Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i Indianapolis Monthly

BUZZWORTHY Beachcombing The June cover package on Lake Michigan (“Let’s Go to the Beach”) made a big splash online. “Lake Michigan 101. Amusing. Laughed at No. 10. Definitely not ‘monied,’ but I love Up North!” Jonathan Jordan (@jonjordanlci), via Twitter “Got my Lake Michigan beach read, @IndyMonthly!” Kate Burkhardt (@hctkate), via Twitter “Frankfort Beach: One of the great beaches of the Midwest. Worth a summer trip.” Kirk Freeman (@kirkfreemanlaw), via Twitter “Miss this place. #LakeMichigan.” Charlie Henry (@chashenry), via Twitter THE IM POLL WE ASKED READERS ... WHAT’S THE COOLEST BEACH TOWN ALONG LAKE MICHIGAN? Vote on our monthly poll at IndianapolisMonthly.com/Polls. Far from Alien I really enjoyed “A Crossing to Bear” (June). I have several connections to this story, as my grandfather emigrated to the United States in the…

REQUESTED BY AARON MUNSON Music teacher at IPS William McKinley School 39 “Xylophones are wonderful teaching tools for fine and gross motor skills, maintaining steady beat, identifying note names and spaces, understanding pitch, and promoting early literacy skills. The fulfillment of my project means my students will be able to make more music!” REQUESTED BY JENNIFER WOOD Elementary teacher at IPS Francis Parker Monte ssori School 56 “My dance-club students come from a culture where the only form of dance they know is hiphop. Last year, they learned tap, jazz, and ballet. They’ve never had dance shoes before, so this will be a great way to start the school year.” REQUESTED BY NICOLE SCOTT First-grade teacher at IPS Stephen Fos ter School 67 “We’re always pausing because someone doesn’t have…

With a surge of “athleisure” stores pushing pieces that work for both the gym and beyond, it made sense for a shop aimed at sporty tweens to jog into town, too. An offshoot of Lululemon, Ivivva offers gear similar to its big sister’s, including several styles of yoga pants, shorts in a rainbow of hues, and zip-up jackets; sizes range from 4 to 14. Nifty details unite fashion with function: Zipper-pulls double as emergency hair ties; a leotard features wedgie-preventing silicone grips around the bum; and one stretchy headband is infused with threads of silver, whose antibacterial property is said to nix odorcausing germs. The store’s interior is reminiscent of a girl’s bedroom, thanks to a fuzzy black-and-white chevron rug, a string of gold lights illuminating an aqua wall, a…

The violin is called the Gibson ex Huberman Stradivarius, for previous owners (and virtuosos) George Alfred Gibson and Bronislaw Huberman. Someday, it will surely bear Bell’s name, too. Among violins, this is no second fiddle. Legendary Italian violin-maker Antonio Stradivari built it in 1713, during what is called his “golden period.” Bell bought it—the third Stradivarius he has owned—in 2001 for nearly $4 million. Now he estimates it’s worth as much as $12 million. Understandably, Bell keeps the Strad close. It spends most of its off time in Indy at Bell’s sister’s house, where he catches up with family when he’s in town. In the wrong conditions, the instrument occasionally sounds mediocre. “These violins are so sensitive to weather,” Bell says. “There are days when it makes me feel like…

I WAS THINKING the other day about the things that have changed since I was little, and I realized it has been years since I’ve seen a grubby kid. I see kids every day in Danville, just not grubby ones. When I was growing up, children had dirt everywhere— in the folds of their necks, circling their mouths, anywhere grime could form a crust. Most parents didn’t mind, knowing that resistance was futile. Of course, children took baths before going to church or visiting their aunt, but otherwise parents were content to hose them off once a week and leave it at that. Then parents started having fewer children, and like anything scarce, they grew in value. Adults began dressing their kids more neatly, filling them with antibiotics, and washing…

