unlimited craft wine tastings, live music, artisan vendors and gourmet food trucks in the heart of the Carmel Arts & Design District.

5. RUSSELL FARMS COUNTRY FALL FESTIVAL |

OCTOBER 4-26

Visit Russell Farms Pumpkin Patch in Noblesville on Saturday or Sunday for a great, fall festival with fun activities for all ages. Activities include a petting zoo, hay wagon rides to the pumpkin patch, scavenger hunt corn mazes, miniature golf, whizzer and tumbleweed rides, jump pillow, bounce house and more.

6. BARKTOBERFEST | OCTOBER

Celebrate your pup and support a great cause at Barktoberfest, featuring pet-friendly vendors, dog agility courses, costume contests, adoptable pets and fun for the whole family at Asa Bales Park.

7. DIWALI CELEBRATION |

OCTOBER 18

Celebrate the triumph of light over darkness at Carmel’s Diwali Celebration, featuring vibrant music and dance performances, delicious South Asian cuisine, colorful rangoli art, henna and fireworks at Carter Green.

WHAT’S ON YOUR FALL BUCKET LIST? TAG US IN YOUR FALL ADVENTURES USING #VISITHC, AND FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM.

For more seasonal events, check out our calendar at https://www.visithamiltoncounty.com/events/.

PUBLISHER

DYLAN LEWANDOWSKI dylan@townepost.com 317-552-8605

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

STEPHANIE DUNCAN

MELISSA GIBSON CHRISTY HEITGER-EWING

ROBERT JONES

ABBIE WILLANS A. J. WRIGHT

Chelsea Kopelman Builds Community Through Keeping Up Local

Carmel Clay Historical Society Marks 50 Years With a 70s-Inspired Gala

Salt Brings Bright Coastal Vibes & Fresh Flavors To Carmel

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599

PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ERIN TURK

CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS

EDITOR JOSH BROWN

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011

CONTACT THE PUBLISHER Have a story idea or suggestion for the magazine?

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

AROUND THE COMMUNITY,

OCTOBER

View All Local Events or Submit Your Own

1, 8, 15, 22, 29

BINGO!

Northside, 3720 East 82nd St.

7 p.m.

Every Wednesday at 7 p.m. $4 PBR and $5 New Holland Drafts.

2-5, 9-12, 16-19, 23-26, 30-31

HEADLESS HORSEMAN FESTIVAL

Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd.

5-10 p.m.

THE HEADLESS HORSEMAN RIDES… STAY WARY ON THE PRAIRIE! Join us for 16 nights of spooktacular thrills at the Headless Horseman Festival.

ERIC BAKER & FRIENDS PRESENTS THE PIANO MAN: A BILLY JOEL TRIBUTE

Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Square.

7:30 p.m.

Join Eric Baker and his friends for a mindblowing night of music as they pay tribute to the legendary Piano Man himself, Billy Joel.

3, 10, 17, 24, 31

FINAL FRIDAYS IN CARMEL: DINNER WITH STRANGERS

Restaurant of the Day, Carmel

8-10 p.m.

Join us for a fun night out with new friends in Carmel. Build your community in the city through our socials and make connections!

3, 10, 17, 24, 31

KEYSTONE FRIDAY NIGHTS

Northside, 3720 East 82nd St.

9 p.m.

Get here for our KEYSTONE FRIDAY NIGHTS series! Every Friday from 9 p.m.-12 a.m. we’ve got DJ Lanky live in the house!

4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26

MAKE & TAKE: CANDLE DIPPING

Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd.

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Join us in Prairietown for a $5 Make and Take candle-dipping workshop, where you’ll craft your own hand-dipped candles.

4-5, 11-12, 18-19, 25-26

MAKE & TAKE: CORN HUSK DOLLS

Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd. 10-11:30 a.m.

Come to Lenape for a $5 Make and Take corn husk doll workshop, where you’ll create a traditional handcrafted doll using natural corn husks.

7, 14, 21

WHEEL THROWN POTTERY

Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd. 6-7:30 p.m.

Discover the basics of wheel-thrown pottery. This four-session workshop gives you the time and space to practice all aspects of throwing and shaping pottery.

8, 12, 15, 22, 29

BEGINNING BIRD HIKE

Cool Creek Park, 2000 E 151st Street. 8:30-9:30 a.m.

SERENADE

The Center for the Performing Arts, One Center Green.

