Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2018 i Indianapolis Monthly

My maternal grandmother would have liked this issue since it features two of her favorites: liquor (“Taking Their Shot,” p. 67) and games (“How to Win at Gen Con,” p. 82), which she enjoyed in tandem. Grandma was a human icebreaker, the swizzle that stirred the drink. Most often, that was a bourbon-and-water served in a glass etched with her name. Everyone called her Mid. But if she was being mischievous, which was 79 percent of the time, she answered to Mildred—as in MIL-dred, putting emphasis on the first syllable to halt any outlandish behavior and loudly whispering the second syllable to impart shame. I heard this call frequently at family gatherings when she would make newcomers—a girlfriend, out-of-town visitor, or priest—unwitting targets of one of her games: I See…

The iconic Cyndi Lauper is still so unusual, taking the stage with Rod Stewart, p. 22. Speed Read Fun and Games The Indiana State Fair midway features thrill rides, carny food, and, if you’re not careful, projectile vomiting. State Fair THE INDIANA STATE FAIR MIDWAY IS NOT ACTUALLY OWNED OR OPERATED BY THE INDIANA STATE FAIR. BUT IT’S STILL A HOOSIER JOINT. One of the nation’s biggest operators of mobile amusement parks is in Farmland, around 90 minutes northeast of Indy. North American Midway Entertainment owns more than 200 rides, games, and concession stands, and for years, it has provided pretty much everything you see at our state fairgrounds’ midway—along with about 150 events all over the country. JUST AS YOU ALWAYS SUSPECTED, MOST OF THE RIDES ARE PUT TOGETHER…

TURF’S UP The majority of your golf-course time isn’t spent hitting the ball; it’s traveling to it. Now there’s a cooler way to do that—surfing. The GolfBoard is for traversing the contours of a fairway as if they were waves, steering and cutting with your feet up to a hair-rustling 10.5 mph. Unlike with real surfing—and golf—you’ll be a pro in minutes. And if your ball’s going everywhere, you won’t mind the trips to find it. $6,500 and up. 239-631-0074, golfboard.com…

“You have the three-dimensional space, and it changes with time.” ENGINEER-TURNED-ARTIST Joe Krutulis routinely drags dead tree limbs home from his daily walks near Martinsville. “People say, ‘There goes crazy Joe again,’” he says. “I may look funny dragging dead branches around, but they’re treasures to me.” Seven years ago, the self-described “Mobile Whisperer” began transforming those treasures into kinetic sculptures featuring abstract shapes, fish, birds, and bicycles. “I only work with dead Indiana wood,” he says. “I like the branches to be spalted [containing black, irregular lines] and have a bunch of interesting characteristics.” The Indiana Artisan is particularly drawn to maple burls, dogwood, and Osage orange’s yellow glow. Some of his mobiles include as many as 23 different Indiana woods. “I like to feature the wood and the…

IN 1901, two brash young men named William S. Harley and Arthur Davidson began tinkering with the outlandish notion of motorizing a bicycle from the humble confines of a closet-sized woodshed in Wisconsin. Two years later, Harley-Davidson Serial Number One rolled out of production—a surprisingly plain-Jane, black-framed, single-cylinder bike. Fast-forward a century or so. Harley-Davidson isn’t just a brand, it’s an entire culture that has grown up around its throaty collection of custom cruiser and touring bikes, and the leather-clad fan base that rides them. To celebrate its 115th anniversary, the company is gearing up for one big-ass party over Labor Day weekend. The annual Milwaukee Rally (harley-davidson.com) attracts tens of thousands of owners and admirers, some riding bikes they shipped in from overseas. But this year is special. It starts…

Discovery Mori Willhite grew up prepping veggies and filling dumplings by the dozen for her Japanese mother in San Diego. Now, she shares her extensive knowledge of preparing sushi rice, rolling maki, and making authentic Japanese standards at Katsumi’s Teaching Kitchen, housed in a former deli on West Washington Street. Don’t expect to sit and watch. Willhite, who is as much comedian as culinary instructor, gets her students fully involved, from rinsing rice to cutting scallions to garnishing colorful onigiri, artful spheres of rice that are easy to replicate at home. And with so many tasty tidbits to snack on, as well as a magic finale of an ethereal cake steamed in a rice cooker, a class at Katsumi’s easily makes a meal. Choose “Intro to Sushi” for an overview…

IF YOU ENTER the address for Duke’s into your phone at just the right downtown GPS coordinates, the voice navigation will instruct you to “Head west on West South Street, then turn left on South West Street.” That’s some catchy phrasing. Add in a fiddle and steel guitar, and you have the makings of a nice little honky-tonk song, which is very on-brand for a roadhouse that touts both its live music and fried chicken and is so meticulously dressed for the part that it might as well wear a string tie. There’s a lot to take in here: the sarcastic neon signage tucked up near the rafters (“I’m glad I thought of that”), the bathroom corridor muraled with a paint-by-numbers Western scene, and the googly eyes stuck on the…

