Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2020 i Indianapolis Monthly

Are you sick of your home yet? I am of mine. But I have no one to blame but myself. While all of you braved the local hardware shop or the big-box store during the stay-at-home portion of the pandemic, zipping through paint chips with names like Mindful Gray and Heedless Gray, I lounged on my Comfortable Gray couch and watched a lot of TV. I tend to gravitate toward reruns rather than renovations, so while you were installing new flooring, I was admiring the shag in Oscar Goldman’s office on The Six Million Dollar Man. There were so many shows, so much time to kill. My wildest streams, it appeared, had come true. And then I turned on HGTV. Friends, this channel is the devil. All it took was…

Matt Gonzales’s May story on IU’s investigation of professor Eric Rasmusen inspired a lot of free speech. HOW SHOULD COLLEGES DEAL WITH PROFESSORS WHO EXPRESS OFFENSIVE BELIEFS? “Nice to see being a conservative is still just a misdemeanor in Bloomington.”—WES HARLAN, via Facebook “Good example of ‘You’re never your best self on Twitter.’ It’s interesting that no student took the university up on its offer to transfer out of his class.”—GAREN BRAGG, via Twitter “I expected to find someone who had been misunderstood, but nope. He’s as deep as his controversial tweet was.”—JOHN BEELER, via Facebook “This man definitely believes things not befitting an educator.”—SIARRA BRIELLE BAZLER, via Facebook LOOK FOR OUR NEXT POLL ON TWITTER. FOLLOW US @INDYMONTHLY FOR DETAILS. #ICYMI Our online stories you might have missed. IN THE BAG Introducing Comida’s…

THE THREAD Shards of glass from the shattered windows of downtown Indianapolis storefronts are finding new life in a Krista Bermeo Studio jewelry collection. The pieces sourced from June’s protests-turned-riots are symbolic of a broken system, says the artist. These earrings are smoothed-out glass salvaged from DR Barber Salon, a vandalized Black-owned business. Half the collection’s proceeds will go to The Bail Project, which fights racial disparity in the judicial system. $125 at Artifacts Gallery, 6327 Guilford Ave., artifactsindy.com—DYLAN LEE HODGES…

FOR LORAN BOHALL, death and taxes aren’t life’s only constants. There’s woodworking, too. As a child in Columbus, the fourth-generation furniture maker was surrounded by sawdust. “Everybody had a woodshop,” he says. “My aunts were woodcarvers, and my father built hammer dulcimers and did some luthier work.” By the time he was a teenager, Bohall was already a part-time woodworker. Today, he runs Indy-based Bohall Design and Fabrication, which focuses on furniture for businesses. “It’s difficult for people to understand how much work goes into a piece of residential furniture,” he says. “I quickly realized if I was going to make a go of it, I needed to break into the commercial industry.” Bohall’s pieces for offices and retail spaces sometimes feature live-edged lumber and other challenging elements. Many are…

After Mary Hauser had a preventative double mastectomy in 2013, her surgeon told her about an alternative to nipple-reconstruction surgery that sounded like a golden ticket. It was almost painless, several thousand dollars cheaper, and took her breast-cancer risk down to zero. The only problem? Her doctor didn’t know of anyone in Indiana who offered nipple tattoos in a medical setting, and she couldn’t find a local tattoo parlor to do the job. Hauser traveled to Ohio to get hers. “I’ve always been artistic, and I thought, Maybe I can learn to do this,” she says. She signed up for a yearlong apprenticeship as a paramedical cosmetic tattoo artist in Florida and returned to Indiana as one of the few people in the state trained in 3-D areola tattoo reconstruction,…

BACK IN SPRING, when many restaurants were bracing for COVID closures, one Fountain Square institution was putting the final touches on an expansion. No surprise that restaurant was Peppy Grill. For more than half a century, the diner has fed wee-hour revelers the kind of short-order fare the city has had less of as time goes by. Having survived economic ups and downs and even two Health Department closures in 2018, the spiffed-up original reopened last summer, while a second location debuted near IUPUI. A charming interior (curved booths, black-and-white tile, cartoon murals) gives the new spot an airy feel that regulars from the lovably shabby flagship might not recognize. Yet favorites such as griddled patty melts, platter-sized breaded tenderloins, and legendary all-day breakfasts will be familiar. As for that…

