Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2019 i Indianapolis Monthly

It’s been my experience that good reporters and writers second-guess themselves a bit, particularly when it comes to perspective. Quality storytelling often acknowledges the limitations of the storyteller and attempts to rectify that by seeking other viewpoints without confusing balance for fairness. That’s why Dan Wakefield isn’t just a good reporter and writer—he’s a great one. The 86-year-old’s essay (“How An Old White Guy Got Woke,” p. 96) charts his decades-long evolution and understanding of race. Without spoiling the story, here’s the gist: Dan made a name for himself covering one of the seminal events of the Civil Rights era (the murder of Emmett Till) and rubbed elbows with icons like James Baldwin, but only recently has had his eyes fully opened to a host of issues thanks to new…

TEN YEARS AGO, Faith Cohen realized something odd—there was no holiday to honor the Beatles, her favorite band. So the Indianapolis photographer launched one, but a question remained: Did the Fab Four really need more recognition? Based on the response since then—Global Beatles Day has been recognized by Amazon, Corona beer, Elvis Costello, and Peter Tork, the recently deceased member of the Monkees—evidently there was an appetite for it. “It’s more of a holiday just to say thank you for all the changes and so forth that they brought,” Cohen says. Cohen initially promoted GBD on social media. Eventually press around the world picked it up, and fans (and marketing departments looking for a hook) took it from there. Cuba held a Beatles film festival last year. Amazon used it…

HAND-CARVED, turquoise fish statues sourced from India and antique iron-and-glass chandeliers aren’t what you’d expect to find in a barn anywhere in Indiana, but that’s what shoppers come for when The Marshmallow Monkey in Martinsville swings open its doors every weekend. Owners Brandon and Nicole Nicoloff relocated their rustic-chic home boutique from Franklin to greener pastures earlier this year. Their goods are now beautifully spread out in a barn near their brick home, which was built to resemble an old schoolhouse that once graced the property. The owners source a good bit of their collection from estate sales and antiques buyers and sprinkle modern items among the perfectly merchandised Joanna Gaines–style decor. Among the industrial and farmhouse pieces, mainstays include the timeworn wood buffet tables of your dreams and cage-like…

THE CITY comes back to life this time of the year, when downtown’s sidewalk tables are in full bloom and patio seating spreads like kudzu across the suburbs. Summer’s early adopters have already taken their al fresco positions beneath the pergolas, reminding the rest of us as we drive by—without a margarita in our hand or a French bulldog at our feet—that we have entered a new dining season. The people living their best lives on the deck outside King Dough, a tiny modernist gem of metal panel siding and freestanding white-oak trellises on a slip of property just east of downtown, are celebrating a different kind of change in the climate. The 2,675-square-foot pizza joint arrived in Indianapolis at the end of January, roughly three years after King Dough…

IF THE GODS of motorcycling permit, this month will find me in Wisconsin and Minnesota with the Quaker chapter of my biker gang, the Sons of Silence. My friends Mike Goss, Ned Steele, Riley Tharp, and I plan to buzz west to Galena, Illinois, then wander north on the Great River Road, before turning east and heading across Wisconsin to the Lighthouse Resort near Minocqua, where I spent an idyllic summer vacation in 1969. I phoned the resort to see if we could stay overnight, but I was told we couldn’t since none of us work for Johnson Wax, the company that owns it and employed my father. Johnson Wax is now dead to me. In a way, my vacation began in January, seated at my kitchen table, poring over…

FRIDAY, JUNE 14 7 p.m.: If you were lucky enough to snag a ticket to Zoobilation this year, which sold out as usual, now’s the time to make your grand entrance in your best animal-themed attire. Taste lavish cuisine from 70-plus restaurants and specialty cocktails poured at 15 bars at this black-tie bash, which raises funds for animal and environmental conservation. To shut the place down, you’ll need to party ’til midnight, which the rock bands make it easy to do. Otherwise, slip out before your stilettos really start killing you, and take a quick jaunt over to the Fletcher Place neighborhood to close out the night. indianapoliszoo.com/events/zoobilation 9:30 p.m.: At Holy Rosary Catholic Church, the free Italian Street Festival has been raging since 5 p.m. The night time is…