I WAS DRIVING around the north side of Indianapolis not long ago and saw a car with a flat tire with a little old lady standing beside it. I would have stopped to assist her, but a Hoosier Helper from the Indiana Department of Transportation had beaten me to it. I slowed down, honked my horn, and gave the Hoosier Helper a thumbs-up. I make it a point to encourage others to be helpful, especially when it gets me out of a really disagreeable task. As I passed the scene, a man on the car radio was talking about how rotten our nation had become. He had just written a book about it, so had a vested interest in America’s decline, but the Hoosier Helper was proving him wrong. Any…

NOT TOO LONG AGO, ordering a beer generally meant choosing from a menu of taps that offered everything from Budweiser to Bud Light. Today, there’s a craft brewery on every other corner, a cleverly christened IPA for every town. In short order, beer went from something monopolized by a wagon-circled posse of famous names to an indicator of witty naming conventions, taste, and local pride. If the men and women on these pages have anything to say about it, the next logical step is upon us. “The spirits side is just getting to where beer is,” says Travis Barnes, founder of Hotel Tango. “We’re at the infancy of that cycle.” Make no mistake, the boom is on: In 2017, the American Craft Spirits Association reported that more than 1,500 craft…

702 Virginia Ave. • 317-653-1806 • hoteltangowhiskey.com TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2014 FIRST THINGS first: Hotel Tango has a new cat. The four-year-old distillery lost its famed original mascot, Fletcher, in early 2018. Yet owners Travis and Hilary Barnes take pains to reinforce that the new cat, Fatty, is just passing through—he still belongs to his owner, who’s currently deployed abroad. (Yes, it’s actually Fatty. “He’s like the Chris Farley of cats,” Travis says.) Long story short, the cat belonged to a combat buddy in Okinawa before checking into the Hotel Tango and making himself at home. “He’s adopted us,” Travis says, smiling. “I’m not sure we adopted him.” Fatty marks the latest evolution for the Fletcher Place hangout, which marks its fourth birthday on September 15. Launched in…

351 Monon Blvd., 317-843-6250, sunkingbrewing.com/carmel.html TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2018 WHEN YOU’VE NICELY established yourself as your hometown’s premier craft brewery, there’s only one logical next step: Start over and go back to school. “I went to Moonshine University in Louisville,” says Sun King co-founder Dave Colt. “And the first thing a lecturer said was, ‘All brewers are quitters. From a distillation standpoint, you stop halfway through the process.’ I said, ‘Sure, but it’s a wonderful place to stop and taste what you’ve got.’” While Colt, an accomplished brewer, won the argument, he admits he had a lot to learn. He published his master’s thesis this summer—the new $5 million, 15,000-square-foot, two-level Sun King Spirits overlooking the Monon Trail in Midtown Carmel. A logical extension of the brand, the…

418 Old State Rd. 46, Nashville, 812-720-4840, hardtruthhills.com TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2015 SINCE 2015, the entirety of Hard Truth’s distilling equipment has mostly occupied a space about the size of your garage, stuffed into a cluttery nook over a Big Woods restaurant on Nashville’s main drag. But early this fall, the main distillery will relocate down the road to a space that’s “significantly bigger.” Situated on 325 acres of Brown County landscape, their new home, Hard Truth Hills, is big. Really big, with 27-foot-tall columns and enough power to turn out 400 gallons in an eight-hour shift. The new location will also offer tours, a Big Woods restaurant with what must be one of Brown County’s most sweeping porches, and a welcome center/tasting room. The welcome center is…

4484 E. Old State Rd. 46, Nashville, 812-657-4923, bearwallowdistillery.com TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2014 IN A MORE EVOCATIVE age, the woods of Brown County were thick with law-skirting moonshiners—“stills in the hills,” says Susan Spagnuolo. When the Columbus native decided to get back into the workforce after spending 20 years raising three boys, Spagnuolo figured it was time to open a legit one. “We call ourselves the first legal still in Brown County,” she says. Tucked smack in the middle of Gnaw Bone, Bear Wallow Distillery opened its still and tasting room in August 2014. Today, in its rural, woods-backed location off Old State Road 46, Bear Wallow produces 15 whiskeys, including the unaged corn whiskey Hidden Holler and their best-selling Gnaw Bone Bourbon. They deliver them straight and…

The University of Southern Indiana serves more than 11,000 dual credit, undergraduate and graduate students from 90 Indiana counties, 39 states, and 70 countries and offers study-abroad opportunities in more than 60 countries. Located on a vibrant, beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, we offer more than 100 areas of study through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education, and offer lifelong learning opportunities and special programs to more than 16,000 participants annually through Outreach and Engagement. As a public higher education institution, we are committed to affordable academic excellence. When you become a Screaming Eagle, you’ll engage with faculty committed to teaching, learn to solve real-world challenges, and develop priceless relationships and…