Northside Kitchenette Young moms in yoga pants and pearl-clad socialites alike pack this shabby-chic dining room to catch up over bowls of soup and mountainous salads, like tahini-maple salmon sprinkled with brown-sugar candied bacon. Hearty sandwiches and wraps, ranging from beef tenderloin swiped with horseradish cream to the Reuben loaded with tangy apple sauerkraut, are big enough to split—and can still be managed in a ladylike manner. 6515 N. College Ave., 253-1022, northsidekitchenette.com Tilly’s Tea Room Owner Sharon Moore captures a little slice of her native England at this darling Fishers spot decorated with pastels and handmade bunting. The menu is just as endearing, with imported English teas and made-from-scratch British recipes. Buttery, flaky sausage rolls are offered on Fridays and Saturdays, and Moore serves dense, soft fruit or chocolate-chip…

R2GO Head to Regina Mehallick’s bright, quiet market when you can’t stomach another haphazardly thrown-together sack lunch. Made-to-order sandwiches include roast beef with daikon salad, radishes, and black-pepper mayo and Regina’s bacon panini, a bacon, avocado, watercress, and apple-tomato chutney creation between slices of ciabatta bread. Give your meal a little crunch with a bag of deliciously salty Broad Ripple Chip Co. chips. Those truly pressed for time—and with access to a microwave—should make for the refrigerators, stocked with a selection of premade dishes like turkey meatloaf, vegetable lasagna, and black-bean chili. 1101 N. College Ave., 737-2543, r2goindy.com Wildwood Market Okay, so not everything at this Fountain Square specialty grocer is strictly grab-andgo. Soups (from local Circle City Soups) such as the tomato-basil with orange zest or brown-butter mushroom Gorgonzola,…

GAME BALLS The center football—made out to then– 14-year-old “Carlie ‘Corn’ Irsay”—comes from December 1995 and marks the Colts’ 10-7 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. “Yep, my parents used to call me ‘Carlie Corn,’” she says. ORNAMENT About two years ago, Jim Irsay made three of these snowmen, one for each daughter, out of clay. “That’s his attempt at art,” Irsay-Gordon says. Another? Whenever her dad sends birthday cards to the girls or his grandchildren, he includes a handdrawn stick-figure-comic postscript. BOOKS Her shelf includes the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, or DSM-IV, a leftover from grad school. TEA Irsay-Gordon gave up coffee years ago and looks to either green or Rooibos tea for a pick-me-up. NEEDLEPOINT “My grandmother [Irsay] made that,”…

BISHOP CHATARD HIGH SCHOOL 5885 Crittenden Ave. 251-1451, bishopchatard.org TIME AND DATE: 5:30–8 p.m. Thursday, November 5; no RSVP or registration is required. DETAILS: The annual Bishop Chatard High School open house provides interested families the opportunity to take a student-led tour; discuss the diverse course offerings with Bishop Chatard teachers; learn about the wide variety of extracurricular activities, athletics, and fine-arts programs from students, moderators, and coaches; and gain a deeper understanding of the value of learning in a high school focused on faith. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tyler Mayer, 251-1451, ext. 2228, tmayer@bishopchatard.org BREBEUF JESUIT PREPARATORY SCHOOL 2801 W. 86th St. 524-7050, brebeuf.org TIMES AND DATES: Noon–3 p.m. Sunday, November 1; Mass at 11 a.m. 5–7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2016. RSVPs are encouraged. DETAILS: Join members of the…

MISSISSIPPI NATIVE Daniel Carter serves an authentic taste of the bayou at his little yellow food truck and vibrant Irvington restaurant with a menu full of made-from-scratch family recipes. We got the spirited chef to teach us one of his childhood favorites—his grandma’s legendary bread puddin’ showered with rich caramel sauce. CHEF DAN’S BREAD PUDDIN’ Serves 8 INGREDIENTS • 8 cups cubed French bread • 2 cups milk • 3 cups heavy cream • 6 eggs • 1 teaspoon nutmeg • 3 tablespoons cinnamon • 3 tablespoons vanilla extract • ¼ cup melted butter • 2 cups sugar Caramel Sauce • 1 cup brown sugar • ¼ cup butter • ½ cup heavy cream DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. 2. Place cubed bread in an 8-inch-square baking pan.…