Five years ago, a man called me and began with an apology. “I’m sure you get too many of these,” he said. “But I have to call you because I am writing a book on the Emmett Till murder trial, and you are the only one who was at the trial and is still alive.” That has become my distinction. The Supreme Court had outlawed school segregation in its 1954 decision Brown v. Board of Education, ruling that “separate but equal” education was not valid and no longer the law of the land. Everyone knew this was a major decision that would have a huge impact on American life. There was a feeling of national apprehension. What would happen? Would the South revolt? Would it be the start of another…

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 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 off…

INCLUDES Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville Anthony’s Chophouse STEAKHOUSE A large set of doors marked with a scripty “A” welcome diners to this swanky heavy hitter along Carmel’s bustling Main Street. The interior has the polished gleam of a brand-new Vegas hotel, with an upper-level lounge containing the salvaged mahogany bar from The Glass Chimney, a local fine-dining legend. The food at Anthony’s has just as much flourish. Lobster bisque containing a hunk of tempura-fried meat and a wedge salad with all the frills head up a meal that might include a bone-in cowgirl ribeye or a flight of filets. Black-suited servers and well-composed cocktails (including one with a smoking sprig of rosemary) keep the high-dollar meal running smoothly. Dinner Mon.–Sat. 201 W. Main St., Carmel, 317-740-0900, anthonyschophouse.com Auberge FRENCH…

INCLUDES Greenwood Ichiban Sushi Bar JAPANESE Owner Sammy Li’s specialty-roll menu leans hard on the kind of embellished creations that are the stuff of cravings. Minced shrimp and crab top the serpentine Pink Dragon, and the Rainbow Roll wraps bright, fresh sashimi around a fat California roll. Lunch and dinner daily. 8265 U.S. 31 S., 317-883-1888, ichiban31.com Oaken Barrel PUB GRUB Nothing about the menu at one of the oldest breweries in Central Indiana is all that surprising or original. It’s something-foreveryone casual—although Oaken Barrel does the standards well. Lunch and dinner daily. 50 N. Airport Pkwy., Greenwood, 887-2287, oakenbarrel.com Revery CONTEMPORARY Approachable, affordable fine dining comes to Greenwood at this elegantly rustic bistro that’s housed in a former law office. Unexpectedly adventurous small plates show how serious owner Mark…

“I’d preserve the small forest in my backyard. It’s where I go to hide from my kids.”–DANIEL COMISKEY, DEPUTY EDITOR “I hope we can save all of the walk-up Dairy Queens (pre–DQ Brazier) that are only open in the summer.”–JULIA SPALDING, DINING EDITOR “Mayor Pete [Buttigieg], because I don’t want him to become disillusioned with the world after running for president.”–MEGAN MAGUIRE, ADVERTISING ART COORDINATOR “A six-pack of Three Floyds’s Gumballhead.”–LAURA KRUTY, SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR…

E-Scooters RACE TO THE BOTTOM. Bird came first. Then Lime. Since then, two other scooter-rental companies—Spin and Lyft—have jumped into the fray, and the concept has become familiar. But when the curious objects first appeared out of nowhere on downtown corners, it didn’t take long for early-adopting Hoosiers to turn the sidewalks around Monument Circle into the IMS, a kind of hipster Mad Max: Fury Road. The city eventually imposed a temporary ban to give lawmakers who had been taken by surprise much-needed time to create regulations. BUT RULES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN. After a short educational grace period, the IMPD issued 34 fines during the first month of code enforcement. SELF SERVICE. The scooters, which require a mobile app, driver’s license, and credit card to rent, are readily…

WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE PODCASTING FORMAT? I like the immense freedom it gives you. There aren’t really rules or conventions yet. I don’t see any downside to that. Of course, this doesn’t mean that all podcasts are good, or that they’re making the most of this freedom in a responsible way. But the potential is there. YOU CAN MAKE YOUR PODCASTS ANY LENGTH YOU CHOOSE. IS IT NICE NOT TO BE LIMITED TO A CERTAIN NUMBER OF INCHES OR MINUTES? It’s great. I worked for This American Life for a long time, and sometimes you’d have a story that was 27 minutes, and we only had 23 for the broadcast that week, so you had to cut. That’s really painful, because those four minutes mean a…