THE EXCITEMENT YOU FEEL after your engagement can quickly fade to panic when you start considering everything that has to get done before you walk down the aisle. Though the exact timeline for completing tasks will vary from couple to couple, with advice from seasoned experts, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. WEDDING PLANNER RECOMMENDED TO BOOK: 12 to 18 months in advance (or directly after the engagement) Most wedding planners don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach, instead offering everything from full-service to day-of coordinating to meet the needs of a variety of couples. Depending on which package you choose, they’ll be spending anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours a week with you, not to mention the entire wedding celebration. So the most important thing to consider is…

JOE HOGSETT Indianapolis Mayor IT IS MY PLEASURE TO WELCOME YOU TO INDY RAMA. As a guest of Indy Rama, you will be visiting some of the distinguished pockets of our community. Central State, Fountain Square, Windsor Park, Kennedy King, Old Northside, and Herron-Morton Place have all played a major part in establishing Indianapolis’s reputation as an ideal place to live, work, and play. Our city is committed to leveraging the success of downtown into all our neighborhoods. Historic neighborhoods have been revitalized with dedicated placemaking efforts, coupling the old with the new in innovative ways. During your visit, I invite you to enjoy some of the many reasons I love to call Indianapolis home. Being downtown, you will find numerous unique shops, as well as breweries and restaurants that…

HOME BUILDER THIRD LEVEL SECOND LEVEL MAIN LEVEL 748 SHELBY ST. // 317-450-2345 // TKWHOMES@GMAIL.COM // FACEBOOK.COM/TKWLLC BUILDER CONTACTS: Nick T. Burrow, Alex K. Burrow, and Luke W. Burrow /// BUILDER PHILOSOPHY TKW is focused on urban development with attention paid to efficiency, detail, and livability. The urban development approach has led us to build clusters of homes, creating a standard of living higher than that of the surrounding area. 1100 Spann Avenue is a fantastic example of this increased standard of living while also displaying our unique 21st-century wedge design. TKW takes great honor in transforming what was not into what is. Each home we build possesses customized details that help enhance both the home and the other homes in the development. Our goal for the last five years…

ROOFTOP UPPER LEVEL MAIN LEVEL LOWER LEVEL HOME BUILDER JOHN BAIN EXECUTIVE VP NATIONAL OPERATIONS 1828 CENTRAL AVE. // 317-672-7920 INFO@ONYXANDEAST.COM // ONYXANDEAST.COM BUILDER CONTACT: Eric Jefferson /// BUILDER PHILOSOPHY At Onyx+East, we create unique personal living experiences for our residents and sustainable properties for our communities. As an urbanminded builder, we treat every project as a piece of art, ensuring each property combines livability, convenience, viability, and comfort. Onyx+East provides a semi-custom building experience. We offer high-level modern standards and a large variety of upgrade options. We work with you on design, finish selection, and definition of your space, turning a blank canvas into a place you call home. During construction, we have a transparent opendoor policy, giving you direct contact with your builder, a preconstruction meeting, a new-home…

Lou Harry • While tackling this month’s piece on Gen Con (p. 82), freelance writer Lou Harry recalled raising his kids on games like Masterpiece and Dominion. “They gave us a reason to be around the table together,” he says. “Board games get us away from the screens. And they’re a great excuse to eat junk food.” Jeana Harris • Freelance writer Jeana Harris has a soft spot for Victorian homes—she and her husband are in the midst of renovating their own—so reporting on the Wishard Mansion (p. 36) was a treat. “No two Victorians are the same,” she says. “I think that’s what I love most about them.” Jeff Vrabel • Prior to researching Indiana distilleries for the cover story (p. 67), freelance writer Jeff Vrabel was more of…

Detour to back roads at Martinsville to avoid soul-crushing traffic on State Road 37. Unload everything at the curb in front of the dorm before parking. One person stays with the plastic crates and beanbag chairs while others schlep it all up to the room. BYOD (bring your own dolly). Wear something that hides sweat stains. You’re one unexpected photo away from appearing in a resident-life brochure. Head for the hidden westside Walmart over College Mall Target to pick up all the things you forgot. Or, don’t forget: shower shoes, Command hooks, power strips. While in the ’hood, stop for Mother Bear’s pizza. It’s not the original location, but it tastes the same—with no wait and better parking.…

