September/October 2025

Describe completing a race entirely on gravel and rough terrain. Sometimes it’s on gravel, sometimes it’s on dirt. You’re literally some of the time on a two-wheel path going through herds of cattle. In the 2023 race, we had a

Evansville’s oldest areas, mainly Downtown, are made up of blocks that have undergone a century or more of change. Buildings rise, fall, and rise again. The block now occupied by the Fifth Third Bank Tower is one of those with

Christine Peck’s love of Volkswagens blossomed early in her life and never left. When she was a freshman in high school, she cruised to swim meets in a 1972 blue VW bus owned by her teammate’s parents. That same friend

The Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 unit has something new to bark about. Unveiled Aug. 16, the one-plus acre Joe Sells K9 Training Facility is a dedicated spot for handlers to train their working dogs in agility, searching, and technique.

What did Fort Branch, Indiana, look like during pioneer days? A painting by the late Sue Freudenberg provides some clues. Founded in 1811, the Gibson County fort — although never attacked — stood ready to defend the surrounding settlement. If

Evansville Living staffers recently were reacquainted with Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden on the opening night of Wild Summer Lights, a glowy display of Chinese lanterns. We were reminded that the zoo is a bit of a workout —

When Brooke Bays was a child, she loved horses — everything about them. “She was horse crazy as a little girl,” says Doug Bays, Brooke’s father. He recalls that her bedroom was full of stuffed horses, and “Spirit: Stallion of

The 2025 Best of Evansville includes 46 categories and 48 winners encompassing the city’s favorites in food, service, shopping, people, and entertainment, plus eight nods from Evansville Living editors. Congratulations for making our city exceptional! BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION Mesker Park

The curtain is rising on an exciting fall season, and this preview will help get you to your seats. Let’s look at all the exciting events waiting in the wings. Theater The University of Evansville’s fall Shanklin Theatre season gets

It’s easy to decode the inspiration behind Casey’s Dugout. The boutique restaurant is a shrine to sports, particularly baseball, and acts as a tribute to owner Casey Keown’s East Side upbringing. Headlining the decor is retired New York Yankee Don

Indiana boasts more than 100 wineries. Luckily, Evansville-area residents don’t have to travel far to taste a new libation and take in the scenery. Several Hoosier wineries within a 90-minute drive from the River City offer sips of award-winning varietals,

Jessica Nuffer is more than the smiling face bringing your drink. In fact, she’s been a co-partner at Bokeh Lounge for the last five of her seven years at the Haynie’s Corner Arts District restaurant and bar. That’s after nearly

Ryan Bodine has worked in restaurants since before he could drive. Now 47, he’s taken his well-honed skills on the road. He built his career in kitchens and management at chain restaurants as well as locally owned favorites like Sportsman’s

While traveling this summer with his wife, Monika, longtime magazine friend and contributing writer Art “The Dude” Woodward picked up several city publications. He stopped by our offices last month to visit and deliver a package, including one of his

When Joey Luzar traveled with family through the United Kingdom this spring, she was always taking photos, capturing inspiration for her acrylic paintings. The Iowa native and Newburgh, Indiana, resident began painting after she retired as a pricing and feasibility

When Kim Colsett and Dennis Walls thought to downsize out of their McCutchanville home, they still wanted many of the amenities found in larger residences. They envisioned tall ceilings and open concept, one-floor living, but “when you downsize, you don’t

“You’ll know it when you see it” is the right attitude to have when shopping at Salvage Candy. T.J. and Tammy Trem opened the shop at 3500 S. Weinbach Ave. in 2015 as a space for Tammy to sell her

Tree-filled rolling hills in northern Vanderburgh County provided the groundwork for the McCutchanville Garden Club. Since 1950, members have charged themselves with maintaining the unincorporated community’s green spaces — “things you wouldn’t notice unless they look nice,” says president Martha

John Pickens has developed many neighborhoods over his 43-year career in real estate — including Lincolnwood Drive in Evansville, and Willow Brook off Pollack Avenue and the homes along Blackberry Lane, both in Newburgh — but Sutherland on the East

Marida Mediterranean Restaurant’s opening in September 2024 was highly anticipated — the well-known spot with majestic views would become home to a style of food underrepresented in the Evansville area. Turkish owners Serhat Turan, Mehmet Alkan, and Erdal Eredemir saw

Fall color is about to burst on the scene. Thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures in early October, leaves are just now starting to change color, with the first two weeks of November offering the Evansville area’s best viewing window for

Darrell and Penelope Pennington made good on their goal to travel the world, as detailed in the July/August 2024 issue. Since listing their home and selling most of their belongings, the couple has visited a dozen countries. In this monthly

You don’t have to be a trick-or-treater to enjoy the frightful decor springing up around area homes. Check out these showstopping Halloween displays on your next haunt out of the house. Joan Avenue (above) Walking up to this home near

Evansville-area residents have back-to-back opportunities to see Nashville, Tennessee-based singer-songwriter Gabe Lee in concerts this weekend, starting with a Nov. 1 performance at The Cattle Baron’s Ball, a fundraiser put on by the local chapter of the American Cancer Society.

House of Lecter and The Catacombs Friday-Saturdays and select Thursdays and Sundays through Nov. 1, 325 Main St. Explore three floors of twisted experiments, grotesque surgeries, and spooky brilliance turned madness, plus a blackout maze in the basement. General admission

Whenever cool mornings hint at autumn’s arrival, I fondly think of Jackson Avenue. The East Side street’s two leafy blocks between South Green River Road and Burdette Avenue were framed with handsome timbered and brick houses — tall as mansions,

During his three years as Indiana’s poet laureate, Matthew Graham visited all corners of the Hoosier State, soaking up its lore. “I knew it had a rich history in terms of literature, social activism, and arts, but the more I

Ready to eat your way through the West Side Nut Club’s Fall Festival? Evansville Living employees share which menu items should be on your must-try list. Grab a Munchie Map and get going! Kuchen Available in several flavors at Eagle’s View

Darrell and Penelope Pennington made good on their goal to travel the world, as detailed in the July/August 2024 issue. Since listing their home and selling most of their belongings, the couple has visited a dozen countries. In this monthly

If you’ve visited Saint Louis, Missouri, this month, you may have noticed that the Gateway Arch is harder to spot after sunset. You’re not imagining things: Lit up 10 months a year, the national monument’s LED glow is dimmed during

When planning a European river cruise, the Danube, the Rhine and the Seine are often top of mind, but for cruisers interested in the river less traveled, France’s Saône is a picturesque and delicious alternative. AmaWaterways’ new seven-night Flavors of

Food is among the stars of the West Side Nut Club’s Fall Festival, which continually is one of Evansville Living readers' favorite events. With more than 130 booths serving treats of all kinds, no one walks away hungry — but

Darrell and Penelope Pennington made good on their goal to travel the world, as detailed in the July/August 2024 issue. Since listing their home and selling most of their belongings, the couple has visited a dozen countries. In this monthly

Lilly King isn’t swimming a lot these days. After years in the spotlight and with her time in constant demand, the six-time Olympic medalist retired after her last race Aug. 3 at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore. Now, “I’m