SO WHAT IS DRAG? It’s an exaggeration—because a dress doesn’t have to mean you’re feminine, and pants don’t necessarily make you masculine. Drag is both, but caked under a bunch of makeup. WHO ARE YOUR STYLE INFLUENCES? The classics: Leigh Bowery, Jackie Beat, Carol Burnett. CAROL BURNETT! WHY? She could make someone laugh without ever being profane, and those Bob Mackie costumes were to die for. WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO STYLE? Any looks of strength and empowerment. I think of a female superhero. I do it to become an exceptional creature while mixing and hiding both genders at the same time. If I do it to fit in, I’m doing it wrong. THANK YOU FOR BEING ONE OF THE BRIGHT, FIERCE CREATURES IN INDIANAPOLIS. A drag queen always loves a…

Raspberry Chocolate Jam Raspberries are too delicate to dip in chocolate, but who needs to when Cindy Hawkins of Circle City Sweets can pull off this magic trick? Hawkins uses the jam as a filling in her macarons, but you can slather it on toast or make it the centerpiece of homemade thumbprint cookies. City Market, 317-632-3644, circlecitysweets.com Balsamic Stout Onion Jelly The slightly sweet, mostly savory spread from farmers market fave Home Ec has a hint of stout flavor from the beer, mild tang from the balsamic vinegar, and unexpected texture from the cooked onions. Jam-maker Jessica Sowls suggests pairing it with a hard aged cheese, like sharp cheddar. homeecpreserves.com Black Raspberry Jam It’s hard to find black raspberry jam because black raspberries are more elusive than their red…

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ONE EVENING in 1949, Dorothy Buell and her husband were on their way to dinner in Gary when she saw a poster in a hotel lobby announcing a meeting of the Indiana Dunes Preservation Council. She decided to attend. It was a choice, made in an instant, that would change Indiana’s history and one day lead to permanent protection of the state’s most endangered natural wonder. Buell, an English teacher from Ogden Dunes, left the meeting that night inspired. Development and industrialization, she learned, were already destroying her beloved dunes. Soon, there wouldn’t be much of them left. Having discovered the fight that would define the rest of her life, she founded the Save the Dunes Council, a grassroots organization made up only of women at the time. Buell and…

Peter Dunn, aka “Pete the Planner,” financial educator and writer Wolfpack: How to Come Together, Unleash Our Power, and Change the Game, by Abby Wambach “I’ve always appreciated the person [retired soccer player and coach] Abby Wambach is and what she’s meant to sport and culture at large. I’m looking forward to drinking in her wisdom.” Notes from a Young Black Chef: A Memoir, by Kwame Onwuachi “My current state of mind has me seeking out unique perspectives. I’m neither young, nor black, nor a chef. I know what it’s like to be a middle-aged white guy in Carmel, but seeking out different perspectives is healthy. This chef’s story looks incredible.” Backlash, by Brad Thor “Look, I’m a sucker for spy thrillers. My wife mocks me and asks how my…

INCLUDES Broad Ripple, Castleton, Geist, Herron-Morton, Kennedy-King, Keystone at the Crossing, Meridian-Kessler, Nora, SoBro 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 are here in abundance, though, with chicken gravy and apple chutney among the more outrageous burger toppings, along with wings and salads. Dinner Tues.–Sun. 915 E. Westfield Blvd., 317-251-1317, 317burger.com Ambrosia ITALIAN Regulars have happily returned to this storied Broad Ripple trattoria run by the Pizzi family for three decades. Antipasti are a must, especially the goat-cheese torta or grilled shrimp wrapped in prosciutto. Veal marsala (a true trattoria test) might be less than crispy, but other classics hit the mark. Dinner daily. 5903 N.…