IN 1984, YOUR COLLEGE TEAM CAME BACK FROM A 31-0 HALFTIME DEFICIT TO BEAT THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI. AND IN 1993, YOU LED A HISTORIC 32-POINT COMEBACK TO BEAT THE BUFFALO BILLS. WHAT’S THE SECRET TO OVERCOMING SUCH LONG ODDS? During those games, I knew we couldn’t come from behind in one fell swoop. We had to do it one play at a time, one score at a time. I told my teammates: “Don’t look for a miracle play.” Executing consistently and doing the little things right is what produces miracles. Life is the same way. YOU WERE A COACHING INTERN WITH THE COLTS IN 2006. HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST TIME YOU CAME HERE? During my internship, the team was in the middle of an incredible run.…

SISTER-IN-LAW candle-making duo Brianna and Lacey Doles recently took their hobby to market, upgrading from the basement of Brianna’s Old Northside home to a Mass Ave storefront. Their new digs—situated at the intersection of Mass and College beneath the chic Seven Forty Seven apartments—puts Penn & Beech Candle Co. in close proximity to a slew of foodies, dog walkers, and cocktail-sippers. This bustling location is perfect for Indy’s first pour-your-own candle shop, because creations take 90 minutes to cure. In fact, seeing a need for more experience-based activities in their “playground” of eating and drinking is just what inspired the pair to open their doors. It works like this: Guests choose a fragrance and work with the shop’s scent experts to create a custom aroma ($20 and up, depending on…

THE TURF West side LEARN For decades, the Indiana Medical History Museum (1) was the only point of interest on the 160 acres of Central State Hospital, a mental institution heralded for its research at the turn of the century. Brains in jars, pristine tiled labs, and a vintage lecture hall remain from the building’s days as the pathology department. New tours focus on patient stories. 3045 W. Vermont St., 317-635-7329, imhm.org LIVE For those adventurous enough to consider the co-living trend, Central State Mansion (2) does it right. The 67 dorm rooms once housed hospital staff and retain original built-in bureaus. Residents share a big kitchen, home theater, library, lounge, sauna, and pool with cabanas—starting at $320 per month. 202 Steeples Blvd., 317-441-0145, centralstatemansion.com SPOT Look for horses grazing…

When you fuse the smoke of Texas barbecue with the rib-sticking classics of German cuisine, you get Liter House, the latest in Eddie Sahm’s Big Lug suds-and-grub concepts. In this colorfully attired “Bavariana” beer hall, pit master Blake Ellis, formerly of Repeal, and John Adams, long known for his imaginative fusion dishes, collaborate on skate wing schnitzel, smoked chicken with red cabbage, and wursts made with proprietary recipes by Smoking Goose. The dish that best brings the disparate traditions together is this Hungarian goulash, braised brisket ends in a stock spiked with Big Lug Kings Jive brown ale, caraway, ancho chili, and both sweet and smoked paprika, all nestled atop homemade spaetzle. 5301 Winthrop Ave., 317-694-0580, sahms.com…

“We’re corporate-owned, but with an independent feel. We get to create our menu, hire who we want, order from local farms.” ERIN GILLUM has it pretty good. As chef de cuisine at Spoke & Steele inside Le Méridien, she has the financial support of a global hotel chain, with the freedom to operate as a local restaurant. “We’re corporate-owned, but with an independent feel,” says Gillum. “We get to create our menu, hire who we want, order from local farms.” What’s tricky is balancing the menu so it stays fresh for local foodies, but stable for business travelers at the hotel who want to order their old standbys—like braised beef with Nicole-Taylor’s noodles, or the burger with Fischer Farms beef and an Amelia’s brioche bun. Daily specials and seasonal sides…

Check out NOOK: A PALEO INFLUENCED DINER’s full description on page 189.…

ONE EVENING last May, Broad Ripple High School overflowed with students and alumni for an afterschool get-together. While the classrooms echoed with laughter and conversation, the occasion wasn’t exactly festive. It was billed as a Farewell Open House—the last chance to visit a 132-year-old neighborhood fixture before Indianapolis Public Schools closed it for good at the end of the academic year. Guests filled the hallways. In the cafeteria, alumni pored over old yearbooks or pointed out the tables where they used to eat lunch. Nearby, a man in his 50s lingered at the bathroom entrance. “I’m going to go in there and smoke one, for old time’s sake,” he said. The balance of the crowd was black or brown—products of the school’s post-integration era. There was also a smattering of…

636 Virginia Ave • 317-439-4997 • 1205distillery.com TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2014 LOTS OF OWNERS put their heart and soul into their businesses, but 1205 Distillery coowner Brad Colver also contributed one of his fingers. “When we were building this place, I made a bad cut with a miter saw and …” he says, lifting a hand that formerly contained a pinky. “I was adjusting the still with one hand for two months.” Named for the date of Prohibition repeal and launched in 2014 by Teresa Webster, the Fletcher Place hangout remains the first female-opened craft distillery in Indiana. To help launch it, she called on her son Hudson and old family friend Colver, who had been working at a Breckenridge ski shop and running a hobby still on…