VIETNAMESE PHOS SLOW AND STEADY Super Bowl Pho 112 E. Main St., Westfield, 399-7858 Beef bones simmered for as long as 18 hours make the broth for Vietnam’s famous soup especially rich and sweet at this quaint spot in Westfield run by uncle-and-nephew duo Leo Van and Tony Nguyen. This means you won’t need to reach for a bottle of Sriracha or hoisin sauce to round out the flavors in this especially balanced version, best appreciated in its simplest presentation with just noodles and tender rare beef. STAR PLAYER King Wok 4150 Lafayette Rd., 295-8090, kingwok-indy.com An aromatic hit (star anise, perhaps?) distinguishes the light, pristine pho at this Lafayette Road standard—a perfect restorative elixir on a cool day that won’t weigh you down. And the bowl is generous enough…

THE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER Indianapolis is thrilled to welcome you to the 2015 First Internet Bank Home-A-Rama. This year’s show is nothing short of spectacular, featuring five custom-built, fully decorated and landscaped homes in the beautiful Sagamore neighborhood in Noblesville. These homes, built by members of the association, showcase all the latest trends in technology, design, outdoor living and landscaping, and much more. This year—given their popularity in today’s market—we are featuring two empty-nester–type houses and three family/estate-living homes. You’re sure to leave with plenty of ideas for your existing or future residence. The builders will be on hand to answer questions, provide advice, or discuss their uniquely built showcase homes. Many of the designers and suppliers will also be available to provide information on their products and services.…

WILLIAMS CUSTOM ART BUILDERS Mark, Steve, and Bill Williams 15157 Long Cove Blvd. Carmel, IN 46033 317-577-9904 stevew@williamscustomartbuilders.com billw@williamscustomartbuilders.com williamscustomartbuilders.com BUILDER PHILOSOPHY Williams Custom Art Builders has been family owned and operated since 1973. We believe there is an art to designing and building and that it’s the little things that make a residence truly a home. We use today’s building technologies while keeping pace with changes in the market and maintaining the essence of the individual home. Your vision is our execution, and it’s carried out through our dedication to detail, honesty, and quality. SHOW HOME APPROACH Listening to what families need and want in their homes influenced our approach. This particular residence was built with empty-nesters in mind and boasts a spectacular view of the 14th hole of…

MATT BEECHER BUILDERS Kurt Och, Nikki Zapp, Matt Beecher, Peggyann Hamilton, Jeremy Jordan P.O. Box 1127 Greenwood, IN 46142 317-535-7348 info@mattbeecherbuilders.com mattbeecherbuilders.com BUILDER PHILOSOPHY With more than 15 years of building experience, Matt Beecher Builders is a team of professionals who are passionate about helping people realize their dreams through home construction. We recognize and appreciate that this is typically a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we strive to make it positive and rewarding from day one. We believe that by building on a foundation of personal care and trust, we can offer superior quality and workmanship. This attention to detail is what sets Matt Beecher Builders above the rest. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and build a home that you will look forward to walking into every day for…

NOBLESVILLE, LIKE any city, faces the challenge of how to attract and retain residents. As far as bringing them in, there doesn’t seem to be a problem. From 2000 to 2010, its population grew by about 24,000. But to retain people, to encourage all walks of life to live, work, play, and even retire in Noblesville, the city is in the beginning stages of several projects to provide the perks residents are looking for— features that mirror those traditionally found in more urban communities. Many cities have public gathering areas—think Grant Park in Chicago, Bryant and Central parks in New York City, and Monument Circle in Indy. Even Noblesville’s Hamilton County neighbors have such spaces, like Fishers’s Nickel Plate District Amphitheater, home to the farmers market and concerts, and the…

MY FRIENDS called me “Grace” in high school, and I’ll go ahead and clarify that the nickname was ironic. Over the years, bumps and bruises came as naturally to me as breathing. I like to think being uncoordinated made me tough: I’ve careened into a huge 1980s satellite dish on my bike, run into glass doors and through screen ones, busted open my chin on floors, and slipped down more stairs than I care to count, bump bump bump like a cartoon character. But I haven’t broken a bone—yet. Determined to help me through that adolescent phase—compounded by a pair of Coke-bottle glasses—Mom enrolled me at age 10 in a poise-and-etiquette class put on by a North Carolina–based department store called Belk. My binder came with diagrams on how to…

