Innehållsförteckning för December 2017 från Indianapolis Monthly

Last July, I met Deborah Paul for lunch in South Haven, Michigan, at a place called Taste. Both of us happened to be on vacation in the same area that week. I was taking time offwith my extended family aft er a short, but intense, series of interviews to become editor-in-chief of the magazine. Debbie, who spends part of her summers there, suggested we get together and talk. At the time, I knew litt le about the former editor who essentially created Indianapolis Monthly, but enough to understand that her suggestion was not merely a suggestion. So, when Debbie looked over the menu that day and told me what was good and what wasn’t, I figured I needed to order the potato latkes she had recommended. Thereaft er, this has…

“We’ve seen otters in the river while visiting 100 Acres. Truly amazing.” —TRACY WELLS, via Facebook “That is a nice-looking magazine cover.” —JONATHAN STREETMAN, via Facebook “Please bring these changes to Broad Ripple! Especially the boardwalk and Avenue transformation.” —LISA WALLACE, via Twitter “Loved the White River content. Fascinating, and many parts I was not aware of.” —SCOTT PEDEN, via Twitter WHAT CHANGE TO THE WHITE RIVER SHOULD BE OUR TOP PRIORITY? VOTE ON OUR NEXT POLL AT INDIANAPOLISMONTHLY.COM/POLLS 45% Make it clean enough to swim in. Until then, it’s a lost cause. 36% Get rid of those awful dams. People are getting hurt 10% A sandy beach! We can dream, right? 9% Clear out the honeysuckle. It would be nice to see the river. IM #ICYMI Our online stories you might have missed.…

“I’M VERY BULLISH on Indianapolis,” Isaac Bamgbose says excitedly when talking about developing the historic Coca-Cola bott ling plant on the northeast end of Mass Ave. It’s not just youthful enthusiasm (Bamgbose is all of 26)—a rare 1930s Art Deco building on an even rarer 12 acres of urban property presents an exciting real-estate opportunity. “In its heyday, the plant was pumping out 2 million bott les of Coca-Cola a week,” he says. “It was a huge economic driver for the city. We have to do something worthy of that history.” Bamgbose, vice president of asset management for Hendricks Commercial Properties, is overseeing the transformation of the property and plant into Bott leworks, which recalls Union Station’s makeover of a grand landmark into a public playground with architectural splendor. He…

Rebecca Robinson leverages her background in both fashion design and visual communications to create one-of-a-kind Psnob handbags (the line is pronounced “snob”) from her original artwork. The Indianapolis native paints in acrylic on canvas, then coats her creations with a special varnish to prevent dulling or cracking while letting the material remain flexible. Next, she trashes the work— cutting it up and sewing it into wristlets, wallets, clutches, and shoulder bags with a palette-shaped hangtag. Her latest collection of unisex messenger styles will be available in the spring, but join the wait list now and don’t get caught watching the paint dry. $125 to $1,500, psnob.com GOOD Life…

EAT Flamme Burger (1) woodfires Angus beef and tasty housemade veggie patt ies and dresses them up with fresh avocado, basil balsamic aioli, even tzatziki sauce. Use your imagination—or, fine, just grab a cheeseburger and a Sun King Sunlight Cream Ale and call it good. 8594 E. 116th St., 317-436- 1929, flammeburger.com SIP At LouVino (2), you can sample flights of wines named aft er Hoosiers, including Kurt Vonnegut (“classic, timeless, and cerebral Chardonnays”) and John Mellencamp (“sexy French wines that make it ‘Hurt So Good’”). Oh, you wanted something serious? They do that, too: LouVino earned a Wine Spectator restaurant award this year. 8626 E. 116th St., 317-598-5160, louvino.com SMIRK Off beat designs (opossums and Pegasus) are screen-printed onto the soft est tees, which then hang on the racks…