Mixologist’s Choice INGREDIENTS 3 ounces Prosecco2 ounces 1205 vodka1/2-ounce lemon juice1/2-ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curaçao1/2-ounce rich vanilla syrup1/2-ounce passion fruit purée1 bar spoon Giffard Lichi-Li liqueur 1 swath lemon peel INSTRUCTIONS Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients. Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Strain mixture into a coupe glass. Squeeze lemon peel over glass. Garnish with peel and serve. SPIRIT GUIDE VODKA Both Poland and Russia claim to have created vodka, with the latter stating to have definitive “proof” that it was created within Moscow’s Kremlin somewhere between 1448 and 1478. It didn’t become a fashionable spirit in the U.S. until the 1940s and ’50s. But, if you don’t want to drink it, you can always eat it. Sorta. Master bakers agree: The key to exceptional…

1660 Bellefontaine St., 317-672-7468, westforkwhiskey.com TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2017 MANY 9-TO-5ERS dream of bursting free of their cubicle jobs, leaving the corporate world behind and making something special. West Fork’s David McIntyre streamlined the process by never reaching the cubicle in the first place. He got pretty close. Three years ago, McIntyre and childhood friends Blake and Julian Jones, all natives of Bedford, were charting promising courses to corporate job security and compensation. McIntyre was finishing law school in Florida and keeping full-time hours as a management consultant on the side, while Julian was three years deep in med school, and Blake got an MBA from Butler and had landed a solid Indianapolis job in banking. They’d talked about opening a distillery, but never got further than having…

Mixologist’s Choice INGREDIENTS 2 ounces Hoosier Hoochcorn-whiskey moonshine1 ounce lime juice1 ounce banana syrup*1 ounce heavy cream1 ounce pineapple tepache**1/2-ounce Amaro di Angostura1 banana wedge *Blend 1 banana, 4 cups raw Demerara sugar, and 3 cups water until uniform. **Roughly chop 1 pineapple (skin off). Put in an airtight container with 3 cups raw Demerara sugar, 6 cups water, and pumpkin-pie spice to taste and refrigerate for five days. Stir daily. INSTRUCTIONS Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients. Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Strain into a festive glass or mug with fresh ice. Garnish with banana wedge and serve. SPIRIT GUIDE MOONSHINE Yes, stock-car racing does owe its origins to the moonshine industry, when souped-up engines would be loaded into cars in order to outrun…

Mixologist’s Choice INGREDIENTS 2 ounces Cardinal SpiritsTerra Botanical gin1 ounce lemon juice1/2-ounce Amaro Montenegro3/4-ounce pistachio orgeat1/4-ounce blue Curaçao1 swath orange peel INSTRUCTIONS Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients. Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Pour into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Squeeze orange peel over rocks glass. Garnish with peel and serve. SPIRIT GUIDE GIN Unlike other spirits with a strict process for production, gin has no governing body to oversee its creation. The only real definition of what constitutes gin is defined by a prominent flavor of juniper.…

DOWNTOWN INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square 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, omnihotels.com $$$ Ali’i Poke POKE Follow the IUPUI students to this delightfully fresh fast-food spot just…

THE PUBLISHED PRICE OF A COLLEGE may seem out of reach, but don’t let that stop you from investigating your dream school. There are many ways to reduce costs. “For Manchester University, the published price would be around $40,000,” says Adam Hohman, Manchester’s assistant vice president for enrollment and marketing. “But an average family would pay maybe 40 percent of that.” The doorway to financial aid is the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid; fafsa.gov). It determines a student’s eligibility for many scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study programs. Here’s a breakdown of the different types. SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS. Grants, such as the Frank O’Bannon Grant and the Federal Pell Grant, and scholarships are “free” money. Scholarships can be school-specific or general, and there are a ton of them online.…

WGU Indiana is new kind of university: an accredited, online, nonprofit university designed to prepare Hoosiers for success in 21st-century careers. WGU Indiana has broadly expanded Indiana residents’ access to higher education in business, information technology, teaching, and healthcare. Established by the State of Indiana in 2010, WGU Indiana is designed to serve the needs of working adults, nontraditional students, and people seeking to accelerate their education. WHY WGU INDIANA? Greater Access to Quality Education WGU Indiana provides access to nationally recognized degree programs that produce highly satisfied graduates. Career-Focused Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees WGU Indiana students often have the career experience employers are looking for, but lack the degree they need. WGU Indiana offers relevant degree programs that are tailored to the needs of Indiana employers. We have partnered…

DATES August 10–12 & 17–19 TIME 10 a.m.–6 p.m. COST Tickets are $12 online at bagi.com or $15 at the event. No cash; debit and credit cards only. DIRECTIONS Although we provide a suggested route, Indy Rama is a self-guided tour. Designated on-street parking will be available at each home. GET THE APP Find more details and information about the tour on our app, available from both Google Play and the iTunes Store. Search for “Indy Rama.” TOUR STOPS…

