Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2023 i Indianapolis Monthly

JEANA HARRIS Though she’s written about Indy’s real estate scene for years, contributing editor Jeana Harris never tires of the subject. She loves searching for gems among the listings and was thrilled to come across a crown jewel like the Hibben House in Irvington (“The Rest Is History,” pg. 22). “This was the first time the house had ever been listed, and I loved learning about its incredible history,” she says. Read what the new owners have planned for the landmark home’s next chapter. JENNY KROIK When introduced to the field of birdwatching during the pandemic, New York City–based illustrator Jenny Kroik (“Trending Tweet,” pg. 23) discovered a wondrous new crowd of feathery urbanite subjects. Known for her playful, witty portraits of urban life, she fits her ornithological obsession in…

Q: WHO DID THE MARKETING FOR INDY-BASED BURGER CHEF? THEY HAD SO MANY INNOVATIVE PROMOTIONS. A: The Chef has receded so far into the mists of legend that, when it was mentioned on the TV series Mad Men, some wondered if it was even real. It was. But no single person or advertising agency can take all the credit for the long list of greasy breakthroughs. The first Burger Chef opened here in 1957 as the brainchild of a restaurant equipment maker whose innovations included flame broilers and soft-serve ice cream machines. The Chef’s novelties included the Triple Threat, the first combo meal; the Works Bar, a DIY condiment and toppings station; and 1973’s Fun Meal, the first toy-equipped kids’ meal. Hardee’s acquired the chain in 1981, leaving the Chef’s fan…

What has been your “holy shit” moment through all of this? The most incredible thing I’ve gotten to do is form relationships with my favorite sports teams, like the Steelers and Pacers. The Steelers reached out to me to do content with them at Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium), and it was just me and their social team in the 70,000-seat stadium. I remember looking around and being in complete awe of the place. To make it even better, when the video was released, it was compiled with a bunch of different folks from Steelers Nation. The person I just so happened to follow was Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu, a guy I grew up idolizing. It was insane! Your first viral impersonation of Nick Saban in late 2019 explained…

POTTER REBECCA GRAVES has been in high demand, from a collab on the best-selling cookbook No Crumbs Left to creating all the tableware for Urban Awareness Gardens owner Jason Michael Thomas’s private dinners and spots on WISH-TV. “Now we’re working on dishes for a Boston steak house,” she shares. No wonder. Graves’s pieces have intentional texture, nature-inspired glossy or velvety glazes, and functional details. “Our mugs are equally at home in a modern loft as in a rustic farmhouse,” she says. “The aesthetic changes with the surroundings.” The quality is evident as you browse shelves laden with treasures, like a limited-edition Splash vase and the top-selling Wine + Cocktail cup, which buyers have also used as a vase, candy dish, and plant waterer. All pieces are made by Graves and her…

Westfield restaurateurs Melanie and Toby Miles may have moved their gourmet market out of its original picturesque spot inside a refurbished barn, but fans of The Rail Cafe and Market are more than happy that the couple is back in a new kitchen, post-pandemic. They’re cooking up plenty of brunch favorites (such as this toasted baguette spread with nduja, goat cheese, and blistered tomatoes) and late-afternoon bar bites. But insiders know to wait for the chef’s menu, which starts at 2 p.m. and includes one of the area’s most impressive pork chops, cold-smoked and served over pillowy gnocchi. 3400 Nancy St., Westfield, 317-763-1376, railwestfield.com…

Fried chicken is a sentimental favorite among Hoosiers who grew up on the comforting staple featured on diner menus, prayed over at family sit-downs, and packed into race-day box lunches. Food trends come and go, but fried chicken is both adaptable (as witnessed by Indy’s recent wave of Nashville hot spots) and timeless—its signature crackle was ASMR before ASMR was cool. In honor of Indiana’s other state bird, we rounded up the best places around town to get your chomp on. So grab some napkins. It’s crunch time. HOLLYHOCK HILL TRADITION RULES at this northside special-occasion landmark with a serious grandma’s-house vibe. The whole stately operation got underway in 1928 when V.D. Vincent and his wife began graciously welcoming guests into their (at the time) country cottage for mannerly and…