BRAD GATES IS A GUY who thinks ahead. When he finished training at the French Culinary Institute in New York City in 1991, his goal was to work at one of the best places in the Big Apple, so he opened up a Zagat guide and hand-delivered résumés to the top 50 restaurants (excluding the sushi spots and steakhouses that didn’t interest him). Only two called him back, but one was legendary restaurateur Danny Meyer’s Union Square Cafe. Gates started the next day, and every professional decision he’s made since then has been strategic, including his new gig as executive chef at Kimbal Musk’s Hedge Row American Bistro on Mass Ave. The Indiana-born Ball State grad spent a few years in New York and Atlanta before returning to join the…

SO, HOW MANY COLUMNS DID YOU WRITE? I’ve done it for 36 years this month, so 432. I never missed a month. I wrote them from hospital beds while recuperating from surgeries, I wrote them at restaurants, I wrote them anywhere I had to. WHAT WAS THE FIRST ONE ABOUT? My boss at the time didn’t like the idea of a personal column and asked me to write about the city. Since my first column came out at Christmastime, I made up a list of gift s I wanted to give to Indianapolis. It was an utt er failure. Aft er a few months of that, I said, “This doesn’t come naturally to me.” So I started writing about things that happened in my life. That’s what I did from…

NEW BOOKS These 2017 titles by some of Central Indiana’s most talented authors deserve a spot on your shelf. TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN by John Green After the international phenomenon that was 2012’s The Fault in Our Stars (23 million copies sold, a film adaptation that grossed $307 million), expectations were stratospheric for Green’s follow-up young-adult novel set in Indianapolis. As The New York Times review attests, the October release was worth the wait. More new books KURT VONNEGUT COMPLETE STORIES by Kurt Vonnegut As if an omnibus collection of Vonnegut’s short stories weren’t enough, this 900-page doorstop, published in September, contains a foreword by Dave Eggers and notes by Vonnegut’s friend (and famed author in his own right) Dan Wakefield. HUNGER by Roxane Gay The Purdue professor’s biting…

BLAKE RICHARDSON was familiarizing himself with near-southside real estate when he heard church bells—a divine signal, perhaps. Just past Sacred Heart church, a cottage porch triggered an inner voice: Pick me, it beckoned. In short order, he bought the century-old twobedroom charmer and set about giving it a dramatic transformation, including a black exterior. Yes, black—the body, the trim, every detail is swathed in flat midnight paint. “It makes someone stand out in front and look for the original details. It’s a fun game,” Richardson explains. Where many choose the smallscale “painted lady” approach for this style of home—bold colors screaming their minute architectural flourishes—he does the opposite. It works. For Richardson, an up-and-coming real-estate broker for Everhart Studio and a talented rehabber, no residence is merely a commodity, but…

1913 Restaurant UPSCALE COMFORT Farm-to-table standards get a glossy do-over at this hotel restaurant tucked just off of 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 topped with bacon marmalade, and half a chicken roasted to a juicy, rosy hue and plated with succotash and a little pan of sweet-corn “milk” for dipping. The sides—such as macaroni-and-cheese pie and sautéed brussels sprouts—get passed around the table. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. 40 W. Jackson Pl., 317-634-6664, omniho tels.com/hotels/indianapolisseverin/dining/1913- restaurant B’s Po Boy CAJUN Known for its po’ boys in crusty, airy bread from New Orleans, B’s brings laid-back bayou cooking to Fountain…

Al Basha MIDDLE EASTERN This colorful Mediterraneanmeets– Middle East restaurant offers an array of staples such as gyros and tender grilled beef and chicken shawarma. A distinctly Mediterranean influence is seen in the tahini-rich hummus, earthy cracked-wheat kibbeh, and succulent lamb and ground-meat kebabs served on generous platters of rice and green beans. Be sure to browse the well-priced, often hard-to-find grocery offerings. Lunch and dinner daily. 11321 Village Square Ln., Fishers, 537- 7871. mediterraneanfoodgrocery.com Auberge NEW FRENCH Classic French dishes such as salade Lyonnaise and boeuf bourguignon share the spotlight with more contemporary twists like burrata and scallops with peas and carrots at this darling lobby restaurant at the historic Brick Street Inn on Main Street Zionsville. Croque Madame bites topped with quail eggs are a visually appealing snack…