HOME BUILDER Micah Hill Tatum Hill UPPER LEVEL MAIN LEVEL 1401 E. 11TH ST. // 317-504-3647 // INFO@CG317.COM // CG317.COM BUILDER CONTACTS: Micah Hill and Tatum Hill /// BUILDER PHILOSOPHY Compendium Group is an urban development, restoration, and construction company focused on the downtown Indianapolis area. We truly value transparency, communication, and reliability, and that translates into every relationship throughout our process. We are committed to building something extraordinary with our clients as a partner. Sustainable construction processes and methods are a passion of ours as we seek to include those strategies in every home or project we execute. By definition, a compendium is a collection of things that have been gathered together and presented as a whole. The building process with us is just that—a compendium of ideas, people,…

SECOND LEVEL MAIN LEVEL THIRD LEVEL LOWER LEVEL HOME BUILDER John Eaton Keith Bayless Kyle Bayless Ryan Bayless 1101 CENTRAL AVE. // 317-602-7220 // JOHN@JOHNEATONHOMES.COM // JOHNEATONHOMES.COM BUILDER CONTACTS: John Eaton, Keith Bayless, Kyle Bayless, and Ryan Bayless /// BUILDER PHILOSOPHY Our goal is to create a style and aesthetic that has a timeless and classic appearance while keeping up to date with current trends and designs. Quality craftsmanship and design take precedence over all else. Attention to detail and the needs of the client are paramount to our goals. /// SHOW HOME APPROACH We want to bring you a home you would be happy to call your own. Our goal is to have a classic European exterior look with a modern open floor plan, including open staircases. We strive…

“Funny thing: My mom is going to be on that first flight from Paris coming to see the race. We’re really part of developing Indiana’s economy!”—SIMON PAGENAUD, via Twitter “Simon, you are a class act!”—GARY GRAHN JR., via Facebook “He can be my tour guide anytime.”—SHARON LIDRBAUCH, via Facebook “Dude, you are awesome. Always fan-friendly since day one.”—GOOSE MEYER, via Facebook WHAT LOCAL CELEBRITY WOULD YOU MOST WANT TO BE YOUR TOUR GUIDE? VOTE ON OUR NEXT POLL AT INDIANAPOLISMONTHLY.COM/POLLS 55% Give me David Letterman’s New York. 22% Angela Buchman. The weather is pretty important on vacation. 12% Larry Bird’s French Lick sounds charming. 11% If I ever get to the moon, David Wolf is my man. MI #ICYMI Our online stories you might have missed. JIM DAVIS Q&A The Garfield cartoonist on the…

WHILE INDIANA’S HIGH SCHOOL marching bands dominate national competitions, their regiment-style uniforms—often worn for generations—could use a makeover. Three local designers drummed up new ideas. Nikki Blaine Owner of the Zionsville-based Nikki Blaine Couture CONCEPT Superhero costume DETAILS Metallic cording, rhinestone appliqués, and capelet Robert Moore Fashion designer for film and television, instructor at The Art Institute of Indianapolis CONCEPT French-inspired, contemporary trench coat DETAILS Khaki with topstitched trim, tuxedo-striped pants, a beret, adjustable belt, plastic feather and epaulets, and hidden pockets Beck Jones Costume designer, co-owner of The 7th Artistry theater company CONCEPT Fitted, military-style uniform DETAILS Black tailcoat and pants with scarlet boots, high collar, and feathers Conventional Wisdom On partnering up at the Single Square Dancers USA 2018 Dance-A-Rama, Aug. 30–Sept. 2. There’s nothing square about this…

It makes perfect sense to swipe a brush across a pair of Chuck Taylor–style shoes—they’re canvas. Broad Ripple’s one-of-a-kind Kicasso Sneaker Art Bar provides the studio space, supplies, and even the treads for this cool project. Register online for a public session, or, if you prefer guidance from the staff, book a group of eight or more for a girls’ night out or a birthday party. Either way, you’ll step up your shoe collection. $45 per person, $40 per person for a group of eight or more, $10 credit for bringing your own pair of shoes. 6416 Ferguson St., 317-500-7332, kicassoindy.com Nerds can get their revenge with a Howl & Hide Supply Co. backpack, p. 28.…

WHY DON’T YOUR SHOES MATCH? It sets me apart from other Thai restaurants in the city. When someone forgets our name, people explain they prefer the one that’s owned by the guy who wears two different shoes. WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA? I saw athletes wearing different colored shoes. I have more than 17 pairs of Converse. I buy a pair every time I go to Chicago. DOES YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT YOUR HABIT? They have bought me many nicer, expensive shoes, but I like my Converse. My daughter went to Brebeuf and has tattoos, piercings. She thinks if you do something good with your life, it’s OK to stand out. SHE MUST GET IT FROM YOU. I do the right thing and don’t complain.…

