Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Indianapolis Monthly

My first art gallery doubled as a harvest-gold Kenmore refrigerator that hummed along in the kitchen of my parents’ home. There, I displayed crayon masterpieces such as Stick Child with Large Eyes and Hands; House, Tree, and Smiley-Faced Sun; and Stick Child with House, Tree, and Smiley-Faced Sun. It was part of a series. Alas, the fridge outlasted my career as a visual artist, and over the years I lost touch with that part of my creative side. Over the holidays, though, I happily discovered that a portion of my portfolio has survived the ravages of time. Those select remains live on the top shelf of a guest bedroom closet at my folks’ house. That’s where I found the beauty above right, a former Good Seasons cruet festooned with a…

IT’S ONE TASK YOU WON’T PROCRASTINATE ON. Green, 39, the former contemporary-art curator at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, gives out homework for “The Art Assignment.” But you’ll actually want to tackle it. From creating a work of art and then having someone destroy it, to meeting a friend at the precise geographic midpoint between the two of you, her 296,000 subscribers are always in for an adventure. THINK OF IT AS PICASSO, WITHOUT PRETENSE. Green was fed up with visitors thinking they had to be high-minded to appreciate art. “So many people [at the IMA] would walk into a gallery, throw their hands up, and say, ‘This is ridiculous,’’’ she says. “I thought a series of free videos would help me talk to those people. I knew it couldn’t…

These hand-knit hats by French Knot make snowball fights significantly more fun. A Boston-born enterprise that recently relocated to Lafayette, French Knot makes pretty toppers and handwarmers sold in Von Maur and Anthropologie stores. Owner Lindsay Mason worked in the fashion industry for seven years before she bid it adieu and started her own company. “While I was at work, I would read things like How to Start a Business over lunch,” she says. Styles like the “Grecian Flower” and the “Vintage Chalet” are handcrafted in Nepal from wool and mohair blends and embellished with flower designs. Allergy sufferers, never fear: They’re lined with fleece, so you’ll be super cute, not super red. “Grecian Flower” hat, $77, frenchknot.com…

BREAK DOWN THIS OUTFIT. Vintage Levi’s jacket with pins and a Tommy Hilfiger patch I sewed on. A Culver Military Academy hockey jersey from the ‘90s; I went to high school there. A hoodie I designed as a collaboration with Quality boutique on Mass Ave. Vintage Guess denims—I cut off the bottoms. And Vans shoes that I customized online with flames. IS THIS THE STUFF YOU SELL? Yes. I was wearing ’80s and ’90s vintage before starting the store. WHO’S YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE? My parents started taking me thrifting in third grade. I only lived through part of the ’90s. YOU’RE ALSO A HIP-HOP ARTIST. HOW DOES STYLE PLAY INTO IT? People judge how good you are at rapping by how well you are dressed. IS THERE SOMETHING VALUABLE IN…

Why has Pots & Pans Pie Co. seen a rise in wedding pie requests? The answer is simple. “Pie is better than cake,” says owner Clarissa Morley. It’s hard to disagree when you see the knockout creations from the kitchen of her Meridian-Kessler shop, a brick-and-mortar dream come true she opened in December. The main-event wedding pies are often accompanied by pie buffets, with designs ranging from traditional lattice to more modern interpretations. “We can do anything you want for a crust,” says Morley, “and then we work with the florist to complete the look.” 4915 N. College Ave., 317-600-3475, potsandpansindy.com…

Check out the weekly Swoon List at Indianapolis Monthly.com BOWL GAME Moar Tea & Poke took the former Hoaglin to Go spot in December, bringing boba and fresh ahi to Mass Ave. PIPING DREAM A second Gallery Pastry Shop location is in the works for the Old Northside. CASE STUDY Turchett i’s Salumeria has a new chef de cuisine, Ian Stricklin from Nesso Coastal Italia. MOZZ SQUAD St. Louis–based calzone restaurant Sauce on the Side plans to open franchises downtown and in Carmel this year.…

OUR SWEET, burgundy-vested server at The Neely House smiled professionally when we lost our minds over a sugardusted, hand-painted peach macaron presented on a dainty gold cake circle. She cleared our toile china plates and cut-glass tumblers of blood-orange Palomas with all the grace of a Disneyland employee-of-the-month, while a young June Christy crooned “Shoo-Fly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy” in the background. We halfexpected cartoon birds to flutter into that heavily floral-patterned dining room to tie ribbons in our hair. It is not by accident that dinner feels this precious and magical at a four-month-old restaurant designed to reflect life in the times of its original resident, Muncie pioneer and prolific diarist Thomas S. Neely. He built the home, a two-story brick Greek Revival, in 1852, and kept a…