ON THE SAME driftless weekday in March that I desperately rigged a homemade Baby Björn out of an old sweatshirt to calm my Chihuahua-mix coworker during Zoom meetings, Lil Dumplings took to social media to reassure the gloomy quarantined masses that it would remain open for pickup and delivery. While the rest of us had lost track of our hairbrushes, the months-old global street-food counter was out there in the real world, enlisting the help of Grubhub and DoorDash, selling gift cards, keeping the lights on. Soon after that, owner Carlos Salazar introduced a voluptuous NY Chopped Cheese sandwich on a sesame-seed bun that gave us hope. He calmly sprinkled waffle fries with seaweed-flecked togarashi seasoning and miniaturized the classic Chicago dog into a tiny steamed-bun version with a single…

TWENTY-SOME years ago, on a late spring evening, the phone on our kitchen wall rang. It was Dick Givan, the former chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, calling to ask if I would be interested in pastoring the Quaker meeting he attended, Fairfield Friends Meeting in Camby. I had left pastoral work the year before, wanting to spend time with my two small children. But anyone who has spent time with children knows the fresh hell of watching the same Disney movie 20 times a week, so I was ready for gainful employment and agreed to meet with them. We gathered on a Wednesday evening, seated at folding tables in a Sunday school room—the pastoral search committee and me, 38 years old, fresh out of retirement, and desperate to…

ON MOTHER’S DAY 2018, we found ourselves gleefully homeless. A friend of a friend texted an offer to buy our (off-market) midcentury-modern home for a “we’ll-get-out-tomorrow-for-this-figure” price. That night, my wife and I sat on the couch with a larger dilemma on our minds: Where are we going to go? A second providential text message soon came from a fellow Realtor friend and midcentury enthusiast with the inside scoop on an upcoming property. He asked if we would consider living in Ladywood Estates. I thought, Why on earth would I ever want to live in Ladywood? Ladywood was the brainchild development of local midcentury architectural legend Avriel Shull. Designed as upscale apartments in the 1960s at the Emerson Way/Millersville Road split, it was carved into the loveliest perch overlooking Fall…

MITCH DANIELS has been thinking a lot about loneliness lately. The Purdue University president celebrated his 71st birthday this past April standing at the door of his Carmel home, in the gated Laurelwood community. Outside, in the cul-de-sac 20 feet away, his four daughters and seven grandchildren formed a three-car parade and sang “Happy Birthday” to “Papa.” Daniels could only enjoy it from a distance. Weeks later, he delivered one of his trademark commencement speeches, which often read like a piece by David Brooks, the conservative columnist from The New York Times who tends to tackle big sociological trends. This year’s message, presented in a video recording, focused on the importance of relationships. “I am not a good role model for the advice I am foisting on you,” Daniels told…

VINTAGE: 1903 Resides at IU’s Herman B Wells Library IF THE HOWLING HUNDRED were around to celebrate Indiana University’s 200th anniversary this year, it’s a safe bet they would be cheering loudly. The student group gathered at football games in the early 20th century to provide the Hoosiers a boost during goal-line stands and-third-and-longs. Although they were only around for a few years, the rowdy troop hired a Bloomington tinner to make 150 megaphones for their most ardent fans. This one belonged to Albert Jeremiah Fields (class of 1904), whose grandson later donated it to the school. Ironically, it now sits in a display case in the quietest place on campus: the library. Have an idea for a future Artifact? Drop us a suggestion at letters@IndianapolisMonthly.com…