7 p.m.

14, 28

PALLADIUM PUBLIC TOURS

The Center for the Performing Arts, One Center Green.

10:20-10:30 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

SENSORY FALL FEST

Freedom Trail Park, 500 Deer Walk Trace 5-7 p.m.

HOMESCHOOL HIKERS

Cool Creek Park > Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 E 151st St. 1-2:30 p.m.

13TH ANNUAL BOO ‘N BREW FALL FESTIVAL

Clay Terrace, 14390 Clay Terrace Blvd Ste 165, 2-6 p.m.

Celebrate an early Halloween at Clay Terrace’s Annual Boo ‘n Brew Fall Festival! This FREE event is the perfect way to spend a familyfriendly Halloween!

COSTUME & CANDY CRAWL

11505 North Illinois St., 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the return of The Bridges Costume & Candy Crawl! Enjoy an evening of trick-or-treating throughout the shopping center.

THE ZOMBIE FUNGUS AND OTHER NATURE FLUKES

Cool Creek Park > Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 E 151st St. 1-2 p.m.

JULIA CHILD’S TABLE COOKING CLASS

A Cut Above | Catering | Classes | Events, 12955 Old Meridian Street #UNIT 104, 6-9 p.m.

Step into French Classics at Julia Child’s Table and savor the heart of French cooking.

SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS: JAZZ FROM THE BACK O’TOWN

1 Carter Green

8 p.m.

Squirrel Nut Zippers will take fans on a magical, musical voyage to the birthplace of jazz as they present Jazz from the Back O’ Town, a show exploring the New Orleans Back O’ Town jazz scene.

24-26, 29-31

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN

Actors Theatre of Indiana

October 24, 25 – 7:30 p.m.; October 26 – 2 p.m.; October 29, 30, 31 – 7:30 p.m.

HALLOWINE PARTY AT URBAN VINES

Urban Vines Winery & Brewery, 303 E 161st St.

12-10 p.m.

Join us on October 25th for our annual HalloWINE Party at Urban

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MONSTER MASH: A NIGHT TO DISMEMBER!

Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Square.

7:30 p.m.

Join the creatures of the night for a monstrously fun cabaret—killer tunes, haunted trivia & a costume contest to die for.

WHOSE BONES ARE THESE? OWL PELLET DISSECTION ADVENTURE

Cool Creek Park > Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 E 151st St. 3:30-4:30 p.m.

GHOSTBUSTERS FANFEST

Flix Brewhouse, 2206 E. 116th St.

6:30 p.m.

Strap on your proton pack and celebrate GHOSTBUSTERS with a FANFEST screening featuring themed menus, a free collectible glass with your ticket, and a lot of slime.

30-31

A Prairie-Normal Evening CONNER PRAIRIE, 13400 ALLISONVILLE RD.

9 p.m.-12 a.m.

Join us on a guided evening of spine-tingling tales and ghost hunting. Is Conner Prairie haunted? We’ll let you decide!

VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS REDISCOVERED

THE FORK!

Scratch Kitchen, Local Brewery

Midwest favorites, coastal-inspired cuisine, seasonal

weeknight happy hour, and private dining rooms for every occassion.

The Center for the Performing Arts, One Center Green.

7:30 p.m.

MURDER MYSTERY NIGHT: MIDNIGHT AT THE MASQUERADE

Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Square

7:30 p.m.

Be part of “whodunnit” and uncover clues and solve the mystery.

Advanced cancer care focused on you.

After a cancer diagnosis, you want to know your care team is following the right treatment plan for you. That’s why we’ve partnered with Houston’s MD Anderson Cancer Center. Together, we’re bringing a new level of cancer care to Indiana. So you can simply focus on getting better.

eCommunity.com/cancer

Byron H., patient

CONFIDENCE IN STYLE

CHRISTINA ANN HAIR BOUTIQUE BLENDS BEAUTY, CARE & COMMUNITY

Writer & Photographer / Stephanie Duncan

Christina Ann Hair Boutique is more than just a hair salon — it’s the destination many clients choose to build their confidence. Owner Christina Lockett has been working with hair for almost 20 years and is recognized for her expertise in wig making, hair extensions and hair color.

In those years, she has styled Indianapolis Colts cheerleaders, pageant contestants, bridal parties and worked fashion shows. Currently, she offers her hair extension skills for the Indiana Pacers Pacemates, and her boutique is the sponsored salon for the news anchors at Fox 59.