Ichiban Sushi Bar JAPANESE Most of the customers sliding into the sunken-floor booths here are devoted regulars, and for good reason. Owner Sammy Li’s specialty-roll menu leans hard on the kind of embellished creations—often tempura-fried and mayo-swiped—that are the stuff of cravings. Expect a crowd on Monday’s half-price sushi night Lunch and dinner daily. 8265 U.S. 31 S., 317-883-1888, ichiban31.com Revery CONTEMPORARY Approachable, affordable fine dining comes to Greenwood at this elegantly rustic bistro, whose small plates include a cured-smoked-fried pig’s tail with a tangy Asian glaze, and chicken livers with violet mustard. Lunch and dinner Tues.–Fri., dinner Sat., brunch Sun. 299 W. Main St., Greenwood, 317-215-4164, reverygreenwood.com Tried & True Alehouse CASUAL Settle in at a table at this watering hole in Greenwood, and someone will surely order the…

Big Woods Speedway BREWPUB Smoky, saucy pulled-pork nachos reign among starters, but while pizzas and street tacos get the most attention on the menu, ribs and chicken may be the best bets for dinner. A playful “bag o’ donuts” with chocolate turtle sauce is a fun finish. Lunch and dinner daily. 1002 W. Main St., Speedway, 317-757-3250, quaffon.com/big-woods-speedway The Iron Skillet FAMILY DINING Heaping platters of skilletfried chicken and bowls of buttered corn and mashed potatoes with chicken gravy rule here, where the flowered wallpaper and antique furnishings suggest days gone by. Lunch Sun., dinner Wed.–Sun. 2489 W. 30th St., 317-923-6353, ironskillet.net Madd Greeks NEW GREEK Smoky, chargrilled pork souvlaki and gut-busting pitas stuffed with gyros and fries are some of the Mediterranean standouts at this early-2017 addition to the…

While Newfields kicks off a new winter tradition this month (“Miracle on 38th Street,” p. 17), we reflect on some of our more peculiar ones. “Every year I record myself singing a holiday song and text it to everyone on my phone’s contact list. I am no Mariah Carey, but I really pour my heart into it. I love when my friends text me back to say that gathering around their smartphone to listen to me has become a holiday tradition of their own. It also fills my heart with cheer when someone texts back: ‘Who is this?’” —JULIA SPALDING, DINING EDITOR “My sisters and I—the youngest of us is 32— still write a letter to Santa.” —ALLISON EDWARDS, ART DIRECTOR/SPECIAL PROJECTS “We always end up watching White Christmas and…

Newfields CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS GO UP EARLIER EVERY YEAR, BUT THE INDIANAPOLIS MUSEUM OF ART—EXCUSE US, NEWFIELDS—HAS MOST OF US BEAT. For Winterlights, its new holiday experience that runs through January 7, workers began dangling strands the first week of September. They had to: Winterlights features more than 1.2 million bulbs across The Garden at Newfields, all arranged to conjure a frosted forest in the woods behind the museum, a twinkling French garden in the lawn of Lilly House—and, the museum hopes, a new city tradition. “This is an exhibition,” says IMA deputy director of horticulture Jonathan Wright. “We’re treating this the way we’d treat Matisse.” Well, maybe with more marshmallows. NEWFIELDS HAS DONE ITS HOMEWORK. Staffers spent years touring botanical havens such as the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Liseberg Park…

THE THREAD COOL MOM House of Z (houseofzade.com) picked up sassy, easy-to-clean veganleather bibs in patt erns like sushi rolls. NEW IN TOWN Shine Design Home (8594 E. 116th St., Fishers) has opened as a sophisticated boutique adjacent to an interior-design studio. FRANKLIN, MY DEAR The quaint Johnson County ’burg is our current shopping crush. Downtown destinations include byTavi, The Marshmallow Monkey, Salvage Sisters, and Farm Girl Mercantile. —SUMMER DAILY Our Holiday Gift Guide presents oodles of ideas throughout the month at IndianapolisMonthly.com…

