Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Indianapolis Monthly

A minor miracle took place in our office this month: The team here, led by deputy editor Daniel Comiskey, was able to pull together the “Best of Indy” issue (p. 59), our annual celebration of the latest and greatest the city has to offer. “Closing” an issue of a magazine is always a feat. Toasting the achievement with a party (and lots of booze) is an industry tradition. But given the events of the last year, it’s an even bigger deal, one that says more about all of you out there than us. The notion that over the last year business life went on in the face of some of the worst conditions in generations—a pandemic spiked with social and political strife—is one thing. But in the process, owners and…

A PROFESSIONAL chemist by day, Larry Malone appreciates metals like silver and copper on a molecular level. But he’s also a self-taught jeweler who transforms those metals into chain-mail bracelets and necklaces that drape like second skins. “It’s just a form of weaving with metal,” he says. “But it has a neat effect. There’s something about the feel of it when it’s done right.” Malone’s talent evolved from tragedy. His daughter-in-law passed away at an early age, and she left behind a beading kit. He thought it seemed like a shame to get rid of it, so he started tinkering with it, and found a hobby. What began with beads gradually morphed into metalwork. “That was more fun, because I got to play with a torch,” he says. Now, with…

PROTEIN-PACKED MEAL-REPLACEMENT drinks have long been a medical weight-loss method, but starved of tempting flavors like the ones you’ll find at Energy Spot, a protein-smoothie bar. The menu has about 75 options, from the guy-favorite strawberry banana to no-way recipes like mintbrownie overload and banana cream pie. The base is Herbalife powder with 21 vitamins and minerals, and most drinks macro out to around 17 grams of protein, 230 calories, 10 net carbs, and nine grams of sugar (beware, though, the drinks are dolled up with extra sweet toppings for social media). While the south and west sides are home to several Energy Spot franchise locations, they require buying a shake as part of a combo with energy shots and tea. The new Brownsburg counter has a shake-only option if…

Swoon The Fold Before it closed in 2017, George Muñoz’s tiny La Chinita Poblana in Broad Ripple introduced late-night grazers to Asian-Mexican street tacos served in an 800-square-foot, standing-room-only taco shop. A spiffed-up Chinita returns early next year, one of the vendors filling out the Garage Food Hall in Mass Ave’s Bottleworks District. The menu revisits the fusion concept with fillings like Korean barbecue and kimchi, Mexican-style street corn, and this nextlevel quesadilla filled with five-spice pulled pork. lachinitapoblana.com—JULIA SPALDING…

THIS WAS ALREADY A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR CHEFS BECAUSE OF COVID, AND THEN YOU GOT YOUR CANCER DIAGNOSIS. WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO JUGGLE BOTH? It has been weird, that’s for sure. Even before I was diagnosed, I was sick for three solid months. WHAT WERE YOUR SYMPTOMS? FATIGUE? Yes, I would get up in the morning to shower and go downstairs to the basement, where I kept all of my clothes. Sometimes, I would just get my underwear on and have to lie down on the futon and take a 15-minute nap. Then I would drive to Studio C and sit in my truck for 10 minutes to rest before I could go inside. And I did that intermitt ently all day. WERE YOU CONCERNED THAT IT WAS…

In a year that has been the absolute worst, our city still produced plenty of things worthy of the term “best.” Locally designed board games for our winter quarantine? Move ahead nine spaces (p. 68). A new, nationally acclaimed auction house for African-American art? Our bidding paddle rises (p. 70). A beer-and-wine vending machine? Take all of our crispest dollar bills (p. 75). It’s time for our annual celebration of Indianapolis, a happy diversion during the last months of the pandemic. Reported by SARAH BAHR, ASHLEY BROOKS, MEGAN FERNANDEZ, LOU HARRY, DYLAN LEE HODGES, SETH JOHNSON, TERRY KIRTS, SUZANNE KROWIAK, LAURA KRUTY, AMY LYNCH, AND JULIA SPALDING…