Missionaries of Charity Founded in 2000, 2424 E. 10th St. Dressed head-to-toe in white, with the distinct blue stripes known to Mother Teresa, the nuns from the Missionaries of Charity often walk the streets of their near-eastside neighborhood praying the rosary, preaching only by their presence, and offering overnight refuge to homeless women and children when needed. The superior of the order, Sister Janita (left), knew Mother Teresa personally, ministering with her around the world, and says she seeks to emulate the saint by seeing Jesus in everyone. Religion in America has transformed dramatically in the past 50 years, and even in the last five, almost 30 percent of congregations reported a decline in worship attendance of at least a quarter, according to a Faith Communities Today survey billed as…

IRISH ROOTS. The all-volunteer Indianapolis Athletic Club Foundation (IACF) began greening the canal in 1997 under Mayor Stephen Goldsmith as a way to promote the newly revitalized canal walk. “The greening is significant to Irish heritage in Indianapolis because many Irish immigrants worked to build the original canal in the 1800s,” says Bob Welch, president of the IACF board of directors. MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU. Now the greening kicks off all the IACF St. Patrick’s Day festivities, including the downtown parade, the Shamrock Run & Walk, and this year’s inaugural Wee Irish Mile. For the latter, break out a kilt, leprechaun suits, or anything with shamrocks. TOP OF THE MORNING. In the beginning, buckets of green dye were dumped into the canal in the pre-dawn hours on March 17—not…

Milk bread, cake slices, and pain au chocolat at Tous les Jours patisserie sell out quickly. Arrive early, use tongs, and pay at the bakery. Ordering an eye-popping Korean street corndog at Korn’s involves choosing a coating and filling. Don’t think about it too much. All the combinations are great. Not seeing the cut of meat you want at the Latin butcher? Try the halal counter. For hard-to-find spices, check different sections (Latin, Indian, Middle Eastern, European) before giving up. Everyone else has been looking for Kewpie mayo, too. Be patient and check back. Enter the grand-opening drawing for a Tesla by March 31.…

BROWN COUNTY native Charles Hollis Taylor, aka Chuck Taylor, devoted much of his life to roundball, and his fame extended well beyond the game itself to that iconic shoe that virtually every American has donned at some point: the Converse All Star. The Indiana Historical Society is opening its immersive “Chuck Taylor All Star” exhibit on March 4 to explore the story of this player turned shoe designer and marketer through artifacts, among them this basketball presented to Taylor in 1959 in recognition of his attendance at the Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Tournament for 35 years. Virtual reality experiences will whisk you back to the 1950s for a chat with Chuck and a lesson in shooting and passing. indianahistory.org…

KYLE CORNELIUS Server YOU DON’T SEE MANY PEOPLE IN TOP HATS. I identify with the Mad Hatter. And leprechauns in Indy, I’m sure, would wear black-and-white checkered pants. This was a fun look to put together to celebrate Indianapolis, St. Paddy’s Day, and myself. WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR STYLE TO SAY? It’s OK wearing what you want to wear. We live in an ever-changing world with so much variety. Is there any reason we shouldn’t explore what brings us joy? FAVORITE SHOPS? Thrift shops are great. I’m a Bargain Betty. I love high-end like anyone else, but there is a certain thrill to getting a deal. I love Midland Arts & Antiques Market downtown and Gizmo’s Galleria in Brownsburg.…