On the Market SOME THINGS IMPROVE with age—fine whiskey, great jeans, George Clooney—but the trope doesn’t always apply to old houses. They are notoriously unpredictable during renovations and usually present a choice between historic charm and modern convenience. The Wishard Mansion just so happens to be a 7,800-square-foot exception to the rule. The Herron-Morton Place house built for Dr. William N. Wishard, who drove the expansion of City Hospital in the late 19th century, wears its 121 years well. A physician of his status (the hospital was eventually named for him) could afford a house with plenty of luxuries, so the family home was blessed with good bones from the start. Fast forward to present day. An expansive kitchen has its own fireplace (there are four more throughout the house)…

Road Trip TRACY GATES, head baker at The Inkwell in downtown Bloomington, never intended to open a restaurant. She just wanted to make pop tarts. Among the toaster pastry’s early adapters, the former general manager of Scholars Inn Bakehouse and cofounder of UGo Bars (which she sold in 2016) had been tinkering with ways to mass-produce gourmet hand pies when an irresistible location on the town’s square became available. She opened the cafe in September and gradually rolled out a menu of coffees and butter-laden baked goods—including a jumbo, rainbow-sprinkled Nutella pop tart with a tender crust and rich hazelnut core. A breakfast-to-lunch menu came next, featuring a few salads and a knife-and-fork broken-yolk sandwich on a housemade English muffin that sells nearly as wildly as the sweets. Gates plans…

Nicey Pie 916 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-602-6423, niceytreat.com Frozen popsicle–maker Nicey Treats had us at pineapple-basil. Now, it’s turning on the charm with a selection of icebox pies, in flavors like toasted coconut and Key lime. Indy farmers market darling 4 Birds Bakery provides the cookie crusts. Oatmeal Cream Pie 115 E. 49th St., 317-744-0000, crispy-bird.com Crispy Bird crams soft-serve maple ice cream between jumbo oatmeal cookies studded with chocolate chips and walnuts. Patachou Inc. owner Martha Hoover used to make a home version of this squishy, crumbly treat with her children, including Crispy Bird’s main chef, David Hoover. Ice Cream Doughnut 1277 N. State Rd. 135, Greenwood, 317-300-1841, risenroll.com At Amish-style bakery Rise’n Roll (famous for its whopping cinnamon-caramel rings), customers can replace the traditional cream or jelly-doughnut filling…

YOUR NEW GIG BASICALLY INVOLVES PROTECTING EARTH FROM ALIENS. HOW COMPETITIVE WAS THE APPLICATION? I had often thought about what a remarkable thing it would be to be in that position. Applying for it was a long shot, though—I’ve been told there were 1,400 résumés. WHAT DO YOU THINK SET YOU APART? I had a combination of the right technical background and a reputation for being someone who could seek consensus on complex problems, which is really what planetary missions are all about. They’re hard to do not only in terms of rocket science, but also in terms of not contaminating a place that might be habitable, and then not bringing something back that might be harmful to life on Earth. THERE WAS A REALLY SHORT TURNAROUND TIME—THE POSITION WAS…

15 PAGES of Barrel-Aged Content WITH Advice On How To Stock Your Home Bar Including SPIRIT GUIDES And Making a LOCAL-CENTRIC BLOODY MARY…

Our Mixologist Eli Sanchez has been working at various Indianapolis drinking establishments for years, honing his craft. His latest venture is the forthcoming Inferno Room. Mixologist’s Choice INGREDIENTS 2 ounces 8th Day Distillery rum¾-ounce pineapple juice½-ounce lime juice½-ounce honey syrup*¼-ounce Giffard Crème de Pêche liqueur4–5 mint leaves, plus more for garnish2 dashes Angostura bitters *Mix 3 ounces wildflower honey with 4 ounces water in a small saucepan and warm over medium heat. INSTRUCTIONS Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and the mint leaves. Add the fruit juices, syrup, liqueur, bitters, and rum. Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Strain into a tiki mug with fresh ice. Garnish with mint and serve. SPIRIT GUIDE RUM The word “proof” (“alcohol by volume” in today’s world) with regard to spirits is related…

Mixologist’s Choice INGREDIENTS 2 ounces West Fork Rye-Ters Block whiskey1 ounce lime juice1/2-ounce almond orgeat1/2-ounce Pierre Ferrand Dry Orange Curaçao Mint, for garnish INSTRUCTIONS Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add all ingredients. Shake vigorously for 12 to 15 seconds. Pour into a rocks glass filled with fresh ice. Garnish with mint and serve. SPIRIT GUIDE WHISKEY American whiskey is distilled from a fermented mash of cereal grains, typically a specific combination of corn, malt, rye, and wheat. Whiskey gets its color and flavor from the aging process, which takes place within oak barrels over a period of years. Once bottled, it ceases to age.…