The stylish brand has been around for more than a century, but an official Triumph Motorcycles dealership (125 N. College Ave., 463-212-7500, triumphindianapolis.com) rolled into Indy for the first time this year. The place sources its bikes from across the pond to flaunt in its downtown Cole-Noble showroom. But if you’re not ready to drop $10,000 on a cruiser, Triumph stocks a lot of sexy work shirts, gloves, and leather jackets as well. It doesn’t hurt that they bear the logo of the company featured prominently in the new James Bond film, No Time to Die. Slim Wallet Tiny wallets designed to hold credit cards may be taking over the accessory aisle, but have you ever tried to get cash in and out of those things? It’s not easy. Leather-goods…

Because so many of us are cooking at home more lately, there has never been a better time to invest in a luxury blade. Aric Geesaman of Ash Blaeds (5883 W. Falling Waters Dr., McCordsville, 248-709-7461, ashblaeds.com) handcrafts durable knives forged from high-carbon steel, with finishing touches like a flameblackened birdseye maple handle. Geesaman counts the chefs at Thunderbird, Turchetti’s Salumeria, Rooster’s Kitchen, and Field Brewing as customers. And, with a lifetime guarantee, the $200 to $900 you’ll spend is a reasonable splurge.…

Crimson Tate With around 75 designs honoring groundbreaking women from Florence Nightingale to Malala Yousafzai, modern quilt store Crimson Tate mixes Superwoman style with pandemic protection. The cotton masks made by Shine Bright Stitchers are reversible, with a different fabric on each side. 845 Massachusetts Ave., 317-426-3300, crimsontate.com People for Urban Progress PUP’s face coverings were a Circle City collab in the best way—Crimson Tate donated the fabric, the urban design nonprofit’s stitchers made the masks, and you get to rock a floral or geometric design from two of the city’s do-gooders. 160 Steeples Blvd., peopleup.org Jess West Costumes If you’ve seen a Star Wars or Sorting Hat mask around Indy, odds are it came from Jess West. The shop features more than 150 versions, adorned with everything from Minions…

Officially, they’re charcuterie boards. But we can’t imagine putting salami and goat cheese on these gorgeous platters, created by Brian Presnell of Indy Urban Hardwood and painted by local artists such as Kyle Ragsdale and Johnny McKee. The Harrison Center (harrisoncenter.org/porchparty-platters) hosted a gallery show of the handcrafted planks of maple, walnut, and more in August and has been selling the remaining ones since. Presnell spends most of his time making commercial furniture and running an urban lumberyard dedicated to saving ash wood that would otherwise be mulched as the emerald ash borer makes its way through Indy’s trees. This line of kitchenware, however, is a cut above. Archival Performances When the pandemic hit, many of Indy’s performing-arts groups struggled to adapt to a virtual world. At least as far…

“On March 20, we shut down our office for spring break. As I watched my staff leave, I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to be coming back. We had to figure out a way to weather the storm. I spent about 48 hours feeling sorry for myself. Then we stepped back and looked at our resources—a passionate group of people; vans, trucks, and trailers; and a facility we’d just moved into on the nearnorthwest side. We’re truly a logistics organization that serves 60,000 kids a year at hundreds of schools, so we already had infrastructure in place and decided to capitalize on that. I sent emails to our community partners, and they connected me with Gleaners and the mayor’s office. Just 48 hours later, we were picking up pallets…

Amberson Coffee & Grocer COFFEEHOUSE The cinderblock shell of a former service station houses this neighborhood coffee spot with grocery cases, outdoor seating under the awning, and a drive-up window. In addition to expertly poured vanilla-date lattes and a signature Summer Dandy with Onyx Coffee Ecuadorian espresso, plum reduction, and oat cream sweetened with maple syrup, the shop offers a small daily selection of baked goods, like a tasty “bisquet” grilled up with fig jam and butter, and a scone enriched with Asian pears and maple. Heartier fare comes in the form of an avocado toast topped with goat cheese crumbles or an equally fine toast with ricotta and poached nectarines. And while the $16 “damned fine sandwich” may try your daily lunch budget, the stack of Brie, Colby, fromage…