INCLUDES Brownsburg, Plainfield Best Friends Coffee & Bagels CAFÉ The chalkboard behind the counter can barely contain the rambling list of grab-and-go options at this little community cafe. Owners (and best friends) Bob Goodpaster and Chico Mbanu have covered all of the espresso drinks, pastries, and smoothies you might expect from a place where guests gather to play euchre. Food options include basic bagel sandwiches served warm and toasty from the panini press, but also elaborate one-offs, like a cheddar waffle topped with pulled pork. Breakfast and lunch daily. 1060 E. Main St., Brownsburg, 317-350-2185 Duke’s BAR AND GRILL A year ago, the local favorite The Ice House underwent a makeover that endeared it to a different kind of crowd. The neon-lit honky-tonk bar took on a menu of smoked…

Tim Swarens • Freelance writer Tim Swarens has always loved this state’s natural areas, so he was curious about what the Indiana Dunes National Park news meant for the future of conservation here (p. 60). “The Dunes’ story parallels Indiana’s story,” he says. “They were exploited for their economic value until a group of grassroots activists, with an assist from a few political leaders, worked to save them.” Connie Zeigler • Freelance writer Connie Zeigler intended to do a sweet piece about June weddings for this month’s Backtrack (p. 22). Then she found a photo of infamous 1970s cult leader Jim Jones in a double wedding in Richmond. “Digging into the story of his wife, Marceline Jones, was both fascinating and sad,” Zeigler says. “The woman stuck with Jim to…

This year’s theme nods to the Zoo’s newest arrivals, sloths and snakes. A sartorial joke about lazy creatures probably won’t land, but you can’t go wrong with snakeskin. Anyone brave enough to Britney a live boa around their neck? Never mind—living accessories aren’t allowed. It’s black tie on top, shower sandals on the bottom. Because dancing. Shoes end up on a big pile on the dance floor. Consider marking your soles for easy identification, like checked luggage. You want tuxedo shorts to hit a couple inches above the kneecap. A purse with a strap. Even better, a dress with deep pockets. It’s either going to rain or be blazing hot. Time to whip out the waterproof mascara. Don’t even try to outdo Kevin and Jody DeFord (pictured).…

These hefty art-glass rolling pins, sold at Chatham Home, hark back to a long tradition. Glass was once the material of choice for this kitchen staple. Now collectible, those models often contained a hollow core for cold water to keep the pin chilled while rolling out dough. Even without that quirk, these updated beauties are destined for heirloom status. $35 each. 517 E. Walnut St., 317-917-8550, chathamhomeindy.com…

BY DAY, Anne Dougans sews mascot costumes such as the IUPUI Jaguar in her large studio in the Stutz building. By night, she works on a much smaller scale. Dougans’s “People by Anne” dolls—miniature versions of relatives, friends, and strangers—bear a striking resemblance to their life-sized counterparts. “I’m making things with a 110-inch waist, and, later, I’m making things with a one-tenth-of-an-inch stitch,” she says. “I work at both ends of the spectrum.” Dougans started making the dolls in 2016, and since then, her orders have included replicas of Indiana Fever assistant coach Tully Bevilaqua and a partner at Borshoff. She begins by drawing the head and adding layers of foam and Antron polyester puppet fleece fabric, the same stuff the Muppets are made from. Because each doll requires a…

CHICAGO, IL DISTANCE 180 miles DRIVE TIME 3 hours THE BROKEN-IN sneakers on the wall? An athlete once laced those up. The bleacher seating in the lobby? Stomped by fans in Chicago gymnasiums for decades. The wooden tennis rackets rainbowing across the cafe, the vintage bowling-alley booth, the clocks with round caged faces? All salvaged. The nostalgic sports installations at FieldHouse Jones ($195 per night, fieldhousejones.com) aren’t replicas. They’re the real deals, and co-owner Mike Downing, who has an antiques background, drew up a bunch of different plays for using these found icons of leisure creatively throughout the boutique hotel. Chicago’s parks system once contained a network of fieldhouses that served as nerve centers for community recreation year-round. Teddy Roosevelt called them “the most notable civic achievement in any American…