“I once walked the fence line of Ruth Lilly’s property, hoping to catch a glimpse of the reclusive billionaire’s home. Her private security officer promptly told me to get lost.” —DANIEL COMISKEY, DEPUTY EDITOR “I don’t stalk specific houses, but I can spend hours on Zillow, looking at photos and judging people’s home decor.” —LAURA KRUTY, SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR “When I was working for Chicago magazine, I used to shoot real-estate photos. On a weekend afternoon, I photographed one of the Pritzker homes from the street, and when I returned to my old car, I realized I had locked the keys inside. It was kind of embarrassing waiting for a locksmith in front of the multimillion-dollar house.” —TODD URBAN, DESIGN DIRECTOR…

Digital Divide IPS WAS E-FAILING. At the start of the last school year, Indianapolis Public Schools had just one internet-ready device for every three students. Statewide for the same period, 64 percent of Indiana’s traditional districts were 1:1 schools, which are pretty much what they sound like: Every single student has a device to use during the day and take home at night. THEN COVID-19 HIT. Forced to turn to e-learning, IPS conducted a survey to assess the technology needs of its students. The results had to be troubling to a school district suddenly required to teach from a distance: 40 percent of responding families lacked access to a device with a keyboard, and about 30 percent had no reliable internet connection. By contrast, a national poll in April by…

TWO CHICKS AND A HAMMER, the renovation dream team behind HGTV’s Good Bones, is actually four chicks, and all of them know how to feather a nest beautifully. Family members Kelsy Gray, Alexa Howell, and Good Bones co-hosts Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E Laine teamed up to open Two Chicks District Co. in Bates-Hendricks as the neighborhood’s first boutique, filled with contemporary home things and gift s, not to mention a bistro and an Instagram wall. While the Two Chicks aesthetic isn’t easily categorized, there’s an undeniable modernity to the ceramics, armchairs, pillows, cake stands, wall mirrors, linens, flatware, macramé, and lighting, some polished (gold-and-black utensils) and some rustic (a log-slab plant holder hung on ropes). Good Bones doesn’t have a looming presence in the shop, but fans will…

For most java fans, the name Tinker Coffee Co. is synonymous with single-origin coffees from Ethiopia or Brazil. Lately, the boutique bean roaster responsible for so many luxe morning buzzes has been offering a somewhat more calming brew. Oat-based with vibrant undertones of ginger and turmeric, Tinker’s new bottled golden milk is an aromatic elixir that will soothe no matter what time of day you drink it. A popular beverage across India and the U.K., golden milk is a newcomer to the U.S. Potential health benefits range from reducing inflammation to simply lightening the mood. It tastes as sweet and delicious straight out of its plastic bottle as it does heated gently to bring out additional flavors of lemongrass and black pepper. Tinker has rolled out several other grab-and-go options…

WHEN TIM ABRAMS is up at night, sitting at the kitchen table of his rural Sullivan County home fretting about the future of Indiana’s coal industry, he’s not worried so much about his own job. The 56-year-old was 22 when he landed a position at the coal-fired Merom Generating Station, which, along with the nearby Bear Run Mine and Carlisle Mine, was one of the only high-paying employers in the county of 20,000 people just south of Terre Haute. He has enjoyed a three-decade career in the business. Abrams is concerned because, as president of the County Council, he knows the life-sustaining power coal has given the region, both literally and figuratively through employment. And, like everyone else in the area, he sees the industry dying right before his eyes.…

Alicia Garceau When freelance writer Alicia Garceau was in school, access to technology meant being able to play Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego? on the class computer. Now, especially at home, it’s essential. Garceau examines how IPS plans to bridge the digital divide (p. 11). “Having a Chromebook and internet should be like paper and pencils,” she says, “although many students don’t have those either.” Dylan Lee Hodges IM’s new style writer, Dylan Lee Hodges, has always been interested in Indy’s creative class. A former contributor at PATTERN magazine, Hodges regularly meets fashionable people like Patrick Bouquett (p. 26). “I admire his style, but what’s more important when identifying these people is what they’re passionate about,” he says. “That’s what makes my job fun: sharing what people love…