101 Beer Kitchen CASUAL The energy is high and the flavors are forward at this Ohio import. In a dining room that combines the best parts of a craft brewery and an unfussy family haunt, crowdpleasing dishes like loaded tater tots, Andouille sausage–spiked shrimp and grits, and brown-butt ered pierogies have lots of moving parts, complex but more fun than fancy. A full bar runs parallel to the booths, offering a row of taps and special att ention to honeyed meads. The Yard at Fishers District, Fishers, 317-537-2041, 101beerkitchen.com 1933 Lounge STEAK AND COCKTAILS A younger, sexier take on Indy’s fine-dining institution, St. Elmo Steak House, informs the genteel tone of this modern cocktail lounge, one of the first occupants to open its doors in The Yard at Fishers District,…

“We double-dated with another couple for dinner at the Crystal Room inside the Marriott before prom. The doorman watched me struggle through the entrance in my Gone With the Wind–style, hoop-skirted gown, and said, ‘You are a beautiful bride!’” —JULIA SPALDING, DINING EDITOR “I wish I had been self-confident enough to wear something wild enough to later regret. It was the standard-issue, ill-fitting tux from Men’s Wearhouse for me.” —DANIEL S. COMISKEY, DEPUTY EDITOR “Dyed-to-match shoes that didn’t quite match.” —ANDREA RATCLIFF, SPECIAL SECTIONS DIRECTOR…

Speed Read It’s a Date Superstar TV producer Ryan Murphy returns to his Indiana roots this month with a new movie, The Prom. The Prom BASED ON A BROADWAY SHOW, THE PROM MAY BE RYAN MURPHY’S MOST AMBITIOUS PROJECT YET. With a blockbuster cast that includes Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, James Corden, and Kerry Washington, the film tells the story of a few self-involved stage stars from New York who try to burnish their images by standing up for a lesbian high schooler in Indiana barred from attending her prom. It premieres on Netflix December 11 as part of Murphy’s well-publicized five-year, $300 million deal with the streaming service. MURPHY, WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN INDY, SAW HIS STRUGGLES AT WARREN CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL REFLECTED IN THE PLAY. The…

CAFFEINATE If you’re looking for a “rustic pastry,” head to Main & Madison Market Café (1), where you’ll drool over the Famous Stuffed Peanut Butter Cookie. (We hear it’s famous.) You can order an espresso to go with your breakfast ciabatta or enjoy a cup of Rishi gourmet tea. Keep an eye out for the winter pepperminty, caramel-y coffee specials, too. 100 N. Main St., 317-736-6246, mainandmadison. cafe TOUR The Johnson County Museum of History (2) doesn’t just deck the halls; it decks trees and the Victorian-themed room, too. It’s all perfectly festive, but the museum is more than just decor. It also has 400-million-year-old artifacts and a life-size replica of a Conestoga wagon. 135 N. Main St., 317-346-4500, co.johnson.in.us/jcmuseum DINE It’s not every day that a modern American restaurant…

New in Town PAINTED IN a dramatic shade of chili-pepper red, Argentinian restaurant and fresh meat counter Che Chori is hard to miss along its busy stretch of West 16th Street. Owners Marcos and Laura Perera are real estate investors who couldn’t resist the small Speedway-adjacent building originally constructed as a Rally’s double drive-through. The menu celebrates a different kind of grab-and-go cuisine: the meaty streetvendor food that Marcos grew up eating in his native Argentina. At Che Chori (scheduled to open next month), chorizo-laced burgers are topped with ham, eggs, and cheese, while chicken, pork, and beef Milanese sandwiches bulge from French baguett es. Marcos hopes Indy diners will also become familiar with Argentina’s signature choripan, a butt erflied housemade sausage inside a warm bun, topped with chimichurri—a sandwich…