922 S. Morton St., Bloomington • 812-202-6789 • cardinalspirits.com TOURS: YES TASTINGS: YES ESTABLISHED 2015 INDUSTRIES RISE and fall based on any number of forces, but Jeff Wuslich, co-founder of Bloomington’s Cardinal Spirits, can trace the success of his to a big one: Mad Men, he says, joking. “If Don Draper wasn’t drinking old-fashioneds and looking amazing, this would be a much different place.” The place is Cardinal Spirits, a distillery, tasting room, and now restaurant that Wuslich and Adam Quirk launched in 2015 to ride the Draper-fueled wave. “The pope blessed wine, and you’re allowed to have a beer with your dad, but spirits were still like, hmmm,” says Wuslich. “That’s why we’re trying to expose people to many different spirits in many different ways.” Their clean ace: cocktails.…

Letterman Sweater VINTAGE 1946 Resides at Cathedral High School WHILE A CARDIGAN may not be a symbol of athleticism and rugged masculinity today, this Cathedral letterman sweater would have been a jock’s prized possession in the 1940s. The school, which turns 100 this year, recently brought the garment and other historic memorabilia down from the attic to display in its halls. The only clue to its original owner is the “J. O’Brien” stitched into the sleeve, but it probably would have been worn by a football, basketball, or baseball player, as few other sports were sanctioned at the time. The Protestant majority looked down on Catholics during that period, and Cathedral had only been admitted to IHSAA a few years earlier. As a result, O’Brien was among the first athletes…

Brenda Sotolongo for Pro Soto Beauty Studios LOCATION Avon Wedding & Event Barn…

THE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS is thrilled to welcome you to First Internet Bank Indy Rama. On the heels of last year’s success, this show is nothing short of remarkable, featuring six custom-built, fully decorated and landscaped homes and townhomes in downtown Indianapolis. This urban home tour showcases some of the best Indy neighborhoods and provides a feel for what downtown living has to offer. These homes, built by members of the Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis, display all the latest trends in technology, design, outdoor living, landscaping, and much more. You’re sure to leave with plenty of ideas for your new or existing home. During the show, the builders will be on hand to answer questions, offer advice, and discuss their uniquely built home. Many of the designers…

UPPER LEVEL MAIN LEVEL HOME BUILDER Kenny Windler Jerrod Klein Michelle Dumas Mary Cook 8425 WOODFIELD CROSSING BLVD. // 317-255-9900 SALESINDY@MIHOMES.COM // MIHOMES.COM BUILDER CONTACTS: Kenny Windler, Jerrod Klein, and Michelle Dumas INTERIOR DESIGN: MARY COOK ASSOCIATES 4011 N. RAVENSWOOD, CHICAGO // 773-975-9500 INFO@MARYCOOK.COM // MARYCOOK.COM DESIGNER CONTACT: Mary Cook /// BUILDER PHILOSOPHY A home is more than brick and mortar, more than lumber, drywall, cabinets, and appliances. A home is a very special place where your life unfolds and memories are made. You deserve a home that’s been built to last with unmistakable quality and thoughtful design and built by a builder who truly cares. At M/I Homes, we care. We care about quality, design, community, and our customer. Since 1976, we have built over 100,000 homes focused on…

HOME BUILDER Andrew Brindley Scott Schrader UPPER LEVEL MAIN LEVEL LOWER LEVEL 317-759-3001 // HELLO@HE-HOMES.COM // HE-HOMES.COM BUILDER CONTACTS: Andrew Brindley and Scott Schrader /// BUILDER PHILOSOPHY H.E Homes was designed to transform the market with greater transparency and a streamlined project that makes sense from start to finish. We help guide and answer your questions to ensure your next home is the best fit for your lifestyle and price point. We work to exceed your expectations at every step. we include a 10-year fully transferrable warranty on your home to add peace of mind and additional value if you ever decide to move. Our upgraded energy-efficiency and sound-reducing wall construction are included standard in every home. Plus, our guided web portal showcases all the information about your project from…

WHEN YOU BUY A HOUSE DOWNTOWN, you get more than simply a place to live. Just outside your door, you can find fantastic food, entertainment, picnics, festivals, live music, art studios, museums, and, believe it or not, a community. Many people picture urban living as a solitary lifestyle where people refuse to make eye contact on the street and live next to neighbors for years without saying hi. But those people forget that we live in the Midwest where kindness is still king. /// SENSE OF COMMUNITY On this tour, you’ll visit six downtown neighborhoods, each with its own unique personality and set of amenities and each thriving with life. From Fountain Square’s Virginia Avenue Music Fest to Herron-Morton Place’s Talbot Street Art Fair, almost any neighborhood can point to…