January / February 2014

My task was simple, yet challenging: Create a salad that doubled as an entrée. For me, the challenge was twofold. I didn’t want to just present a salad with a unique protein on top. I wanted to go with something

Civilian couples often can plan their weddings according to their own schedules. Yet those who plan to marry while also serving in the military don’t have the same luxury. That’s why these couples often have two wedding celebrations. Newburgh, Ind.,

When Alex and Cam Elpers first met at a 7th and 8th grade dance, they knew they liked each other. However, it wasn’t until their junior year at Mater Dei High School that the couple began dating. Five years later,

Michele and Jeff Blaize’s wedding literally stopped traffic. This was just one of the moments that made their casual, bohemian-inspired, California beach wedding special. A close friend of the couple led them and their roughly 50 wedding guests across the

On March 30, 2013, 220 guests gathered at the Granary in New Harmony, Ind., to see Lindsey and Casey Jackson wed. With its largely wooden interior and grand chandeliers, the Granary was the perfect fit for the ceremony. Flowers and

Six years ago, Andrea Whitehead was newly engaged, living in Toronto, and looking for her dream wedding dress. After a day spent browsing Toronto’s bridal boutiques, she left with not only the dress, but also the idea for her future

A whole new world of wedding planning continues to be available to future brides, thanks to the website Pinterest. This pin board style photo-sharing website has revolutionized the wedding industry, providing endless inspirations for wedding bouquets, invitations, cake toppers, gowns,

Some couples renew their wedding vows to celebrate a meaningful anniversary, while others use it as a symbol of moving past a rough patch in their marriage. No matter the reason or the timing of their decision to renew vows,

What does your dream wedding look like? For many, the setting is an integral part of this picture. Last year, about 25 local couples planned destination weddings through Ambassador Travel. The most popular spots were Mexico, specifically the Riviera Maya,

There is just something incredible about the combined flavors of fresh fruit and fresh chocolate. This is how Stephen Libs explains his popular chocolate-covered grapes, a tasty treat that seems too good to be true. “It sounds kind of different,”

Bill Hughes seeks to make everyone who comes to his Owensboro, Ky., restaurant located at 420 Frederica St. feel at home. I saw that first hand when an older gentleman pulled up in a Lexus on a frigid late afternoon

Eclectic restaurants, stylish shops, and the most interesting people you should know — in a city like ours, it’s hard to pick favorites. Yet every year, our readers cast their ballots, and we, the editors of Evansville Living, share some

Much of Evansville Living is devoted to those who live and breathe among us. We write about those who add to life, who change it, who improve it for all. Yet many people have an impact that lasts well beyond

Although Erin Morrison is the owner of two retail shops in Newburgh, Ind., surprisingly, her passion is not for fashion. While she does love the niche fashion business, what she truly is passionate about is the authentic and enjoyable shopping

More than 18 miles of hiking trails weren’t going to stop them. Nor were the cold November rain or the 25-pound rucksacks and frames on their backs. Instead, the 530 ROTC cadets and soldiers from 30 states said: “Bring it

Question: Could riverboats like the American Queen again dock at Evansville’s Dress Plaza? The Background: Back in the 1950s, Evansville’s Dress Plaza was home to a marina below the Pagoda called the Plaza Boat Club. As boats got bigger and

Don’t typecast Branson, Mo. Though its Ozark mountain beauty, down-home attitude, entertainment galore, and unabashed love for God and country have been the town’s calling card for six decades, I learned on a trip in October that Branson, which hosts

At Tucker Publishing Group, almost every one of us has a story relating to a family member or a friend who has suffered from multiple heart attacks, a quintuple coronary artery bypass surgery, or a congenital heart defect. ▲ Tucker

When Michael Erwin traveled to all seven distilleries on the Bourbon Trail throughout south central Kentucky last February, he realized he didn’t want it to end. After searching unsuccessfully for a local club, Erwin decided to create his own. He

As children, we were told not to play in the mud. For artist Lisa Heichelbech, digging up clay on the horse farm she grew up on was the creative inspiration that has led her to a successful career as a

Christin Pelsor was an opera singer in college who turned chef. When she couldn’t choose one passion over the other, she asked, “Why not do both?” The 27-year-old decided to incorporate the love she has for singing and cooking into

Michael Rosenbaum’s high school experience wasn’t what you might expect from the star of the television show “Smallville.” A graduate of Castle High School in Newburgh, Ind., Rosenbaum, 41, says he wasn’t popular in high school, didn’t go on a

One of the greatest pleasures of editing this magazine is connecting with people living in all corners of Evansville and across Southwestern Indiana and Western Kentucky. I’m continually motivated by the talent, creativity, and zeal our communities hold. In the

Jason’s Deli (943 N. Green River Road) serves sandwiches, salads, and other healthy meals with fresh ingredients and no artificial trans fats, MSG, or high fruc- tose corn syrup. Open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Little Italy (4430

In an evening inspired by the international hit PBS series “Masterpiece Theatre Downton Abbey,” WNIN Tri-State Public Media invites guests to go back in time to the era of the Titanic and the onset of the Roaring 20s. “Downton Abbey,”

When the elegant dancers that make up Shen Yun grace the stage of the Aiken Theatre at The Centre, 715 Locust St., at 7 p.m. on Jan. 28-29, Evansville residents will see a rare performance. Translated from Chinese to mean

Harold West, 54, isn’t your typical Home Depot lumber sales associate. Eight years ago, he lost his trucking license and, as a result, his job in demolition. Harold soon found himself without a job or home. Fortunately, he also had

In the past year, Pita Pit owner Nick Conati has introduced Evansville to a new kind of pita. These sandwiches, similar to a big walking burrito, begin with Lebanese flatbread prepared solely for Pita Pit by a private baker. These

It is always interesting to find cousins who resemble one another. Longtime Evansville residents who pass by, or find reasons to be inside, the historic Old Post Office and Customs House on Second Street in Downtown Evansville will be surprised

Winter arrived earlier than usual in the Tri-State this year, yet most plants that grow and thrive in this area are accustomed to the changing seasons. As cold weather approaches, the plants go dormant for the winter months and begin

Owensboro filmmaker P.J. Starks didn’t get into making movies to change other people’s lives. The 31-year-old simply enjoyed what he was doing. The rest just fell into place. Starks’ first feature film “Hallows Eve: Slaughter on Second Street” premiered to

Doros and Ellada Hadjisavva know what it’s like to ask for help from others. When their infant son, Yiorgos, was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in 2007, Louisville’s Ronald McDonald House provided the Cyprus natives with temporary shelter and support while

Mayor Lloyd Winnecke doesn’t spend a lot of time sitting in a car in traffic on his way to the office these days. Instead, his version of a commute is a brisk walk or bike ride. Turning left out the

For those of you who made a resolution to spend more time on crafts this year, this easy clock project is a great place to start. It’s great for beginners and seasoned crafters alike. The wood block offers up a

Joey Goebel was 24 when he decided he was going to write his version of the Great American Novel. Democrat John Kerry had just lost the 2004 presidential election to Republican George W. Bush, “and I thought, man, I need

They say you get what you give. Yet it’s Jay Hill who received the most from a simple gift to his parents in 1976. That’s when he turned a hobby into a 35-year-old custom framing business in Newburgh, Ind., with