I DON’T GET out much anymore. I won’t bore you with the obvious reasons, except to say that when I do venture beyond my own little nest of socially distanced Zoom meetings and Instacart deliveries, the world feels much bigger and more breathtaking than I remember it from before. Whole new businesses have launched during our nine-month-long (and counting) pandemic intermission—hopeful, exciting signs of life. One of those marvels, Vivante French Eatery, made a quiet debut amid the limestone-and-brick splendor of Carmel City Center in late August (a date that tracks somewhere between Lovecraft Country and The Queen’s Gambit on the official COVID-19 calendar). The restaurant is as big and elegant as a ballroom, with eggshell walls and fine, crown-molded columns—and as pristine as a rich man’s home office, all…

EVERY SO OFTEN, I get a phone call or email from someone wanting to make a movie or television show based on a book I’ve writt en. When this first happened, 25 years ago, I almost quit my day job in expectation of untold riches and began looking for a home in Beverly Hills. The TV people strung me along for a month, then asked if I could write a book with more sex and violence. I declined, gratuitous sex and violence being inconsistent with my day job as a Quaker pastor. So the TV people went on to do a wholesome family show about serial killers. The experience wasn’t a total loss, because I had thoroughly enjoyed the month of sweet anticipation, dreaming of what I might do with…

Early this year, Carmel’s only skateboard shop opened on Rangeline Road. A partnership between Aaron Vaughn and Nick Holub, Minus Carmel (622 S. Rangeline Rd., minuscarmel.com) is unique in a couple of ways. First, it’s a Black-owned business in a suburb that could use more of that kind of thing. And while Minus sells all the decks and hardware you’d expect, the bonus here is that it’s a boutique, too. The shop offers streetwear brands like London-based Yardsale and chinos from San Fran–based Ben Davis (no connection to the Indy high school). Serious skaters can now shred in style.…

You Should See Me in a Crown BY LEAH JOHNSON Building on Indy’s reputation for great Y.A. fiction (thank you, John Green), Johnson’s first novel recently earned a spot on Reese Witherspoon’s book-club list. The story chronicles a queer Black girl’s quest to become prom queen at her small-town Indiana high school. Author in Chief BY CRAIG FEHRMAN In addition to being a regular contributor to IM and several national publications, Fehrman is also a talented historian. The Bloomingtonian’s first book searches for insights in the U.S. presidents’ autobiographies. Along the way, readers are treated to a lot of fun trivia. (Harry Truman signed 4,000 copies of his book in a single day!) The Lucky One BY LORI RADER-DAY A native of the small city of Lebanon, Rader-Day has built…

Indy’s buzzy new placemaking experiment is Pokémon Go meets public art. Download the Indy Art & Seek app on your phone (indyartandseek.org), visit the more than 100 site-specific installations in 25 of the city’s neighborhoods, and earn prizes like T-shirts or a pair of binoculars. Most of the work, from dead trees wrapped in caution tape to a liquid-activated butterfly sidewalk mural in Haughville (bring your water bottle), will stay put at least through the end of the year, so you can spread your strolling out over a few weekends.…

Long before hungry, homebound locals were looking up new delivery options in 2020, chef Tawana Gulley was quietly building a customer base here with soulful Southern dishes, learned from her mother, at Black Bowè Bistro & Bakery (317-210-0345, bistrofoodforthesoul.com/black-bistro). Now with new meal-prep options, the kitchen offers delicate fried catfish, salmon patties, cheesesteaks, and smothered potatoes and onions. Recently, Gulley added house-fried rice, jumbo egg rolls, and decadent double buttah burgers. All of it is a welcome departure from the takeout pizza and Chinese food we’ve been eating. Cupcakes in a Jar V. TAYBRON’s cupcakes in a jar (savorv.com) are a unique, photo-ready way to mark a special occasion. And while you can’t go wrong ordering Taybron’s top-selling M.C. Grahammer (graham-cracker cupcake with cheesecake filling and cherry frosting), she has…