When driver Charlie Kimball (center) and wife Kathleen (on his right) relocated to Indianapolis from California in 2011, they quickly became downtown boosters and purchased this vibrant Old Northside home. Here, the couple gathers neighbors and racing teammates around the dinner table for some good, old-fashioned Hoosier hospitality. CHANDELIER Charlie crafted this artful light fixture out of recycled bottles. “It was a Saturday project—well, not drinking all the wine,” he clarifies with a laugh. WALLS They were already bright blue when the Kimballs moved in. “We’re not afraid of color,” Kathleen says. WINE After the annual Sonoma race, the Kimballs bring back their favorites from B.R. Cohn Winery in Glen Ellen, California. PRODUCE Charlie’s relatives are avocado farmers in California and frequently send the couple shipments. “I’m always making guacamole,”…

If you happen to spot a guy wearing stylish slippers every day, it’s probably interior designer and stylesetter Stephen Taylor. This Gucci pair is one of dozens lining his specialty closet. WHERE DID YOU PICK THESE UP? In New York. They’re the last model that Tom Ford did before he left Gucci. HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT? I used to work in menswear— Calvin Klein, Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren. At Ferragamo, one of the perks was I got to select a pair of shoes each month. THAT EXPLAINS YOUR SHOE CLOSET. I have shoes everywhere. They’re under the bed and under skirted tables. I buy shoe trees by the carton. DO YOU HAVE A SHOEREPAIR GUY HERE? I use someone in New York. I send a big carton. ANY…

MUSIC 9/2 VAN HALEN As if having frontman David Lee Roth back for this tour weren’t enough, blues-rock virtuoso Kenny Wayne Shepherd will join the band at the Klipsch Music Center. livenation.com 9/16 TAYLOR SWIFT The pop singer makes a stop at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in support of her album 1989, which is probably the last time Indy hosted a show as packed as this one will be. livenation.com 9/24–27 LOTUS FESTIVAL Shutting down the Bloomington town square for four days, this showcase of international music parades through churches, theaters, and bars. lotusfest.org 9/26 ISO OPENINGNIGHT GALA The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra begins its 2015 season with romance as Joshua Bell interprets Prokofiev’s ballet Romeo and Juliet at the Hilbert Circle Theatre. indianapolissymphony.org ART 9/4 CASEY ROBERTS AND TASHA LEWIS The…

IF THE DOZENS of police cars stationed throughout the sleepy Sarah Shank neighborhood on July 1 were any indication, the southside enclave was a very safe place to be that morning. As an Indianapolis Power & Light truck arrived to install a surveillance camera atop a utility pole facing the newly formed First Church of Cannabis, aging hippies mixed with a throng of television reporters on the front lawn. Across the street, a line of protestors from the nearby Church of Acts hoisted signs aimed at their new neighbor: “Religious Freedom Does Not Mean Freedom To Commit Crimes!” and “I Guess They Do Grow More Than Corn In Indiana.” An elderly woman standing in the yard next door could only bury her face in her hands. After months of speculation…

Delivery for the People 970-7000, deliveryforthepeople.com DELIVERY ZONES Greater downtown area, SoBro, Irvington, and Meridian-Kessler DELIVERS FROM All Indy-area restaurants, including Bluebeard and Bakersfield WE ORDERED Egg-salad sandwich from Patachou on the Park, 0.3 miles away WAIT TIME 36 minutes MINIMUM ORDER AMOUNT None DELIVERY FEE $5–$7 FOOD TEMP Spot-on A La Carte Indy 449-2012, alacarteindy.com DELIVERY ZONE Downtown DELIVERS FROM 21 restaurants, including FortyFive Degrees and Maxine’s Chicken & Waffles WE ORDERED Squash-andmushroom enchiladas from Adobo Grill, 0.2 miles away WAIT TIME 55 minutes MINIMUM ORDER AMOUNT $10 DELIVERY FEE $3.99 FOOD TEMP Warm GrubHub grubhub.com/indy DELIVERY ZONE Downtown DELIVERS FROM 7 restaurants, including Buca di Beppo and Haveli Indian Cuisine WE ORDERED Tuna melt from Yolk, 0.7 miles away WAIT TIME 18 minutes MINIMUM ORDER AMOUNT Typically $15 DELIVERY FEE $2–$8,…