ALL OF US have a place that brings us peace whenever we think of it. I seldom drive into Danville without going a mile out of my way to loop past my childhood home. When my parents sold it in 2005, I wanted to buy it, but I didn’t because we were well-sett led in a perfectly good house that was paid for. When given the choice, I prefer to live in a paidfor house as opposed to a not-paid-for house. The people who live there now are nice enough to let me sit on the front porch whenever I wish, which effectively scratches my nostalgic itch. These days, in times of tumult, my mind visits a place on our Southern Indiana farm we call the upper meadow—a 25-acre field…

BACK WHEN Julie Bolejack operated her Carmel shop, Chocolate for the Spirit, few people walked in the door already speaking her language. Grand Cru single-origin cacao. Heirloom beans. Conching and seeding. A long finish. A nice snap. A visit was equal parts education and indulgence. Bolejack’s treats looked and tasted familiar, but they were far more refined than the chocolate customers knew. More refined, even, than the extra-dark boutique bars at the expensive end of the candy aisle. It wasn’t bitt er or sweet, and it had distinct flavor notes, like wine. Customers would leave enlightened about the vast difference between this connoisseur chocolate and commercial candy, clued in to the dirty litt le secret that the stuff sold in grocery stores contains only a pitiful 11 percent cacao—barely chocolate…

VINTAGE: UNKNOWN Resides in storage at the Indiana State Museum ABRAHAM LINCOLN dipped a pen into this inkwell to sign the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, ordering the freedom of more than 3.5 million slaves. Most were still under Confederate control, meaning the gesture was largely a symbolic one at that point, but it did immediately liberate some 20,000. After the signing, Lincoln’s youngest son, Tad, asked for the inkwell to give to his tutor, Alexander Williamson. A paper label on the base details the family descent. The object is part of the Lincoln Financial Foundation Collection. Have an idea for a future Artifact? Drop us a suggestion at letters@ Indianapolis Monthly.com…

Michael Koryta Freelance writer Michael Koryta still finds himself making daily checks for updates in the Delphi murders case (p. 76). The New York Times best-selling novelist is haunted by the crime, but inspired by the resilience of the community—particularly by Libby German’s sister, Kelsi. “She’s determined to take an active role in the investigation,” he says, “and not to be defined by tragedy.” Megan Fernandez Director of editorial operations Megan Fernandez has a serious sweet tooth, making his month’s story on cacao conservationist Julie Bolejack (p. 80) a dream assignment. But there was a downslide to taste-testing Bolejack’s flagship product, a bar made from the world’s most prized cacao trees. “Now I have a taste for $16 Peruvian chocolate,” Fernandez says. Willy Blackmore Freelance writer Willy Blackmore lives a…

Want a water slide? Ask for the Chalet Suite. Sorry, the Taiwan Basket isn’t available at this location. Google it. Not at work. If you’re going on a walk-through first, there are no stupid questions. The hotel has its own garage, in case you want to keep your vehicle incognito. Hold up, Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice—only two people per room. Watch the hot-tub splashing: $200 overflow charge. For post-coital chatting: The company founder once taught karate to drumming legend Buddy Rich at the Playboy Mansion. Prepare to pay. Rates run $262 to $730 a night. Or $169 to $274 for an afternoon. Plus, since Sybaris is technically a private club, there’s a $30 annual membership fee. Which means you’ll be on their mailing list, hot stuff.…

The beige tones and steel-toed boots of the pharmaceutical warehouse where Abigail Simeur used to work were too drab for the trained painter, so she started wearing her art on her lobes. Now her handmade Litt le Henri earrings are bringing pops of Miami Vice color combinations to Homespun: Modern Handmade and French Pharmacie salon. Simeur paints each lightweight, resin-coated-wood pair with a unique patt ern—though the rad graphics look majorly familiar to anyone who wore a side ponytail in the 1980s. $15 to $32, etsy.com/shop/littlehenri…

WEAVING TOGETHER bold, geometric designs and sustainability, Constance Collins is bringing an ancient medium into the 21st century. The Indy-based textile artist specializes in what she calls “art couture,” craft ing one-of-a-kind scarves and capelets with all-natural fibers. She spends considerable time perfecting each patt ern, as well as choosing environmentally responsible materials. “When people are done with their textiles, they’re going into landfills,” she says. “Look at how much of our clothing comes from manufactured fiber like polyester and nylon. Those don’t break down for hundreds of years.” By contrast, Collins loads her 16-harness, 48-inch loom with sustainable alpaca, silk, and bamboo. “My signature line is a silk-and-bamboo blend that is very fine yarn,” she says. “It’s really lightweight and drapes beautifully.” Just how lightweight? Such a scarf measuring…