If there was a sweet side to 2020’s impact on Indy’s culinary scene, it was the emergence of top-notch new bakeries for excellent bread and pastries. None has drawn longer lines of hungry carb lovers than Leviathan Bakehouse (1101 N. College Ave., 317-493-1879, leviathanbakehouse.com), the funky patisserie and lunch spot that local pastry chef Pete Schmutte opened in July. The bakery’s signature jambon beurre sandwich of ham and imported butter on a chewy, light baguette quickly became a social media darling. But danishes filled with Indian saag paneer or fresh figs and goat cheese were equal standouts, as well as world-class croissants, brown-butter cookies, and éclairs. Curbside Bodega Quarantined home cooks who feared they wouldn’t be able to find the yeast and flour for their baking projects, as well as…

Steve Raymer A former photographer at National Geographic, Steve Raymer has worked in more than 100 countries. But this month’s photo essay on the Chin culture in Indy (p. 82) gave him the opportunity to do something new. “Photographing a U.S. naturalization ceremony has always been on my bucket list,” he says. “Seeing all those smiles from new citizens was the high point of this assignment.” Ashley Brooks Freelance writer Ashley Brooks may be known for co-founding the restaurant Milktooth, but she’s also passionate about social justice. Her latest projects, like the Garfield Park Farmers Market and Indy Women in Food, bring in people who are sometimes overlooked. “That’s why I was so excited to highlight Taylor Hall of Black Women in Charge in this year’s ‘Best of Indy’ (p.…

“Fowling” rhymes with “bowling,” and it’s like cornhole with 10 pins and a football. The only place to fowl is at the far end of the Circle City Industrial Complex. First-timers: Try challenge play, $10 for an unlimited session. Scout league videos on YouTube for technique. Twoon-two is an ideal team size. But there are enough lanes for the whole family, Philip Rivers. If balls from another lane knock over pins in your lane, they count. Keep your head on a swivel and play defense. Put some deep coverage on your beers, too. The highest accomplishment is getting to blow the bonk horn, which is not a euphemism. Ask about fowling’s origins at the Indy 500. Missing big? There’s no shame in the underhand referee toss.…

Wanted Auld Lang Brine New Year’s Eve is nigh, and whether you’re planning to host a grand gala or hit the couch and binge Schitt’s Creek all over again, this is the only accessory you really need: an opulent Beatriz Ball “Ocean” champagne-oyster bucket for eating oysters on the half-shell, and only oysters on the half-shell. Because the less versatile an item is, the more luxurious it is. Here’s another pearl of wisdom: Crisp bubbly is the perfect accoutrement for washing down these briny-savory bits, with or without lemon juice, horseradish, or mignonette sauce, and a bottle of it fits nicely into the platter’s champagne chiller. Despite its luxe looks, the seashell-inspired piece is handmade using an easy-to-care-for aluminum alloy that’s safe in the oven and the freezer. Move over,…

HOW DO YOUR STYLE AND STAGE PRESENCE SYNC? Fluidly. I often reference the way I look in riffs. If I think I may bomb, I’ll dress up so I can go down with dignity. I typically look like Spinelli from Recess, but I throw on a dress and Louboutins once a week. WHAT ABOUT OFF STAGE? It’s backyard bougie. Carhartt and cashmere. SUM UP YOUR LOOK. I love the juxtaposition of different styles living together on this celery-stick body I have. I have a black Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress and a quilted, reversible, retro Jordan jacket that dudes try and buy off my back on the street. YOUR STYLE IS SORT OF “SPORTY SPICE.” My brother, cousin, and I started an apparel line, UNDRDG, when Butler men’s basketball got…

MENSWEAR HAS been trending in women’s fashion for a while, and now the ladies are borrowing from their men’s—er, granddads’—Dopp kits, too. The resurgence of the metal safety razor for women is fueled by the plastic-free crowd and loved by self-care devotees. This Eco-Roots rose-gold beauty at MerMarché (formerly Kindred Bohème) promises a closer shave, less irritation from ingrown hairs, and more days between shaves. It comes with five replacement blades, which you should switch out aft er seven uses. Operating at a 30-degree angle and using light, short strokes are key to a nick-free shave, according to store owner Christie Wright. And go slow—treat shave day like a spa day. BUY IT EcoRoots rosegold safety razor. $38. MerMarché, 301 S. Rangeline Rd., Carmel, 317-564-8279 FIRST-TIME TIPS Never use on dry…