Lockett’s career in the cosmetology industry has taken many turns, but she’s always had an interest in business and a passion for helping women look and feel their best. She loved working in salons but wanted to open her own salon to give her hair restoration clients the privacy they needed.

Lockett believes everyone should get the right hair care for their needs and has a diverse team specializing in various hair textures and colors.

“We all specialize in multi-textured hair. We do all hair,” she says. Her team is made up of Camille Greist, Melanie Eiermann and Teresa Stiles.

“I love making my clients and the salon feel beautiful and creating a warm and cozy space where self-care and confidence bloom,” Greist says.

Among the many services her salon offers, Lockett is a distinguished wig maker and has her own hair extension line. Making wigs and hair extensions is a niche skill, and it’s one Lockett is leaning into. She learned how to make wigs after discovering her fellow salon colleague had cancer during a work shift.

“We were in the back mixing our color, and she got a call from her doctor telling her that she had cancer,” Lockett says.

At that point, Lockett immediately knew she wanted to make her friend a wig. She already had experience with hair extensions, so she flew to take a three-day training seminar on how to make wigs.

Despite a brief introduction to a sewing machine in eighth grade, Lockett had no idea how to work a sewing machine before the seminar. After the workshop, she was able to make the wig for her friend.

“She was one of the first wigs I made,” Lockett says. “It made me feel like I’m not just doing hair, I’m actually helping someone.”

After witnessing many clients struggle to find suitable wigs and extensions, Lockett decided to offer customized wigs and hair extensions in a setting that felt more approachable than a traditional doctor’s office or posh salon.

With clients who have different hair types and textures, most wigs at a traditional wig store don’t work for everybody. Lockett wanted to offer an alternative. She sources high-quality hair from overseas and styles and colors each wig to match her clients.

“When people lose their hair, they want to look like themselves,” Lockett says. “When my clients are walking around, you would never know they had a wig on.”

Along with wigs, Lockett owns her own hair extension line. Similar to problems she noticed with wig options, the same was happening with hair extensions.

“We have different types of clients of all races and hair types, and one brand does not fit all,” she says.

She would also notice the risk of clients bringing in lower-quality extensions that wouldn’t cooperate with coloring and styling. To protect their investment, she sources high-quality hair to ensure a perfect match.

“I can control the density, the color, the texture,” she says. “It’s almost like getting a wedding dress made.”

As she enters her eighth year of owning a business in Carmel, Lockett offers advice to aspiring business owners.

“Sometimes, you have to take that leap of faith. If it’s something

you believe in, it’s going to work,” she says. “I started my business when there wasn’t Instagram. I still feel like organic connections are important. You can’t do everything behind a computer.”

With a degree in business administration from Indiana State University, Lockett didn’t initially plan to pursue styling. She took a cosmetology class in high school but didn’t finish it. Still, she always had a passion for beauty and the cosmetology world. After talking to a L’Oreal rep at a hair show about a corporate job, they encouraged her to get her cosmetology license. Lockett attributes that random encounter as a sign to pursue her passion differently.

In addition to her salon, Lockett has also run a nonprofit for the past four years, U Glam Girl, which hosts annual events to empower women and young girls to learn more about their bodies and health. They also purchase and collect hair products and tools to donate to

Christian Ann Hair Boutique is a unique Multi Culture Salon in the heart of The Village of West Clay. Offering traditional hair styling, coloring, along with custom made Hair Extensions and Wigs. Christian and team have decades of experience as stylist.

FOOD, FUN & FELLOWSHIP

GOODNESS GRACIOUS KITCHEN & CUPBOARD OFFERS DELICIOUS DINING & MORE

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing

Photographer / Stephanie Duncan

Since opening Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard in June 2024, the restaurant has been on a steady trajectory. Serving breakfast, lunch, brunch and a whole lot of memories, the establishment has become well loved by the community.

“It’s a unique experience,” says owner Tobi Mares. “I don’t quite know how to explain it, but people feel at home when they come in.”

Throughout the spring and summer months, Goodness Gracious also hosted a lot of private occasions such as baby showers, birthday parties and bridal events.

“We also do boutique wedding party catering by delivering food to bridal parties as they are getting ready for the big event,” Mares says. “This way no one arrives to the reception on an empty stomach.”