New in Town GRINDSTONE PUBLIC HOUSE is bringing a litt le doublestacked nostalgia to downtown Noblesville, a threeminute walk from the spot where its patriarch, Clancy’s Hamburgers, started a ground-beef empire in 1965. Grindstone co-owner Blake Fogelsong, grandson of Clancy’s founder Carl Fogelsong, opened the casual pub-and-grub destination last summer aft er giving the 1891 Castor building a crisp, open floor plan that plays up the historic storefront. Floor-to-ceiling windows and blue upholstered club chairs in a glowing front bar transition to a family-friendly dining room featuring an oversized portion of fried green tomatoes, herb-butt ered steaks, and homey chef’s favorites like prime-rib dinners that beget weekday prime-beef Manhatt ans. A pickle-brined fried chicken sandwich tastes exactly as its name implies, and a juicy, meat-free Impossible Burger satisfies wistful vegans.…

Sal’s Famous Pizzeria 1028 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-858-8700, salsfamousindy.com A meal at Brownsburg’s old-school Italian standard wouldn’t be complete without one of Sal’s outsized cannoli. The thick, sweet filling is balanced nicely by an especially toasted crust and a dusting of cinnamon that offers an aromatic finish. The Twisted Sicilian 317-455-3281, thetwistedsicilian.com Chae Carmack’s popular food truck offers Italian street-food snacks from fried ravioli to arancini (fried risotto balls) to three different flavors of cannoli filled right in the truck. Try a straight-up plain cannoli to taste the delectable ricotta filling or get one with a fragrant hint of orange peel. Convivio 11529 Spring Mill Rd., Carmel, 317-564-4670; 40 S. Main St., Zionsville, 317-733-3600, convivioindy.com A distinct undertone of lemon zest in the ricotta that fills this light and…

Check out HYDE PARK PRIME STEAKHOUSE’s full description on page 123.…

ONE MORNING last July, passengers taking the ferry from Rockland, Maine, to the island of Vinalhaven were joined by a crew of art handlers and three large moving trucks. Aft er the 75-minute ride, the ferry docked and the trucks drove onto the island and along Main Street, following the road’s gentle curve to Vinalhaven’s quaint center. There, the trucks pulled up to a granite curb in front of the most eye-catching building in town: the threestory former Odd Fellows meeting hall that was the home and studio of the artist Robert Indiana from 1978 until his death last May at the age of 89. Behind the front door, the entryway was so full of art packed in boxes and crates that it was difficult to pass through. A whole…

PUBLIC SCHOOLS MARION COUNTY BEECH GROVE CITY SCHOOLS ENROLLMENT: 3,016. ISTEP+: grades 3–8: 30.1%; grade 10, 16.9%. 5334 Hornet Ave., Beech Grove, 317-788-4481 Beech Grove Senior High School ENROLLMENT: 937. ISTEP+: 16.9%. GRAD. RATE: 94.8%. 5330 Hornet Ave., Beech Grove, 317-786-1447 MSD DECATUR TOWNSHIP ENROLLMENT: 6,810. ISTEP+: grades 3–8: 36%; grade 10, 20.9%. 5275 Kentucky Ave., 317-856-5265 Decatur Central High School ENROLLMENT: 1,845. ISTEP+: 23%. GRAD. RATE: 91.5%. 5251 Kentucky Ave., 317-856-5288 Decatur Township School of Excellence ENROLLMENT: 258. ISTEP+: 3.8%. GRAD. RATE: 63.9%. 5106 S. High School Rd., 317-856-0900 FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP CSC ENROLLMENT: 9,654. ISTEP+: grades 3–8: 61.2%; grade 10, 47.6%. 6141 S. Franklin Rd., 317-862-2411 Franklin Central High School ENROLLMENT: 2,819. ISTEP+: 47.6%. GRAD. RATE: 96.7%. 6215 S. Franklin Rd., 317-862-6646 INDIANA SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY…

IS THIS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO INDIANAPOLIS? No, I’ve been to Indy several times, and I love it. My favorite trip was when I was touring for my Christmas album a couple of years ago and we got to see the Circle of Lights. It was gorgeous. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW? I’m filming a PBS special—an hour-long concert for Live from Lincoln Center. I’m also working on several animated shows for Disney, Nickelodeon, and the Cartoon Network. I’ve done voices for everything from The Penguins of Madagascar to Phineas and Ferb. WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF PERFORMANCE: MUSICAL, CONCERT, STUDIO RECORDING, TV, OR FILM? It’s a toss-up between the concerts and the animated work. With my concerts, I get to be in control of the material I…