GRAY CATBIRD With an irregular chirp that sounds like a mewing cat, this slender songbird can be seen perched out in the open, bobbing its long tail, and on the ground turning over leaves in search of bugs. Look in the open woodland of Broad Ripple Park (1500 Broad Ripple Ave., 317-327-7161). AMERICAN WOODCOCK These rotund little birds breed in tall grasses near bodies of water free of ice. Check Skiles Test Nature Park (6828 Fall Creek Rd., 317-327-5588) and listen for the males’ buzzy chirp. Females are quieter, often hiding in the grass. ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK Noted for its big, triangular beak and melodious song, this stocky avian typically hangs out in the treetops. The diverse landscapes at Holliday Park (6363 Spring Mill Rd., 317-327-7180) include the bird’s favorite habitat,…

IF ROD JUAREZ has picked up on anything during his six years as part owner and general manager of New Albany’s live dining show, Mesa, it is that chefs crave feedback. “Just like an actor or musician,” he says. But chefs rarely get to see the look on a diner’s face when they take that first bite. “They might get a complaint, or see an empty plate or a full plate come back. That’s it,” Juarez says. The opposite is true at Mesa, which hosts a revolving cast of area chefs for multi-course meals that come together before diners’ eyes as they sit ringside at the counter or at high bar tables. Nobody minds when a chef breaks the fourth wall to interact with the audience. Juarez recalls one chef…

AS A CHILD growing up in Fort Wayne, Alison Keefer sometimes helped in the kitchen. Mostly, she liked to eat. While perfect pie crusts and homemade noodles were part of Keefer’s Hoosier pedigree, the principal owner of the trio of Gallery Pastry destinations never gave a thought about culinary school. Instead, she headed off to the University of Florida to pursue event management. After a few years in radio marketing and sales, and an occasional front-of-house restaurant gig, she landed a job as an enrollment specialist at Harrison College. That eventually brought her to The Chef’s Academy in Indianapolis, where she taught classes in nutrition and met her original partner in Gallery Pastry, Ben Hardy. The two opened their first bakeshop on 54th Street in 2016. “After that first week,…

THE EARLIEST DOCUMENTED evidence of beer’s existence includes a Mesopotamian pictogram dating back to 4,000 BCE. It depicts two people drinking through long reed straws from a single pottery jar. The straws clue us in to what the figures are slurping, because beer at that time was essentially just wet grain left in a pot to ferment and therefore had all sorts of chaff and debris floating on the surface; thirsty humans just wanted the sweet nourishment beneath. The image illustrates more than just the ancient method of beer-drinking. It also hints at the setting in which brew was enjoyed: with other people. We don’t know what the two people are talking about between sips. We can’t even be sure what language they spoke. But the relic tells us that…

DOWNTOWN INCLUDES Fletcher Place, Fountain Square, Mass Ave, Mile Square Aroma INDIAN Familiar tandoori and tikka masala staples mingle with heartier, more elevated offerings at this elegant pan-Indian spot that opened in the former Rook location in early 2021. Lunchtime lamb and chicken rolls in crispy flatbread wrappers stand out, as do hearty chaat dishes dressed up with yellow peas, yogurt, and chutneys. An impressive lamb shank is the highlight of the chef’s specialties and easily feeds two or more. A full bar and an artful array of desserts help round out a special-occasion meal. Opt for the orange pudding, a creamy, lightly sweet rice pudding served in an orange shell with a chocolate tuille. 501 Virginia Ave., 317-602-7117, aromaindy.com Ash & Elm Cider Co. Restaurant and Cider Bar GASTROPUB…

PORCH SEASON is fast approaching, which makes what I’m about to tell you all the more urgent. I’m referring to the gravest threat to the United States today, more perilous than Russia, nuclear conflagration, deadly viruses lurking in Chinese wet markets, or Donald Trump winning a second term. I am speaking of the looming extinction of the American porch, whose decline began with the creation of the ranch house. It first emerged in the 1920s, then boomed in the postwar decades, saturating American cities and towns. Not one of them had a front porch, causing irreparable harm to its inhabitants, who lacked a porch swing from which to view the passing world and set it right. I bring this up after a new house was built midway between our farmhouse…