Bearcats Restaurant The diner-style cuisine at the Stutz Building’s resident eating spot seems right at home in the industrial-arts setting of this repurposed auto factory. After polishing off a crispy-edged cheeseburger or classic breaded tenderloin amid the loading docks and artist studios, you can roam the polishedconcrete hallways to take in owner Turner Woodard’s collection of classic cars— including the sleek and futuristic replica of the 1928 Stutz Blackhawk Special, parked just beyond the row of booths. 1055 N. Senate Ave., 602-3509, bearcatsindy.net One South Although the Hyatt Regency’s gleaming, atriumside restaurant offers a full menu at lunch, you really only need to know about the Pasta Bar—a tiny prep station tucked into the corner of the crisp hotel dining room. Pick your noodle, meat, and sauce, and tell the…

Junior high. The Who am I? Where do I fit in? hell on Earth. The dark chasm between the pleasant memory of grade school and the hope of high school. A blessed time of abundance and bounty—of oil, on the skin and in the hair. Pimples, periods, and armpit odor. Feet that grew so quickly they couldn’t step without tangling around one another. Emotional havoc, exploding hormones, the whole social lion’s den. But in my eyes, I had it harder than most. It was the dawn of the ’70s, and as Preacher Arnold’s youngest daughter, I competed for attention, not just with two older sisters but with Dad’s boss (God) and his Greenwood church. I rebelled by making it my one goal to establish myself as an individual, cooler than—…

TWICE WHILE DINING at Fletcher Place newcomer Nourish, I had to ask my server, point blank, “Now, what am I eating again?” One dish in question was a cup of white gazpacho—smooth and thick but with a fruity lightness and a little bit of heat tempered by cool cucumber. My server explained that the chilled soup had almonds as its base, ground to a milky stock and blended with white grapes, cilantro, lime juice, and jalapeño to create the curiously luscious fusion that hit every flavor note. On another visit, I had to be talked through the layers of a dense chocolate cremeux, the silky quenelles of pudding flecked with smoked salt and shards of dark chocolate, all floating on a fluff of thick whipped cream and, beneath that, a…

DOWNTOWN INCLUDES Chatham Arch, Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square 1913 Restaurant UPSCALE COMFORT Farm-table standards get a glossy do-over at this hotel restaurant tucked just off the polished marble lobby of the Omni Severin. The dining room, all dark lacquer and leathery browns, feels a bit stuffy, but diners easily warm up to a menu that includes a root beer–cured pork chop as big as a catcher’s mitt, topped with sweet bacon marmalade; and half a chicken roasted to a juicy, rosy hue and plated with succotash and a little tin pan of sweet corn “milk” for dipping. The sides—such as macaroni-and-cheese pie and sauteed Brussels sprouts—get passed around the table, and vintage cocktails come courtesy of skilled mixologists. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. 40 W. Jackson…

Bryan R. Mayol, MD Indiana University Health Physicians IU Health Saxony Hospital 13100 E. 136th St., Ste. 2000 Fishers, IN 46037 IU Health North Hospital 11725 Illinois St., Ste. 515 Carmel, IN 46032 317-688-5980 www.iuhealth.org/specialty/care/orthopedics-sportsmedicine Practice Focus: Sports medicine, Tenex© procedure for chronic tendon pain, musculoskeletal ultrasound, joint/soft tissue injections, fracture care, exertional compartment syndrome testing, concussion management, acute and chronic muscle/bone/joint concerns for people of all ages Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine Fellowship Training: Central Indiana Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Board Certification: American Board of Family Medicine, Certificate ofAdded Qualifications ir Sports Medicine Professional Affiliations: American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM); Indiana State Medical Association Hospital Affiliations: IU Health Saxony Hospital and Ambulatory Surgery Center, IU Health North Hospital, IU Health Methodist Hospital Additional Information: Assistant…