TEEJAY’S DONUT ICE CREAM SANDWICH The TeeJay’s Sweet Tooth ice-cream sandwich on a warm yeast doughnut is like a toasty hug for your tongue, punctuated by the cooling tickle of two scoops of flavors, from cotton candy to chocolate malt. 8660 Purdue Rd., 317-744-9764, facebook.com/teejayssweettooth THE LICK S’MORES ICE CREAM TACO On special occasions, quirky ice-cream parlor Lick packages dessert as dinner in this chocolate-dipped, torched-marshmallow-fluff-filled boss of a taco. Circle City Industrial Complex, 1125 E. Brookside Ave., 317-979-0237, facebook.com/lickicecreamindy THE SMALLCAKES SMASH The dessert bar Smallcakes packs two scoops of ice cream inside a frosted cupcake “sandwich,” then crams the whole thing in a jar and finishes it with caramel or chocolate drizzle, sprinkles, and whipped cream. 930 Broad Ripple Ave., 317-389-5447, smallcakescupcakery.com…

THE COURTYARD Iozzo’s Garden of Italy Just behind this Old World–style Italian eatery is a courtyard surrounded by red brick walls, lit by bulbs strung low overhead. It’s an idyllic atmosphere for wine and some bites with friends (no fighting over the three meatballs in the signature martini-glass appetizer). iozzos.com THE BEER GARDEN Half Liter BBQ & Beer Hall Despite its name, Half Liter is full of Texas-size vibes along with a fun farmhouse aesthetic, down to the trays used to carry your ’cue to your table. The Monon-side beer garden is the hip new place to chill (or bake) this summer. halfliterbbq.com THE PATIO Flatwater Restaurant This mellow spot sits just out of earshot of the bustling nightlife on the strip, right next to Broad Ripple’s calming Canal waters.…

IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT PAST, the concept of whole-house automation seemed like a sci-fi fantasy rather than a day-to-day reality in the average abode. However, today’s homes are smarter than ever, and the technology has become increasingly easy to integrate. From centralized entertainment configurations that combine lighting and music for a true theatrical experience—both indoors and out—to appliances that do the cooking for you and security systems that rely on voice commands and biometric sensing, our experts weigh in on the latest innovations. COORDINATED EFFORT When it comes to residential electronic systems, Rick Goren, owner of Technology Interiors, says automation has really come into its own in recent years. We can turn our lights on and off, adjust our thermostats, monitor our security cameras, play music, and operate appliances through easy-to-use…

INCLUDES Irvington Ixca Mexican Kitchen MEXICAN This eatery, whose name means “kitchen” in one of the country’s native languages, discards the tropes of Latin joints (sombreros, Tex-Mex fajitas). Instead, it pares the experience down to a tight list of authentic everyday south-of-the-border food served in a modern, casual dining room. The menu is a sampler of regional cuisine, mainly from the Yucatán, Oaxaca, and Guerrero, and the flavors are milder than you might expect. Favorites include slightly sweet corn tortillas drenched simply in refried beans, chickenand-red-sauce tamales, and tres leches cake with peaches and chocolate. The standout entrée is the poblano mole over a bone-in chicken thigh and leg. Its complex sauce of chiles and chocolate is a family recipe, complete with a secret ingredient: animal crackers. Lunch and dinner…

INCLUDES College Park, Lafayette Square, Traders Point Abyssinia ETHIOPIAN This humble Lafayette Square 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 admire 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, reggae-bumping spot has moved to a former taqueria on Michigan Road, you no longer have to eat some of Indy’s best jerk chicken at a picnic table in a parking lot. Generous portions of falloff-the-bone oxtail, curried goat, and ribs come with mounds of beans and rice, cabbage, and fried plantains. Stop in on Saturdays for traditional ackee and…

Resides at the Fanimation Antique Fan Museum IN THE LATE 19th century, luxuries like the light switch and electrical outlet didn’t exist—energy was instead generated via water motors. The first to conceive of the idea of attaching a fan blade to a mini water motor was a company based in Indianapolis: the Indiana Fan Company, founded in 1895. This particular model intrigued antiques collector Tom Frampton, who displays it at the Fanimation Antique Fan Museum in Zionsville. Fashioned from iron and brass, this hydro-powered tabletop style requires two hoses that allow water to enter the motor, then drain. Eventually, the fan fell out of favor for the mess it created—and with easy-to-use electricity on the rise, change was blowin’ in the wind. Have an idea for a future Artifact? Drop…