During the summer, Mares and her all-female staff were busy with their picnic services in which customers can place an online order and select a pickup or delivery time. Next spring they plan to level up the picnic experience with blankets and special touches like fresh flowers.

Now that fall has settled in, Mares looks forward to getting back into the groove of hosting nighttime events. For example, she plans to start a weekly Crafts & Cocktail series, in which knitters, crocheters, painters, anyone crafty can gather to share their projects.

“It’s just like a knitting circle but for all crafts. People really love it,” says Mares, noting that the age demographic of folks who came spanned decades. “When I talk about preserving and keeping

making sure the next generation sees the benefit in doing these things and knows how to do it themselves.”

Last fall, they did bougie pumpkin painting. Since this year Halloween falls on a Friday, they are planning something special, check the website to learn more. In addition, Mares plans to start Supper Clubs with a casserole theme.

“I’m all about casseroles and comfort food,” Mares says. “We always make them a little healthier with good ingredients, though, and pair things up that are whole plant based. We are very aware of making sure we strike a good balance of healthy and clean ingredients.”

In November, they will host a Friendsgiving event. Mares will also do themed trivia nights, Singo (like musical Bingo), Ladies Comedy Nights, and a cookie class closer to the Christmas holidays. She expects to hold two Friday night events a month in addition to a group or series event once a week, whether that be a writer’s group, crafting circle, or a speaking event like She Speaks, which is like a Ted Talks for The Wonderful Women of Hamilton County that’s designed to combat loneliness in women. Mares’ friend Holly Kirsh started it, and Goodness Gracious hosted one that attracted 40 women. Mares plans to host more She Speaks at the restaurant because she recognizes how hard it can be to make friends at a certain age.

“I have to continually remind myself that my struggle is not just my struggle but the struggle of [other females, too]. Struggle is everywhere and with everyone,” says Mares, who admits that opening Goodness Gracious turned her life upside down.

traditions alive, part of it is

“Now I’m in a new phase of a different kind of struggle,” she says. “That’s the honesty I want to share with people. I want to be inspired by someone else and have someone else be being inspired by me.”

This is why Mares is constantly finding creative ways to use the Goodness Gracious space.

“The fact that we are a restaurant feels secondary to me,” she says.

Although Mares places relationships above all else, customers certainly appreciate the delicious fare that’s served. For instance, customers love the chicken and waffles and the spiced peaches — a recipe that came from Mares’ childhood. The Big Bow Breakfast Sandwich, featuring crispy hashbrown, savory sausage patty, an over easy egg, and melted cheddar cheese atop a toasted brioche bun, is hugely popular.

“That sucker sells way more than I anticipated it would,” Mares says.

Then there’s a Food Legacy in the chicken salad, tuna salad, and egg salad as they are named after Mares’ mom and her two sisters. Mares created the Food Legacy, where she invites patrons to share their family stories, recipes and memories from the past.

“People come in, eat the food their loved one used to make, all while reminiscing,” Mares says.

By sharing these recipes, stories and traditions with the community, people are learning cool facts that they otherwise wouldn’t know.

On the restaurant’s website under the Food Legacy tab is a picture and a person’s name with stories behind their favorite recipe. The staff at Goodness Gracious uses the recipe or adaptations of it to serve patrons. Going forward, Mares hopes to garner more participation from the community and make the experience more interactive.

“Once we get a solid schedule and enough participants, it’ll be part of their tableside experience,” Mares says. “Like today our Food Legacy is based on Grandma June’s chicken salad.”

To share your Food Legacy, email ilovegoodnessgracious@gmail. com with your name, the Food Legacy, and the inspiration behind the it.

“We really do have a little gem to offer the community in Goodness Gracious,” says Mares, who is proud of the heart and honesty behind her mission. “I’m always a foodie at heart and want to level that up of course, but I think customers come for the feeling just as much as the food.”

Goodness Gracious Kitchen & Cupboard is located at 24 North Rangeline Road in Carmel. For more information, call 317-564-0454 or visit ilovegoodnessgracious.com.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, KITCHEN & CUPBOARD

FEATURING PICNIC SEASON & NEWLY OPENED GRAB & GO OPTIONS!

We preserve the past with food and tradition by making picnics effortless. Easy online ordering, with delivery or pick up. Also, you can choose from our compostable picnic boxes or elegant, reusable insulated baskets— perfect for a charming outing.