Cheers In a dark, hole-in-thewall space with tinted windows and a nightmare-inducing mural of a dragon covering the back wall, Franklin’s Ironside Viking Tavern delivers on its theme: a growling tribute to those ancient seafaring warriors. Craft meads, in flavors ranging from candy-sweet Bananas Foster to the drier (comparatively, at least) traditional honey wine, flow into heavy chalices carved out of actual animal horns. Between swigs, diners pillage the requisite Onion Ring Tower and munch on salt pork dipped in maple-mustard sauce. The small kitchen whips up surprisingly robust Nordic-inspired entrées like the Hymir’s Haul (meat cakes with gravy and red cabbage) and The Hunt’s Harvest (half a pound of pork roasted with ginger, rosemary, and thyme). But the buttery, dense Norse Apple Cake studded with chunks of fruit and…

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, prone to embracing life advice that comes in the form of bumper stickers and inspirational memes—forever striving to be the change you wish to see in the world or, at the very least, the person your dog thinks you are—then maybe you have seen this one: Live life as though everything is rigged in your favor. I gave this a try once. But even when I visualized an enchanted, trust-funded universe that would have my back no matter what, the idea didn’t stick. I wondered if that mind game only works if you actually know that you’re set up to succeed anyway, if you can take some risks without worrying about things like keeping the lights on. In other words, it’s a mantra that a…

RECENTLY, I READ on the internet that half of all Americans hate their jobs and would do something else if given the opportunity. No study was cited to back the claim, so I’m not sure it’s true. But if it is, we have a lot of foolish people in this country, because I can’t imagine anything sillier than doing a job you hate, day aft er interminable day. Unless, of course, you’re black or brown or female and have to stick with a sucky job because too many companies are enamored of white males. So I’ll qualify my remarks by saying if you’re a white guy working day aft er day for an employer you hate, there might be a leak in your think-tank. Some of my high school classmates…

NEW FLOWER SHOP Amanda Griffith established herself years ago as a talented wedding florist through her business Wild Heart Blooms. But she recently opened a neareastside retail spot called Grounded Plant and Floral, and we’re so glad she branched out. Griffith sells an ever-changing variety of houseplants, planters, pots, and small gift items in stylish packaging. Her urban jungle includes more than 50 varieties of flora, from succulents and fig trees to snake plants and ferns, all starting at $7. Stop by on Wednesdays, when new shipments arrive. 1503 E. Michigan St., 317- 426-5528, grounded plantandfloral.com; Unique holiday ornament While it’s lights out for the old incandescent bulbs at CIRCLE OF LIGHTS—they’ve been replaced with LEDs—the decorations that graced the Soldiers and Sailors Monument will continue to brighten our lives.…

SEVEN YEAR WINNER Michael D. Edwards, DDS, MSD DR. MICHAEL D. EDWARDS A Carmel native, Dr. Michael Edwards always knew he wanted to seek a profession in healthcare. He attended Carmel High School, was a double major in Chemistry and Biology, and was awarded an Evans Scholarship at Indiana University. He went on to achieve his DDS, his Certificate in Periodontics and his Masters of Science in Dentistry at Indiana University in 2004. He started Implant Dentistry and Periodontics in 2006. Dr. Michael Edwards is committed to patient focused care for dental implants and periodontal (gum) procedures. He is continually learning the most up-to-date treatment modalities in a variety of procedures including laser periodontics, pinhole, advanced gum grafting, teeth in a day, dental implants and IV sedation. His primary goal…