Road Trip For three years, hardcore fans of Neapolitanstyle pizza have found their way to Greencastle for the surprisingly authentic woodfired version at Bridge’s Craft Pizza & Wine Bar. Now, they can pick up some equally on-the-mark loaves of chewy sourdough and rustic semolina bread from its sibling BreadWorks by Bridges two blocks away. The high-volume bakery opened in October and shares the pizzeria’s chef, Sal Fernandez, a California transplant who trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and brings the French boulangerie concept to a new two-story building that is not your average bakery. The 10,000-square-foot corner space has a demonstration kitchen, room for events, and a bistro serving sandwiches and house-roasted meats by the pound. Glass cases just inside the atrium entrance show offtidy rows…

Check out GALLERY PASTRY BAR’s full description on page 120.…

FOR A FEW MONTHS in 1950, Kurt Vonnegut juggled three different careers. While he was working as a publicist at GE, he was also dreaming about being a writer. That dream—and its lack of compensation—eventually led to his third and most unlikely profession: fashion designer. Vonnegut imagined a trendy bow tie made out of the ribbon the Atomic Energy Commission used to rope off radioactive hotspots. He pieced together a prototype and sent it to a friend in the clothing industry. They would cash in on Cold War anxieties, Vonnegut predicted. “You can make them as lousy as you damn please,” he wrote, “teenagers being what they are.” The bow tie never materialized, and two years later, Vonnegut published his first novel, Player Piano. But it wasn’t until 1969’s Slaughterhouse-Five…

The pandemic complicated the filming schedule of Good Bones, but it didn’t stop the HGTV stars from expanding the brand with their first retail shop, Two Chicks District Co. (1531 S. East St., 317-426-3652, twochicksdistrictco.com). Located in Bates-Hendricks, the home boutique sells tabletop wares, pillows, a smattering of furniture, attitude-y gifts, and the delicate gold hammer necklace that renovation queen Mina Starsiak Hawk wears on the show. Good Bones doesn’t loom large over the store, though, and is mostly confined to items made by co-star Karen E Laine. Instead, the modern and fresh selection puts the “chic” in chick.…

An eclectic new arrival at the Solomon Paris Antiques building, the Corner Bazaar (1105 E. 52nd St., 317-377-4639, thecornerbazaar.com) brings a treasure trove of gorgeous glassware, quirky collectibles, funky home furnishings, framed art, and 1960s fashions to SoBro. Owner Sheryl Selvey prides herself on her midcentury-modern sensibilities, but lest you think it’s all high-design antiques, the lunchbox-to-boom-box inventory also includes an impressive anthology of vintage vinyl, rock posters, and OG audio equipment curated by local musician John Zeps. Every item here tells a story, and browsing the place is like snooping around in your grandma’s attic. If your grandma was groovy. Organic Decor The casually sophisticated HOUSE SEVEN DESIGN SHOPPE (111 E. 49th St., 317-384-1068, housesevendesign.com) is exactly the store Meridian-Kessler deserves. The room is done up in “modern vintage,”…

Eric Doepp doesn’t always follow the rules when it comes to the ancient art of bonsai. He has grown his business, Fountain Square Bonsai (1336 Shelby St., fsqbonsai.com), by sometimes breaking tradition—uniquely potting his little trees in vintage beer cans and boomboxes. Popups play a major role in the company’s popularity, with most of his sales coming from tables set outside popular venues such as Wildwood Market and Pure Eatery. But Doepp has shipped bonsais to 36 states, and it’s easier than ever to buy his greenery now that he has his own storefront. It’s located amid a collective of shipping containers called The 1933 in—you guessed it—Fountain Square.…