GREETINGS, AND WELCOME TO THE CITY OF NOBLESVILLE, host of the 2015 Home-A-Rama. The City of Noblesville is proud to be selected again as the site for Home-A-Rama, this year held at Sagamore. The beautifully constructed homes have been envisioned and built by members of the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis and will showcase why people want to be a part of Noblesville. As mayor, I hope that you’ll take some time to explore our city and discover for yourself why Noblesville is a unique place and a growing community, one that has been nationally recognized as a great place to live, work, play, and retire. Currently, the City of Noblesville boasts more than 85 miles of trails and is home to four beautiful public parks, including Forest Park. City…

McKENZIE COLLECTION John McKenzie 4631 Lisborn Dr. Carmel, IN 46033 317-281-7061 john@mckenziecollection.com mckenziecollection.com BUILDER PHILOSOPHY The McKenzie mission is to build homes with the quality our clients expect, the design that fits their lifestyle, and a customer experience that’s creative, relaxed, and fun. John and Jim McKenzie have more than six decades of experience in the building industry. As they have built their business together, they have based their work on the belief that the relationships they develop, the communities they create, and the process through which they take their clients are just as important as the homes they build. John and Jim specialize in active-adult, low-maintenance communities that feature highly customized homes with distinct architectural styles. SHOW HOME APPROACH McKenzie’s approach to our home’s design was to incorporate the…

OLD TOWN DESIGN GROUP Jeff Langston and Justin Moffett 1132 S. Range Line Rd. Carmel, IN 46032 317-626-8486 jeff@oldtowndesigngroup.com oldtowndesigngroup.com BUILDER PHILOSOPHY Old Town Design Group is a custom homebuilder based in Carmel. Connected by a commitment to improve the places clients live and work, co-founders Jeff Langston of Heartwood Custom Homes, an established custom homebuilder, and Justin Moffett, an experienced local developer, joined forces. Their partnership combines the best of what each has to offer to form Old Town Design Group, with the attention to detail required to create exemplary homes. No other builder offers the same combination of innovation, quality craftsmanship, outstanding locations, and timeless designs. SHOW HOME APPROACH We had the privilege of designing and building this home in partnership with our homeowner. We believe that close…

CHRISTOPH HITZ Freelance illustrator/graphic designer Christoph Hitz works in his garage-turned-studio, so he can only envy those enjoying a lunch out, the subject of his illustration this month (“Lunch Is Served,” p. 58). “I typically commute the 15 feet back to my house and fix a healthy illustrator lunch,” he says. “Something like bok choy with shrimp dumplings and garlic.” But a quick glance at his list of clients suggests the guy should be power-lunching at The Capital Grille. He has contributed work to Forbes, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. DEBI DIXON In 1970, freelance writer Debi Dixon’s mother sent her to Sears, Roebuck & Company to learn some manners at charm school. “Mom was open to anything that might pique my interest in proper, ladylike…

As president and CEO of the Indy-based Lumina Foundation, Merisotis leads a $1.3 billion nonprofit at the forefront of reforming higher education. We sat down with the wonk for a Socratic dialogue about his book, America Needs Talent, released this month. IM: ACCORDING TO THE REALITY-TV SHOW, AMERICA ALREADY HAS TALENT. Talent is what made us great in the 20th century, the American Century. Circumstances have changed: global competition is greater; our immigration policy is a mess. For the better part of four decades, the national higher-ed attainment rate has been flat. If we want a second American Century, we have to invest in talent. IM: DO YOU ADVISE THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON THEIR HIGHER-ED POLICIES? They’re private conversations, but we’re putting information in their hands, including the book.…

1 PERK UP At Bee Coffee Roasters, you could go for one of the trendy pour-overs, but we recommend the Dr. Tim’s Special, a signature cappuccino with honey, unsweetened cocoa powder, half and half, and three shots of espresso. Bee uses only Indiana-roasted beans. Pan Am Plaza, 201 S. Capitol Ave., 2 SHOP A tip of the cap to Lids, an Indybased sportswear company started 20 years ago—since then, the retailer has ventured well beyond hats to all sorts of fan gear. Lids Locker Room carries more apparel than the company’s regular stores. Still, the trendy baseball-cap collections always score the most style points. Pan Am Plaza, 201 S. Capitol Ave., 384-1735, lids.com 3 PEEK St. John’s Catholic Church, serving the first Catholic parish in Indianapolis, has been a Georgia…