Visit our full-service restaurant where we offer breakfast, brunch, and lunch. Or just enjoy coffee or a cocktail.

Stop by our little retail shop, tucked away in the picnic pick up area. We offer many picnic goodies, books, snacks, knick-knacks, and Carmel inspired gifts.

Our signature Chick(HEN) & Waffles is a local favorite along with Gigi’s Bloody Mary with a 5 oz. beer back of Bier Brewery PDG.

CARMEL’S SHADY LANES

Writer / A. J. Wright

River Road, just north of Main Street on Carmel’s northeast side, offers one of the most pleasant drives in the city. This stretch of road is accessed from Carmel’s first roundabout, constructed in 1997. To the west are the stately homes of the Moffitt Farm at Prairie View subdivision. To the east are the bluffs overlooking White River. But what makes the drive so unique is the shady archway formed by trees lining the median and both sides of the road.

A little more than a century ago, the leading streets of Old Town Carmel had a similar

appearance. In 1876, a correspondent to the “Noblesville Ledger” wrote:

“The improvements going on [in Carmel] are wonderful, and everybody seems to be imbued with new life and energy. Westfield and some other places must keep a sharp lookout, [or] else the bright little village of Carmel will get far ahead of them in general improvement. One thing I noticed in particular, and this was the great number of beautiful shade trees. They are small yet, but in a few years more, if well taken care of, will look magnificent. There is not a village in the state so well shaded as Carmel.”

The shade trees were the idea of John F. Mendenhall. Born on a farm along Cool Creek on Carmel’s east side in 1844, he was the grandson of Benjamin Mendenhall, the first Quaker to settle in what is now Carmel. John attended common school in the Rural Valley neighborhood, located in the present-

day area of Cool Creek Estates, and Union High School in Westfield, from which he graduated in 1866.

It was at Union High School that he developed an interest in botany. The summer after graduation, he enlisted the help of his father, Ira, along with Frank Gallagher, Sylvanus Carey, Isaac Harold, Thomas Carey, and others to gather maple trees from the woods and replant them in neat rows along Carmel’s streets. By the turn of the century, the trees had grown tall, and the shady archways they formed gave the town a picturesque appearance — but their days were numbered.

In 1917, Indiana’s newly established state highway commission chose to route the state’s first highway along Range Line Road. The highway promised to be a boon for Carmel, but residents faced a difficult decision. In preparation for construction,

and it seems to me that Carmel, as a matter of self-interest, should do everything to encourage the further growth instead of interfering with it. The branches should form a natural vault over the highway, and the picture of the town would remain pleasing upon the minds of the many tourists that will pass through it.”

Unfortunately, the ordinance stood, and the shady archways were removed. Even if the trees had been spared in 1920, it is

unlikely they would have survived a century of development to shade Old Town Carmel today. Shady lanes still exist in Carmel, just not downtown. They can be found in many older subdivisions or on the pleasant drive along the bluffs on River Road.

A. J. Wright, historian at the Carmel Clay History Museum, has written several books on Carmel’s history, available at the museum’s website: carmelclayhistory.org/books.

the town board passed an unpopular ordinance requiring the removal of all branches and limbs that cast shadows over streets and sidewalks. Many residents wished to preserve the trees and reached out to Richard Lieber, director of the Indiana Department of Conservation. He wrote a letter on their behalf to the “Carmel Standard,” encouraging the town board to rescind the ordinance:

“A few days ago, citizens from Carmel, Indiana, called at the department regarding the protection of your superb shade trees, explaining that the town board intended to issue an order to have the same topped. … It seems to me a duty of the citizens of Carmel to resist, if necessary with an injunction, the disfiguration of the street’s silhouette, the sure but slow strangling of the trees and the commitment of an aesthetic offense. One of the chief highways of the state is going to pass by these trees,

LOCAL CONNECTIONS

CHELSEA KOPELMAN BUILDS COMMUNITY THROUGH KEEPING UP LOCAL

Writer / Melissa Gibson Photographer / Robert Jones

Have you ever moved to a new town or city and just felt lost? New job, new church, new friends, new restaurants — it can be overwhelming to start over.

Chelsea Kopelman, founder of Keeping Up Local, came up with an idea for those who were struggling to find connections in a new hometown. She would know—she was one of them.