Hoosier National BY OTIS GIBBS Hailing from Wanamaker, Gibbs is a veteran of the alt-country scene in Indiana. But Hoosier National, released this past September, marks the first time he has recorded an all-electric album. On songs like “Fountain Square Stare” and “Panhead,” the Thanks for Giving a Damn podcast host showcases his folky storytelling style, painting honest pictures of Indiana living in a way only he can. Too Prickly for This World BY WIFE PATROL Consisting of Nicole O’Neal, Greg O’Neill, and Natasha Richardson O’Neill, this Indy-based trio plays an energetic,’90s-leaning brand of alternative rock. After rising through the ranks of the local bar circuit, Wife Patrol finally released its full-length debut a few months ago. Too Prickly for This World shows off their simple, harmony-rich sound on songs…

“I started protesting in Indianapolis after the death of Dreasjon Reed. He was killed here on May 6, and I began making noise on May 7. My grandfather was an activist in his college years and marched with Martin Luther King in Selma and Boston for voting rights and fair housing. Hearing those stories and seeing pictures of them together really inspired me. My grandfather would speak at my school when I was growing up, and he would talk about meeting MLK and marching with him. He taught me to speak up when I see something is wrong. My mom is even named after Coretta Scott King. Black Women In Charge, the group of us who organized the big protests this spring, was a collaboration that began after George Floyd…

Andrew Elliot @andrewjelliot Cosplay doesn’t cover the How’d he do that? homages to pop culture icons and Broadway characters Indy makeup artist Andrew Elliot has been posting to Instagram since March. His eye-popping impersonations of such celebrities as Lucille Ball and Lady Gaga, which can take up to 12 hours, got a shout in The New York Times this summer. Tanoria Askew and Candace Boyd Wylie @blackgirlseating Two of Indy’s best chefs curate this account’s mash-up of delicious dishes and Black culture, with spotlights on the Black Lives Matter movement and Breonna Taylor. Bonus: Askew and Wylie’s buttermilk biscuit recipe is the perfect pandemic palliative. Erica Ballard @ericaballardhealth A local health coach, Ballard has attracted a huge following with her daily dose of wellness real talk, which never feels like…

The Canadians may get most of the credit for giving the world an A-level comfort food in poutine, with its French-fried potatoes, cheese curds, and creamy gravy. But South Korean–born brothers Jung Gyu and Jung Min Kim have upped the ante with their bulgogi poutine at Korave Korean BBQ at the Fishers Test Kitchen (The Yard at Fishers District, Fishers, 317-953-6412, korave.us). The dish starts with traditional fries, but builds with layers of grilled beef, Monterey Jack cheese, and sweet and spicy sauces. The recently expanded menu options allow customers to customize their poutine with additional topping options such as kimchi, a fried egg, or grilled peppers and onions for a style the Kim brothers call K-Philly. Remote Wine Tasting Nicole Kearney is making Zoom meetings fun again. The founder…

It’s 7:30 IN THE EVENING and I am sitting down for the first time. As I look over at my sliding glass door and my floor-length curtains now tied up four feet above the ground, I see this has become a toddler’s house. The kitchen floor is caked in applesauce. The living room is a minefield of wooden blocks, Legos, and sturdy board books. The couch holds a tall pile of tiny clothes that still need to be folded and put away. It’s 7:30 in the evening, and there are reminders all around me that my day isn’t over quite yet. Life in this house is a nonstop symphony of beautiful chaos. But I asked for all of it. I am a single mother by choice. When I think of all…

INCLUDES Beech Grove, Irvington 10th Street Diner VEGAN Surprisingly familiar and hearty plantbased takes on diner classics occupy the entire menu at this rehab of a former pawn shop, a comfy backdrop for enjoying such tasty fakeouts as a gooey and satisfying seitan Reuben, a “chicken” pot pie, and house chili that rivals your favorite version con carne. Showstoppers include the many-layered lasagna with plenty of fresh veggies, a bright tomato sauce, and a tangy “cheese” concocted from tofu and cashews. 3301 E. 10th St., 463-221-1255 1718 Bates-Hendricks Housebar BAR BITES The creation of Chad Johnson and wife Tiffany Obrecht-Johnson, who moved in 2016 to the near-southside neighborhood that gives the place its name, this darling pub occupies a turn-of-the-century house. Solid, affordable classic cocktails and a deli-style menu form…