“EARTH GIANT,” a massive chicken-wire sculpture of a reclining gnomish monk, occupied a sidewalk in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for several weeks in 2013. It turned heads, but the composition of tree limbs, grapevines, and moss in the midst of downtown was considered perfectly normal during ArtPrize (artprize.org), an annual event that converts Grand Rapids into a citywide indoor-outdoor gallery—all of it free to explore. ArtPrize returns September 23–October 15, when more than 1,600 artists from 48 countries vie for the approval of the voting public and a panel of experts—plus a share of the world-record $500,000 in prize money. Their works will fill 162 venues within a 3-square-mile area downtown. “It’s an incredibly energetic combination of museum, street fair, and public forum on ‘what is art?’” says Tom Kaufmann, who…

Do you often get asked to do the dance from Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion? Yes, Jesus Christ, I do. At wedding receptions. I never do it. It’s one of those things I did a million years ago. You’ve said that you’ve done “808-and-a-half” performances of Cabaret. What was the half? I banged my head on a light once during a show. I got a concussion and had to go to the hospital at intermission. Your current show is called “Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs.” Would you consider yourself sappy? I’m Scottish. We’re an emotional people. Sentimentality isn’t necessarily a bad thing. How did you wind up in a Jay Z video? I just got a phone call. I met him at a party, and his friends were saying…

Scratch Truck PRICE POINT $8–$11 MUST ORDER The grilled cheese smothered with short ribs, caramelized onions, and arugula FOLLOW @scratchtruck FREQUENTLY FOUND On Georgia Street for Food Truck Friday INSIDER TIP Be ready for a 15-minute wait as your order is prepared from—what else?—scratch. Der Pretzel Wagen PRICE POINT $5–$10 MUST ORDER The Das Fritz turkey sandwich in a homemade pretzel bun FOLLOW @derpretzelwagen FREQUENTLY FOUND Going solo on the north side INSIDER TIP The Uber Combo gives you the most bang for your buck, with a sandwich, chips, a drink, and a Bavarian-style pretzel for only $10. Citizen Hash PRICE POINT $3–$10 MUST ORDER Koreanbarbecue tacos stuffed with steak, slaw, and pickled cucumbers FOLLOW @HashTruckIndy FREQUENTLY FOUND Parked at downtown clustertruck events INSIDER TIP Go for the three-for-$10 tacos…

Don’t go at noon. Just don’t. / But if you have that lapse in judgment, recover by sending a scouting party like Lewis & Clark to search for a table and text the location to your lunchmates. / Head straight to Chocolate for the Spirit for free gelato samples to avoid the impending hunger pangs while you circle the building to weigh your options. / The Pantry’s filet sliders and chef-made mac ‘n’ cheese are worth the wait. / Make a beeline for Jumbo’s if you need to jet back to the office. It’s the quickest selection. / Grab a bag of freshly made chips from The Amazing Potato Chip Company for later to cure midafternoon munchies. / Avoid eye contact with the vendors. Or leave with soft pretzels and…

CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY ETIQUETTE When Indianapolis Propylaeum event and marketing director Elizabeth Turner thinks of etiquette, she pictures Julia Roberts fretting over which fork to use in Pretty Woman. The courses Turner coordinates with etiquette coaches at the Propylaeum address that dilemma and more, turning the old mansion into a popular destination for elementaryschool field trips at which kids can enjoy learning proper table manners—especially once the food arrives. From $20, by appointment only. 638-7881, thepropylaeum.org THE ETIQUETTE AND LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE OF INDIANA In company president and founder John Scott’s eyes, manners and etiquette are all about making others comfortable. Scott strives to instill that in his students, ages 5–18, through lessons in social dancing, dressing for success, and table etiquette at locations throughout the city. Next up: Little Ambassadors…