“My husband and I used to live in Broad Ripple. Butler University really helped guide us to the area, and we were really comfortable there,” Kopelman says. “In 2018, we had our first son, and I was feeling the call to step away from my marketing job at a large Fortune 150 company in Indianapolis. We moved to Carmel, and I really just felt like a fish out of water. This was a great place to raise a family, but there’s so much that I don’t know. There’s no connection.”

Shortly after their move, the world shut down during the pandemic, and Kopelman says she felt even more out of place. By the time things got back up and running, she had had her second child, was at home with two children and determined to find community and connection in Carmel.

“We were going to be here for a while, and I wanted to love it like I loved Broad Ripple,” Kopelman says. “I started looking at a lot of different resources for things to do as a wife, a girlfriend, an adult or a parent. I was pulling a ton of information from a lot of different sources, so I started thinking, what if I pull it all together in one platform? What if I take what I’m doing in private and make it public to see if anyone could use this?”

She took her marketing degree and years of training in social media and launched Keeping Up in Carmel in 2022, discovering there was a desire and appetite for this type of content in the community.

“I really envisioned this content as adding value to our lives,” Kopelman says. “When you’re finished watching, you should be entertained, but you should also be prepared to try something new in your community. Whether you’re new to town or have been here forever, let’s look at our community in a new way.”

Think of it as a one-stop shop — best dining, things to do, where to get your hair done, a dentist with phenomenal referrals, and more. It’s hyper-local to the individual community, and all the information is posted online through a website, Facebook and Instagram.

“By October of 2024, I had launched nationwide under Keeping Up Local, and we currently have seven communities up and running,” Kopelman says. “The majority of the content is visual, and Instagram is our largest following. We’re using imagery, photography and video, but we also have a traditional website and newsletter.”

Every Sunday night, newsletter members receive a list of events for the following week with clickable links to buy tickets or make reservations.

Businesses like it because Keeping Up Local drives awareness toward their establishments. The community likes it because they receive valuable information about local hotspots.

“I think the biggest compliment I received was from Carmel Salt Caves,” Kopelman says. “I did a piece on that, and she had to hire double the staff to keep up with demand because the feedback was so incredible. From the audience perspective, you may have never known this place existed or that this event was going on.”

Kopelman says she takes care to make sure each post adds value to the audience. Many of her videos include “Know Before You Go”

“YOU

tips and tricks to make the experience the best one possible.

“I’m not just sharing the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ so you can have the most fun and be prepared,” she says. “Maybe you have a little one, and the park with mulch isn’t a great idea, but another park has the rubber turf. Those little details help make your experience better when you visit the location.”

Kopelman says they make it a point not to simply cover “mom” spots or young 20s bar scenes. The content is well-rounded and specific to the community, with an appeal that anyone in any stage of life could enjoy.

It’s also first-hand experience by the team.

“As I grew, one of the big conversations I have when interviewing new affiliates is the social aspect of it,” she says. “You have to be willing to get out there and talk to people, experience things and tell the story from your perspective.”

They’re doing just that from Carmel, Greenwood, Downtown Indianapolis, Westside Indianapolis, Southern Indiana, Rockford, Michigan, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“My goal is not to create something that you binge and scroll through,” Kopelman says. “I want the first 45 seconds of what you see to spark inspiration, connection, hope and then encouragement

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 2 PM - 6 PM

Monon Community Center

October

PROGR AMS

ADAPTIVE RÉSUMÉ BUILDING WORKSHOP

Wednesdays, Oct. 1-29 | Ages 15+ | Monon Community Center | $48

Join us for our Adaptive Résumé Building Workshop, a four-week series designed to equip participants with the skills and tools necessary to create tailored résumés that stand out in today's competitive job market. Participants will engage in hands-on activities, receive personalized feedback and learn best practices. No class 10/8. *Program is designed for individuals with disabilities.

PRESCHOOL LEVEL 1: SWIM LESSONS

Fridays, Oct. 3-31 | Ages 3-5 | Monon Community Center | $68

Designed for children ages 3-5 who have very little, if any, swimming experience. Your child will work on getting comfortable putting their face in the water and blowing bubbles while developing essential swimming skills including kicking, scooping, and floating. No class 10/10.

ADULT ARTISTS SERIES: ACRYLIC PAINTING

Thursdays, Oct. 2-30 | Ages 16+ | Monon Community Center | $140

Unleash your inner artist and develop your skills in our art classes designed to support each artist’s unique creative journey. Professional artist Zach Lowe allows you to choose your own project and skill level, tailoring his instruction to meet your needs! Set your own pace and create art that inspires you. All necessary materials provided.No class 10/9.