Apocalypse Burger BURGERS The Patachou crew repurposed its shutt ered Crispy Bird location into this modernday diner. The focus is on a handful of smashburger variations and clever greasy-spoon sides like Old Major bacon–loaded fries and blocks of fried macaroni and cheese. Originally conceived as a carryout-only COVID pivot, the concept has evolved to include cocktails and beer buckets served on the patio, as well as a few Sunday-brunch selections. 115 E. 49th St., 317-426-5001, apocalypseburger.com Baby’s BURGERS This playful, family-friendly joint limits its menu to smashburgers, broasted chicken, milkshakes (spiked or not), and cocktails, which means it hits every pulse point for its faithful Herron-Morton clientele. Housed in a former drag-show bar, it also has fun with the building’s artsy legacy—the house burger is called a Strut Burger, and…

Byrne’s Grilled Pizza PIZZA What began as a food truck became one of Butler-Tarkington’s most popular brick-and-mortar eateries in 2015. The simple menu here focuses on a tasty gimmick: Pizzas are grilled over an open flame, which chars the thin crust in a manner familiar to Neapolitan lovers. The Hey Zeus (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onion, banana peppers) is a local favorite. 5615 N. Illinois St., 317-737-2056, byrnespizza.com Oakleys Bistro CONTEMPORARY The meticulously plated fare at Steven Oakley’s northwestside eatery hails from a culinary era when sprigs of herbs and puddles of purées provided the flavor. Menu descriptions give clues as to what might arrive at the table, but heads-up on anything that appears in quotes, such as a creative “Coq au Vin.” 1464 W. 86th St., 317-824-1231, oakleysbistro.com Traders Point…

Egg Roll #1 CHINESE AND VIETNAMESE Customers order at the counter—newbies guided by an elaborate photo menu on the wall and regulars reciting their orders by memory—at this spare dining room off a busy southside intersection. Most diners zero in on the deep-bowl Vietnamese off erings: beefball pho in salty, steamy broth, or egg-noodle soup with pork or crab leg. 4576 S. Emerson Ave., 317-787-2225, eggroll1.com Indy’s Burger Joint BURGERS Fat ground-chuck patt ies are canvases for juicy Blue Burgers, Ranchero Burgers, and other dressed-up creations. But the concept of burger is open to interpretation—you can switch out your protein for turkey, chicken, or veggie, and replace the lightly toasted bun for a pretzel bun, gluten-free bun, or lett uce wrap. Chicken wings, salads, and hardto-resist appetizers like loaded tots…

Oasis Diner DINER A 1954 diner in New Jersey was moved to the heart of Plainfield and restored to its original lustre. The menu expanded along with the building, now with more timely things like Disco Fries (a gut-busting take on poutine). But the thick tenderloin is still the best bet. 405 W. Main St., Plainfield, 317-837-7777, oasisdiner.com Rick’s Café Boatyard SEAFOOD You don’t have to be a Parrothead to appreciate the pontoon-life allure of Eagle Creek’s waterside restaurant, with its breezy dining room on stilts over boat slips. The menu gets creative with all of the casual-dining tropes, mixing smoked-salmon nachos and chicken cordon bleu fingers in with the jumbo shrimp martinis and oyster shooters. 4050 Dandy Trail, 317-290-9300, ricksboatyard.com Taste Restaurant @ Lucky Lou CHINESE A 2020 refresh…

VINTAGE: 1939 Resides in Elkhart’s Hall of Heroes IF THIS STIFF wooden action figure landed in a stocking today, the child receiving it might wonder what he or she had done wrong that year. But the original Superman toy, produced just one year after the character’s creation in the comic book series, is worth as much as $10,000. “It’s not just the first Superman toy,” says Allen Stewart, director of the Hall of Heroes Superhero Museum in Elkhart. “It’s the first superhero toy, period.” Stewart began buying comic books and related memorabilia as a kid, and his massive collection—including this hand-painted plaything—became the foundation of the museum. “This is one of only two on display in the world,” he says of the antique toy. “The other is in the Super…