SHOP Just as some still refer to Bankers Life Fieldhouse as Conseco, you will run into locals who call Needler’s Fresh Market (1) by the names of its longtime predecessors, O’Malia’s and Marsh. It’s actually run by the eponymous third-generation grocer family. Once a standout in a downtown supermarket desert, the spot now faces competition from Kroger and Whole Foods Market. It focuses on local produce, Miller Amish Country poultry, and in-house bakery and deli products. A coffee shop with a Cultural Trail entrance is in the works. 320 N. New Jersey St., 317-262-4888, needlersfreshmarket.com PLAY You never know where Big Car Collaborative’s lime-green cafe tables and chessboards—first seen on Monument Circle when its public-engagement program Spark debuted there a couple summers ago—will pop up next. Lately, they have shown…

When nearly 1,000 refugees and survivors sett led in Cincinnati aft er the Holocaust, many arrived by train. So it’s fitt ing that the new HOLOCAUST & HUMANITY CENTER sits inside Union Terminal, a grand railway station that also houses the Cincinnati Museum Center. The HHC holds more than 700 artifacts, including lett ers sent to the United States asking for help to escape Nazi Germany. holocaustandhumanity.org…

Discovery Neo-honky-tonk acts crowd the stage at Duke’s, a new bar with an old soul on the near-south side, but owner Dustin Boyer is a one-man show behind the scenes. So many nights, he simultaneously tends the bar and runs the kitchen, popping Lone Stars while plating friedchicken dinners—and only fried-chicken dinners—and chatting up customers lucky enough to snag one of the dozen-or-so barstools. Now his Monday-night “Doris’s Kitchen” supper features one prix-fixe menu in the $12-to- $25 range, served somewhat family-style at the bar, festooned with cowboy art and vintage neon. He Instagrams the menu at @dukes_supper_ club on the morning-of, and the first commenters to reserve a spot get to dig in to the Southern comfort food, one-off scratch-made dishes that will probably never reappear at Duke’s. Boyer…

WHEN FRANCESCA Pizzi lamented the dearth of Italian restaurants in downtown Indy, her father, restaurateur Gino Pizzi, offered her some sage advice: “Why don’t you open one yourself?” As is so oft en true, father knows best. While Francesca has no formal culinary training, she grew up doing homework and taking naps inside her family’s beloved Broad Ripple standard, Ambrosia. Later, Pizzi helped her grandfather stuff tortellini and prepare many of the other Italian-American classics on the menu. She moved to Nashville for a few years to work corporate jobs, but she eventually came back. “I realized the restaurant business was in my blood,” she says. Late this winter, Pizzi plans to put that family know-how into practice at Maialina, in the former Smokehouse on Shelby location in the Fountain…

BOWLING IS A bit of a mystery. It’s hard to explain the distinct pleasure of knocking down 10 white pins with a 16-pound ball. The destruction, the racket, the clean sweep as the mechanical arm swooshes away the fallen soldiers. Jerry Hindel knows it well. “People come in to bowl, and 99 percent of the time they’re having fun,” says the 75-year-old owner of Hindel Bowling Lanes. “No matt er how bad they play, it doesn’t seem to make any difference.” Hindel Bowling is an Indianapolis institution, the oldest family-run alley in town. Some 1,300 guests pass through the doors each week for league play. A few hundred more come to practice or enjoy the game room, bar, and pro shop. The story began in 1957, when Carl and Judy…

IF YOU PLAN TO UPDATE, UPGRADE, REBUILD, OR REMODEL, this year may be the perfect time to create the house of your dreams. Thanks in part to a broad range of design and DIY shows, along with related media, homeowners can find plenty of inspiration to turn their old or outdated properties into fresh, new digs. An ample variety of projects and products on the retail market make it easy to customize your accommodations to evoke your personal style and fit your preferences. From natural and man-made materials and bold colors to cutting-edge innovation for outdoor-living spaces and warmer versions of the tried and true, the pros know what’s hot in home trends, and they are ready to share their tips. LASTING IMPRESSION Whether you plan to spruce up your…

NEW & UPDATED Geraldine’s Supper Club & Lounge ………………………….122 The Inferno Room ……………. 123 Field Brewing ………………….. 128 Eddie Merlot’s ………………. 132 DOWNTOWN INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square 1913 Restaurant UPSCALE COMFORT The 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…