NATURE KEEPERS: FALL EXPLORATION

Weekdays, Oct. 6-10 | Ages 5-12 | Monon Community Center | $125

Nature Keepers aims to bring nature and children together. In today's digital age, children need exposure to the natural world now more than ever. This program prioritizes the creation of spaces for children to learn about nature in a safe, comfortable and welcoming environment. Join us for a week of fall exploration, taking a peek at the changing colors and critters that Central Park has to offer.

HCCTA YOUTH TENNIS LESSONS SPORTS

Tuesdays, Oct. 14-Dec. 16 | Ages 4-6 | Monon Community Center | $160

Learn and refine basic tennis strokes — forehands, backhands and volleys. This program uses modified courts and tennis balls, along with fun games and drills. Participants must bring their own tennis racquet. If you would like to purchase a racquet for $25, contact Maggie Petersen at hcctatennis@gmail.com

TRAINING FOR SPEED

Mondays & Wednesdays, Oct. 13-29 | Ages 12+ & Ages 18+ | Jill Perelman Pavilion | $90

Training for Speed is a program designed and proven to enhance core strength, improve agility, and foot speed. Appropriate to improve skills in all sports. This is a vigorous course which requires basic athletic skill. Athletic attire, socks and gym shoes required.

Monon Community Center 1235 Central Park Drive East, Carmel, IN 46032

carmelclayparks.com/program-offerings/ 317.848.7275

GOLDEN REFLECTIONS

CARMEL CLAY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MARKS 50 YEARS WITH A 70S-INSPIRED GALA

The Carmel Clay Historical Society is celebrating its 50th anniversary and the first anniversary of the Carmel Clay History Museum opening with a golden anniversary gala that will honor the unforgettable decade that started it all. The fundraising gala will feature 1970s-inspired music and food, while recognizing the people and significant moments of the past 50 years.

The story of how the museum came to be is an interesting one, and the society’s executive director, Debbie Clark Gangstad, is thankful they can now showcase Carmel’s history and tell the story of the city’s growth over the years.

“The growth has been incredible, not only for our organization but for our city,” Gangstad says. “And we didn’t even have a mayor in 1975. It was run by a town council.”

Founded in 1975, the society initially stored its historical archive in a small cottage and only brought out key pieces during special events. Over the years, the house began to show signs of disrepair, prompting Gangstad

to ask the then-township trustee, Doug Callahan, if there was any funding available for a new facility that could safely store the archive and welcome the public.

The pandemic stalled initial plans, but Gangstad is overjoyed by how the vision for the museum came together.

“I’m very proud to share it with the community,” she says. “This museum is for everybody. You don’t have to have lived here for 50 years. Come on in and find out what Carmel’s about.”

The museum offers free admission, allowing anyone to learn more about Carmel’s history. Located in the heart of Carmel at 211 First St., beside the Monon Trail, its main feature is the fully restored 1883 Monon Railroad Depot. Initially slated for demolition, the Depot was saved and donated to the society in 1975.

Gangstad attributes the Depot’s preservation to passionate elementary students who visited as part of a historical

walking tour hosted by the society. Founding members Ineva Chapman and Virginia Luzader led tours for Woodbrook Elementary third graders. When the group reached the Depot, the guides explained that the city planned to demolish it. Though the building’s rotting floors and leaky roof made it unsafe, the children believed it should be preserved.

“The kids said, ‘It’s our history, it should not be demolished.’ The teachers were happy to hear that, because they felt the same way,” Gangstad says.

The students wrote letters to the newspaper editor, raised funds, and inspired the City of Carmel to donate the Depot to the historical society later that year. A photo of the thirdgrade class that saved the Depot is displayed

Debbie Clark Gangstad

in the museum today.

During the museum’s planning phase, the society received offers to build on land near the high school or farther from the Monon— leaving the Depot behind — but

“We really want to celebrate and pay tribute to those people who came from the very beginning,” Gangstad says.

Plans are also in place for an adult walking tour in the fall and a midcentury modern holiday home tour in December.

COASTAL ESCAPE

SALT BRINGS BRIGHT COASTAL VIBES & FRESH FLAVORS TO CARMEL

Writer & Photographer / Abbie Willans

The dreary days of winter are fast approaching, and while many Hoosiers dread them, the owners of Salt are offering a muchneeded escape with a bright, coastal-chic restaurant serving up fresh seafood and handcrafted cocktails.