22nd Street Diner NEW COMFORT Riffing on chrome-and-vinyl standards like corned-beef hash, meatloaf sandwiches, and loaded biscuits, this bright Fall Creek Place corner spot shows a playful side as it dishes out “second breakfast” and “betweensies” in addition to plain-old dinner. An early favorite, executive chef John Herndon’s take on chicken and waffles, featured custardy French toast topped with bits of roasted chicken, sauteed rapini, and spiced syrup. Cocktails are eye-openers, especially the 6N the Mornin’, which combines gin with house orgeat and cucumber. Lunch and dinner Fri.–Sun., dinner Mon.–Thurs. 2205 N. Delaware St., 317-602- 6726 317 Burger BURGERS At this casual Broad Ripple spot, the four cheese–gilded 317, a bison burger with whiskey-glazed onions, and a kraut-topped Brat Burger headline the red-meat creations. The DIY options abound, though, with…

DEAREST LOYAL READER, especially you who have recognized me in malls and supermarkets and thanked me for making you laugh or cry, The time has come. Aft er 36 years of writing about personal joys (a wedding! a grandbaby!), pitfalls (driving lessons for my first kid, who claimed 4-way stops were optional), and grief (losing my father, who warmed up my car on cold winter mornings), and mother (whose purse I still carry), I am calling it quits. I blame my decision on my litt le voice. You know, the silent nudge you should obey but too oft en ignore. The one that said perhaps 21 was too young to marry; even though he was and still is the one, I needed to live on my own first. The one…

Tiffany Benedict Browne HistoricIndianapolis.com founder Tiff any Benedict Browne found a kinship with Blake Richardson, owner of the cottage featured in “American Gothic” (p. 90). Both belong to the cadre of diehard vintage collectors, prone to “rescuing” odds and ends others dismiss. “I have to be surrounded by pieces of the past,” says Browne. “They’re my daily inspiration.” She is writing a book about Indy’s cycling history. Carlos Fernandez Freelance artist Carlos Fernandez hails from Texas, a long way from the city celebrated in “Best of Indy” (p. 66). But doing the illustrations for this month’s cover made him realize he’s overdue for a trip to the Hoosier state. “What really caught my attention were the monuments,” he says. “And this package is a road map full of attractions for…

Look up. Instead of a star on these thematically decorated trees, you might see a chef’s hat. Go before putt ing up your own decor so you can steal a color scheme and ideas, like Allisonville Nursery’s red berries and cardinals last year. Don’t take a photo of a tree in front of a big, sunny window— it’s all shadow. Check for takeaways, such as recipe cards hanging as ornaments on a cupcake-themed tree. Make time to sing carols around the piano in the Cole Porter Room. Vote. It’s a contest. Put on the Ralphie bunny costume for a photo op worthy of next year’s Christmas card. Everyone say “fuuuudge!”…

YOU WRITE BOOKS, ACT, PRODUCE, DO STANDUP, AND MAKE FURNITURE. WHICH OF THOSE PROFESSIONS IS NO. 1 FOR YOU? I try to be a husband first. I’ve had the good fortune to be successful, so it would be easy to define myself by my work. But I prefer making my domestic life and my relationship with my wife [actress Megan Mullally] my top priority. Of course, I feel lucky to generate work while wearing a lot of hats—whether it be through acting, the writt en word, or my deep knowledge of classical dance. I’m kidding about that last one. WHAT DO YOU GET FROM BEING IN FRONT OF A LIVE AUDIENCE THAT YOU DON’T FROM TV AND MOVIES? Performing my pratfalls on stage allows the audience to tell me with…

What do you buy for someone who has everything? A Corkbo works (Scott Jones has one). Featuring a wooden body, leather stirrup, and brass hardware, the precisionengineered gadget by a local hobbyist launches corks toward a target, redefining the term “drinking game.” ERIC WALLENTINE’S northside home is decked out with a collection of archaeological artifacts—spears, boomerangs, pott ery. So it’s no surprise that when his son asked for a crossbow 10 years ago, Wallentine didn’t shoot him down. But Wallentine didn’t just buy one. He carved and constructed a quality heirloom. Before long, Wallentine began craft ing the bow for friends—and friends of friends— using wine corks in place of arrows. His business known as Corkbo was born. “It’s an expression of my interest in experimental archaeology,” says Wallentine. Plenty…