(1) Horizon League Basketball Championships March 6 Don’t miss a dribble on the hardcourt at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. The Horizon League women’s collegiate semifinals, broadcast on ESPN+, are happening over two afternoon sessions. Four teams will be vying for victory. Go Jaguars! horizonleague.com/indy (2) Candlelight: A Tribute to Taylor Swift March 9 Couldn’t nab tix to Tay’s concert? A string quartet playing arrangements of her hits enrobed in 4,000 candles at the Scottish Rite Cathedral is pretty amazing, too. feverup.com (3) Indiana Flower & Patio Show March 11–19 Aside from bountiful blooms you can buy, head to the Indiana State Fairgrounds for flower arranging classes, a DIY terrarium session, a peek at Woolywagons tiny homes, and to see four Trex titans duking it out in Deck Wars. indianaflowerandpatioshow.com (4) William…

IMAGINE IF your employer decided to showcase the artwork of its staff. The resul might be no more remarkable than the work on your neighbor’s refrigerator. That’s far from the case at Newfields, though, where Artists Among Us, its first all-staff exhibition, is putting the handiwork of creative folks from 21 different departments on display. The works can be seen, on a rotating basis, on the Indianapolis Museum of Art’s first-floor promenade through May 21. The striking pieces seem even more exceptional when you notice that the creators’ day jobs aren’t directly related to art, if at all. Here’s a sampling. Feather in the Wind By Bailey Ford, facilities department “I just wanted to show a few details of what the blacksmithing community has taught me,” Ford says. “Blacksmithing has been…

Harness that yee-haw energy by slipping into a pair of wish list–worthy cowboy boots. Celebs like Kendall Jenner, Sophie Turner, and Emily Ratajkowski have ditched the knee-high trend for Western kicks faster than you can say toot scootin’. And the best cowboy boots aren’t just rodeo-ready, but also have streetstyle cred. Howdy, Planet Cowboy Original Soft Western Boots. These calf leather, handmade beauties will give you steel shank arch support and a pop of psychedelic yellow to brighten your look. Giddy up. $475. Boot Barn, 8366 Castleton Corner Dr., 317-559-0042; 4650 E. Southport Rd., 317-781-1180; bootbarn.com…

GRANT AND DALLAS MILLER opened a Burgerim in Carmel in early 2020, but as the chain faced financial pressures, the twins steered their business in a new direction. Now, they’re the pilots of their own concept, Flight Burger, where mix-and-match patties and local pints take customers on journeys to Greece, Hawaii, and plenty of tasty destinations in between. Wagyu beef stars in burgers kicked up with beerbattered onion rings, grilled jalapeños, or mushrooms and Swiss cheese. Non-beef and vegan options include Mediterranean lamb burgers or falafel patties sauced with tzatziki. Slider trios are the way to book the walk-up spot’s full range of flavors, as well as propellor-shaped “twisted” fries. 650 W. Carmel Dr., Carmel, 317-669-2256, flight-burger.com…

GAME NIGHT Wednesday-night trivia at Guggman Haus Brewing Co. (guggmanhausbrewing.com) draws between 30 and 40 teams to compete for gift cards and bragging rights. When the weather’s nice, the patio at Blind Owl Brewery (blindowlbrewery.com) fills up with bocce, cornhole, and giant Jenga contests. PET PROJECTS Broad Ripple Brew-pub (broadripplebrewpub.com) helps you adopt a rescue dog or cat during Tales and Ales events several times a year. Sun King Brewing Co. (sunkingbrewing.com) enlists pro helpers on Paint Your Pet nights. MIC CHECK Check out the local talent during Books & Brews’ (booksnbrews.com) open-mic nights every Thursday, and BYO guitar for open jam sessions with like-minded musicians on the first Monday of every month. STRETCH OUT Kati Black leads Yoga & Beer classes at Garfield Brewery (garfieldbrewery.com) on the first Sunday…