Salt, which officially opened in September, has two other Indiana locations: one on Mass Ave and one in Geist. The Carmel location, within walking distance of the Palladium, replaces Matt the Miller’s Tavern, which closed last year.

“We found that being right next to a venue really drove that event traffic and got us the customers we were wanting to have, and it was our perfect match in terms of our client base,” says co-owner Caroline Smith. “When we expanded to our second location, it was more of a neighborhood feel in Geist. While that location is thriving, I think this one is a perfect meld of both: Carmel is very neighborhood-friendly, very family-oriented, but we have that partnership with the Palladium. People can come for an event and have dinner before or a cocktail after the show.”

They sponsored the season, and the Palladium promoted Salt on its website and on all of this year’s tickets. In addition to that partnership, the owners wanted to work with other small businesses wherever possible. A local florist designed their centerpieces, and a local artist created the paintings and logo wall in the restaurant.

“We want to stick with our commitment to the community and highlight the local partners that we have, as a small business

ourselves,” Smith says.

“Carmel has an elevated standard, and we’ve got to meet that standard. Their expectations are high, they’re well-traveled, and they know good-quality food and service,” says co-owner John Bales. “The previous restaurant was very dark, but we have an open concept and we’re inspired by the 1 Hotel in South Beach, Florida. Our goal was to have a coastal feel in Indiana. We want you to feel like you’re on vacation.”

A former Florida resident who grew up in Carmel, Bales says he’s excited to be back. He designed Salt with his prior seaside home in mind.

“In those dark, gray Indiana days, I wanted something bright,” he says. “I want to feel like I’m on a beach, and I want fresh seafood. All of the fish is flown in daily or weekly, and it’s fresh — never frozen. We don’t have a freezer. It’s cheaper and more efficient to do it that way. We know what sells and what doesn’t sell.”

Bales and Smith have been in business together for 24 years, and they love to go after unique opportunities. Together with co-owner Johny Janusiewicz, they’re excited to tackle another restaurant.

“The restaurant business can be very challenging,” Bales says. “It’s dynamic, almost like a living being. Every day is different.”

“A lot of other restaurants were hamstrung by freezers and

refrigerators,” Smith adds. “They wanted to make sure they had product all the time and didn’t worry about the freshness. We’re going to do it a little differently and give people an experience they really can’t find around here.

“We have an ‘off the dock’ section of all our menus that features fish not commonly served at restaurants, like Hawaiian kampachi, pink grouper, and monkfish,” she says. “That gives our chef an opportunity to shine. That’s his choice and how he wants to prepare that fish, depending on where it’s from, the flavor profile it has, what best pairs with it, or what’s seasonal.”

Their chef, Marcello Gallegos, has traveled the world and speaks four languages.

“He cut his teeth at some Michelin-star restaurants in Italy,” Smith says. “He has a really good appreciation for fresh seafood, and he was working in a coastal region.”

One of her favorite parts of the restaurant business is the people she works with. Salt has kept most of its original staff from when the first location opened nine years ago. Instead of moving staff from the other locations to Carmel, the owners hired an all-new crew.

“We’ve had our more seasoned servers come here to train our staff, and we’ve had the new people go to the other locations to get a feel for the place and what Salt is, what we do, and what we stand for,” Smith says. “We remind everyone that we’re a family.”

Bales adds that each of their locations morphs into its own restaurant based on the culture.

“It’s great having really competent people that surround us, who’ve been in the industry for decades and know it inside out,” Smith says. “The best thing about this is that once John and I deliver a functional space for them to work in, we step back and let our team shine. We don’t want to be involved in the day-to-day. We want to let our team be the faces that the customers know.”

She adds that building this new location has been a labor of love, and it’s one they’re continuing to expand upon. Later this year or early next year, they’ll begin construction of a three-season patio and pergola with outdoor seating so that even more people can take advantage of the atmosphere and fresh seafood.

“We’re here to give everyone a great experience, from the moment they check their car into the valet to the moment they walk out that door,” Smith says. “We want them to feel like they had a break, were well taken care of, and that they’re appreciated.”

Salt is located at 11 City Center Drive in Carmel. For more information, visit saltdining.com or call 317-983-7690.