PRIOR TO JOINING Tinker Street’s team as beverage manager and sommelier one week before the popular Herron-Morton restaurant opened in January, Lindsay Slone spent nine years as a bartender and worked as a sales rep for Vanguard Wines and Crossroad Vintners distributors. That combination of skills—both pouring and pitching fine wines—gave the IUPUI grad, who turns 31 this month, the perfect background for arguably the coolest job in town. “It’s in my blood,” Slone says. But apparently that’s not enough. In April, Slone passed the first (of four) Guild of Sommeliers tests toward becoming a Master Sommelier. Next month, she hopes to crack the second level, bringing her that much closer to the most distinguished of oenophiles. She gets plenty on-the-job training, estimating that she tastes roughly 30 wines a…

HOW FITTING that the lofty, Space Age lobby of Flix Brewhouse resembles an airport terminal. Watching the latest blockbuster at the third location of this Texas-based cinemaand-brewpub outfit can feel like business-class air travel—right down to the slide-out tray tables and the loudspeakers announcing row-by-row seatings. And while most of the seatbacks don’t recline, there is a call button above your tray to press if you need another beer or a second round of wings. A member of the waitstaff will appear and discreetly grab your order card. No missing that chase scene while you head to the lobby. Flix also delivers on its promise to be a bona fide brewery in its own right. Six “mainstay” beers and rotating seasonal pours, produced by Columbus, Indiana, native and former RAM…

JOJO, THE GORGEOUS Maine Coon mix I rescued as a kitten, has been gone for two years. When an open door proved too tempting, off she went, never to return, and I haven’t gotten over her disappearance. Considering the alternative, I hope she was stolen and receives kindly care. Note to thief: She likes her water bowl filled to the top so she can splash in it like a kid in a wading pool. I haven’t had good luck with cats since Scooter, a stray tabby I loved for 21 years, passed on. When I brought home Sonny, a rambunctious orange kitten abandoned at the vet, he almost pulled down a window shade and was returned the next day. And you know what happened to Jojo. So here I am,…

GRADISON DESIGN BUILD Joe and Mark Gradison 6330 E. 75th St., Ste. 156 Indianapolis, IN 46250 317-594-7575, ext. 224 jgradison@gradison.net kshipman@gradison.net gradisonbuilding.com BUILDER PHILOSOPHY Nearly 30 years ago, brothers Mark and Joe founded Gradison Design Build with the mission to create beautiful, distinctive homes and genuine relationships. During this time, Gradison has helped many families build the quality homes they deserve and love to return to day after day. Each home is carefully crafted with innovative design and ingenuity based on the homeowner’s personality and style. Gradison is participating in its fifth award-winning Home-A-Rama event. Working closely with clients from the very beginning with lot selection, through the home-design process, and during construction, Gradison develops a bond based upon trust and experience with each and every client. SHOW HOME APPROACH…

SAGAMORE MAY BE A SHORT PUTT FROM Indianapolis, but it’s a long drive from the ordinary. Located in the heart of Noblesville near 166th Street and Union Chapel Road, the site of the 2015 Home-A-Rama is a neighborhood that not only boasts the only 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in Central Indiana, but also includes a host of world-class amenities, diverse lot sizes, and a wide range of custom home plans to meet everyone’s needs. “Our residents are attracted to the casual country-club lifestyle that we cultivate here at Sagamore,” says Mike Stone, development manager and director of sales for the neighborhood. “It’s the kind of place that offers something for everyone. Mom and Dad may enjoy a round of golf or a day at the tennis courts while…

ON SEPTEMBER 19, AROUND 1,000 PARTICIpants will wind their way through scenic downtown Zionsville to raise money and support for cancer programs throughout St. Vincent Health. What started a few years ago as a 38-mile, two-day walk to raise breast cancer awareness has evolved into a 5K or 10-mile run/walk—the St. Vincent Cancer Run/Walk Challenge. Funds raised will help make diagnosis and treatment a more comfortable experience for patients fighting all forms of cancer. A portion of the proceeds from a VIP event held in conjunction with Home-A-Rama also supports the event. “When we initially started, there was a strong focus on breast cancer. This walk is really intended to raise awareness and funds for all different types of cancers,” explains Darcy Burthay, member of the St. Vincent Foundation’s board…