Renting? White River Canoe Company in Noblesville is the only full-service outfitter around here. Book a weekend trip by Wednesday. Broad Ripple Park is a good launch spot for rookies and paddle-boarders. The river is wide and slow-moving there and opens up to a lake-like section called the BR Pool. Stick out a paddle to social distance. There’s nothing cuter than a dog standing on the nose of a kayak. Don’t leave their doo-doo on the banks. DNR officers are watching. Behave. Google “sycamore tree” so you can recognize these beautiful specimens. Check the Friends of the White River website for safety conditions. You want green-flag water levels and yellow-flag contamination levels. The contamination level is never green.…

Larry D. Sweazy Author of 15 Western and mystery novels What he’s working on: A memoir “When COVID-19 hit and the publishing world ground to a halt, I found I had more time on my hands than usual. My June release, The Return of the Wolf, had been moved out to December, and another deadline had been pushed out farther into the future. So it seemed like the perfect time to write the book I’ve always wanted to write and get in touch with stories from my past. The memoir recounts the difficulties of growing up in an abusive household with an alcoholic stepfather, and my journey beyond, overcoming the pain of the past through the unconditional love of my pets. I have owned three Rhodesian ridgebacks. They hate getting…

YOU’RE KNOWN AS “THE FABULOUS MR. PATRICK.” WHAT OTHER WORDS DESCRIBE YOU? Fantastic, flamboyant, and finesse! YOU FORGOT ONE—PHILANTHROPIC. Before I started emceeing the Indiana Black Expo Summer Celebration fashion show, I volunteered as a teen backstage. Over 20 years ago I helped develop Brothers United, providing care for those battling HIV/AIDS. I also like giving back as a commentator at the Miss Circle City Classic Pageant. YOU WEAR MANY HATS. Throughout my life I said I wanted to be more, so I started building my brand, and that was to be fabulous. If you mean the one on my head, it was designed by Joyce Richardson. WHAT’S INSIDE THAT BAG? Hand sanitizer, a face mask, Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Lip Balm, and Clinique For Men SPF 12 moisturizer.…

WHAT IF YOU COULD reduce tension, depression symptoms, fatigue, and anger simply by taking a bath? Better yet, what if that “bath” was made of soothing sounds? Sound baths are emerging around Central Indiana, and people are lining up to lie down and listen. A sound bath is a trendy relaxation and meditation session during which participants “bathe” in sound waves produced by Tibetan singing bowls and other mystical-sounding musical instruments while remaining still—in a way, yoga without the movement. Lying on a mat and feeling the literal sound vibrations from the instruments played in tandem with nature noises is the easy part. Calming a racing mind over the next hour is more challenging for most. It is not uncommon for memories to bubble up or new ideas to surface…

YOU HAD ONLY BEEN CHIEF FOR A FEW MONTHS WHEN THE BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS BEGAN THIS SPRING. HOW ARE YOU ADDRESSING THE ISSUE WITH YOUR OFFICERS? It starts with making sure officers understand why people feel the way they do. In my 33 years of law enforcement, we haven’t always done everything right, and we shouldn’t pretend that’s the case. And we have to make sure those conversations aren’t one-and-dones. We need to continually determine what changes the community wants to see and the police department is willing to abide by. HOW WILL IMPD’S CULTURE CHANGE IN RESPONSE TO CONCERNS VOICED DURING THE PROTESTS? We won’t entertain the “dissolve the police department” notion [a decision that’s typically made by the city-county council], but I’ve always been willing to listen…

KEY SYMBOLS Restaurants included in this guide are selected at the discretion of the Indianapolis Monthly editorial staff based on food quality, innovation, atmosphere, service, value, and consistency. IM does not accept advertising or other compensation in exchange for dining coverage. Price symbols indicate the average cost of a meal per person (without tax, tip, or alcohol). Due to limited space, this list does not cover every evaluated restaurant. For a more comprehensive guide to Indianapolis dining, visit IndianapolisMonthly.com/Dining. Feedback? Please email TheDish@IndianapolisMonthly.com. DOWNTOWN INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square Bazbeaux PIZZA As some of Indy’s most celebrated restaurateurs open pie places all over town, we haven’t forgotten where we first found artichoke hearts and goat cheese on our ’za. Bazbeaux has changed little since 1986, when it…