CIRCLE CITY SWEETS 222 E. Market St., 317-632-3644, circlecitysweets.com Cindy Hawkins’s Danish Dough Cinnamon Rolls are made from flaky, European butter–enriched laminated dough that rises with a crisp exterior and well-balanced richness, sweetness, and spice. AMELIA’S 653 Virginia Ave., 317-686-1583, ameliasbread.com Get in early to score one of these beauties, baked in tins from Amelia’s signature croissant dough. With just the right schmear of buttermilk icing, they don’t last long. ILLINOIS STREET FOOD EMPORIUM 5550 N. Illinois St., 317-253-9513, eatincarryout.com Among the scones, cookies, and tarts in the cases at this longstanding lunchtime favorite are these perfectly old-school cinnamon rolls with a signature crusty edge and soft, spicy center. Grab a pan from the freezer case and bake them up yourself at home. 22ND STREET DINER 2205 N. Delaware St.,…

DR. NICK MANICKE IUPUI Chemistry Professor NEW APPROACH: An approximately $5, palm-sized cartridge that scans overdosed patients for lethal drugs in two minutes. “Right now, when a patient comes into the hospital for an overdose, they will either tell the doctor what illicit substance they’ve overdosed on, or a blood sample will be taken. That blood sample can take weeks to yield a result. And it’s one thing for a patient to say, ‘I took heroin.’ But they may’ve not actually taken heroin. We have developed a cartridge that the blood sample goes on. That cartridge enables a rapid test for these synthetic drugs within minutes. In hospitals now, there are not efficient ways of doing these tests. “The idea of our technology could essentially enable detecting these drugs in…

Those who volunteer are probably familiar with the many benefits of altruism. Lending a hand not only provides an essential boost to those who need it most, but showing kindness and generosity has been linked to greater self-esteem, reduced stress, and a stronger connection to the community. Giving of ourselves is the ultimate win-win, and there is no shortage of ways to do so. This season, consider sharing your time or talents with one of the nonprofit organizations profiled on the following pages. You’ll learn about their missions, the admirable work they’re doing in Central Indiana, and the various ways in which you can support their causes, now or any time throughout the year.…

Cafe Carib CARIBBEAN Jamaican native Peta-Gay Wharton and her husband, Larry, set up this Irvington storefront as a home base for their popular food truck, Taste of the Caribbean. Fusion dishes like mac and cheese dolled up with lobster or buffalo shrimp appeal to the masses, while island favorites—such as fall-off-the-bone curried goat; flavor-forward jerk chicken with rice and plantains; and Jamaican beef patties— represent the tropical cuisine’s focus on marinated meats and rich seasoning. The colorful eatery lit with dangling bulbs comes to life with occasional live bands, so plan for the full experience of Caribbean culture. Lunch and dinner Tues.–Sun. 5603 E. Washington St., 317- 602-8923, tasteofthecarib beanindy.com Chuck’s Coney Island ADDED CHEAP EATS Natives of Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan will wax nostalgic at the offerings from…

Abyssinia ETHIOPIAN This humble spot—where diners use a spongy sour flatbread known as injera in lieu of utensils—provides a thorough introduction to Ethiopian cuisine. Aficionados of East African food will be impressed by the seasoning of the stewed lamb, beef, spicy chicken, greens, and chickpeas on order. Lunch and dinner daily. 5352 W. 38th St., 317-299-0608 Jamaican Style Jerk CARIBBEAN Now that this real-deal, reggaebumping Jamaican spot has moved from its former Keystone Avenue location on the side of a liquor store to the former home of Pancho’s Taqueria on Michigan Road, you don’t have to eat some of Indy’s best jerk chicken from a parking-lot picnic table. Generous portions of fall-off-the-bone oxtail, curried goat, and ribs are accompanied by mounds of beans and rice, cabbage, and fried plantains. Stop…