January / February 2016

Each year, readers cast their votes and we, editors of the magazine, share insider information — our own favorites — about the people, places, and experiences that define our city. This is the Best of Evansville. Donut Bank & Bakery

Larry Miller began playing folk music at school, on front porches, along sidewalks, and in nursing homes with his classmates when he was 15 years old. He joined the Harrison High School Folk Music Club and played music similar to

In the late 1990s, the old consolidated schoolhouse in Lyles Station — situated in the midst of local farms just west of Princeton, Indiana — was completely surrounded by at least 40 trees. Many did not know the building was

While practicing family law in Evansville, Kathryn Kornblum-Zelle saw a generational cycle occurring in the court system. “Teachers see parents and later see their children,” says Kornblum-Zelle, an Evansville native who helped found the Parenting Time Center. “It’s not good

With the opening of another length of Interstate 69 in mid-December, we can finally drive to Bloomington, Indiana, completely on interstate. This will make travel to Columbus, Indiana, a bit easier than driving over to Louisville, Kentucky, and then up

While perusing the rooms of Lea Matthews Furniture and Interiors, 5611 E. Morgan Ave., many may not realize the full extent of the services offered by the company. Far from simply a retail furniture store, owner Kirk Mitchell says Lea

A watched pot never boils. The Ferguson In-Sink-Erator FHC3300 hot water dispenser ensures you won’t be a pot watcher. It dispenses near boiling hot water at your command so you can enjoy your tea, pasta al dente, blanched vegetables, rehydrated

Albert E. Stokes had a vision. It was 1909, and as the president of Progressive Reality Company, Stokes was attuned to residential development and the changing preferences of the times. On the East Side of Vanderburgh County, just west of

When a F2 tornado ripped through Posey and Vanderburgh counties in May 2011, the historic Nisbet Inn restaurant suffered serious damages. The roof needed repair and the entire second-floor front porch had to be replaced. Despite the cost, Becky and

When you work with food as much as I do, everyday fare can become a bit mundane. Some days I crave inspiration, and add some spice to an old favorite. Others, I long for soothing, soulful, comfort food, aka Grandma’s

When the colder months stifle many frozen treat cravings, Jeanne’s Gelato & More makes the perfect winter coffee concoction by pairing its Italian ice cream in a hot mix. Owner Valerie Ewers uses an espresso blend coffee from Berries To

Christy Gibson traded blueprints for recipes and bricks for sugar. Previously employed at Jagoe Homes for 11 years, the longtime Evansville resident, who has baked her whole life, wanted to spend more time at home with her son Braylen. “He’s

No matter the season, a flurry of nightlife revolves inside and out of Tropicana Evansville, Indiana’s first casino. Formerly known as Casino Aztar, and often referred to as “The Boat,” “The City of Evansville” riverboat has transformed tremendously since opening

Again we begin the year with the results from the Best of Evansville poll. And again this year, the results highlight so much of what’s really good here in Evansville. We always have fun producing this feature. While quite a

Nothing beats a tailgate party — especially one that raises money for a good cause. SWIRCA & More will host its 12th annual auction Feb. 27 from 5 to 9 p.m. in the Ivy Room at SWIRCA & More, 16

Take down Vectren, Fifth Third Bank, and other successful Evansville businesses and corporations in a friendly competition during Aurora, Inc.’s 10th Annual Trivia Tonight on March 5. Trivia teams can have up to eight players. Teams with four or fewer

Lilly King says she considers herself a normal college student. But, unlike most of her fellow classmates at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, King holds a spot on the 2015-16 USA Swimming Women’s national team in the 100-meter breaststroke. The

Ezequiel Campos is bringing the authentic taste of his home country to Southern Indiana. The former manager of the West Side Los Bravos and a native of Mexico says he and Abraham Brown decided to open their own restaurant about

One hundred and fifty years ago, during the early morning of Jan. 30, 1866, the rattling of windows and doors woke many Evansville residents. Although few people actually saw the flash in the eastern sky, recent veterans knew from experience

When designing a landscape, the elevation or grade change of the site should be aspects considered to ensure the end result is a proper functioning space. The grade of the site often presents challenging factors to address, but it also can

With each passing year we mourn and celebrate the lives lost of those members of the community who made a difference in their places of work, to civic organizations, and to their families and others. We pored through death records

It’s a city with many nicknames. “The Big Easy,” “Crescent City,” and “The City That Care Forgot.” New Orleans is complicated — a city of contrasts. Its reputation as a place to party is well earned. However, there is a

All the best works of art — and people — begin with a story. It’s a lesson Henderson, Kentucky, native Greg Gibson says was one of the most important that he learned when he began his career as an Imagineer

There’s nothing within a 1,000 miles of Evansville quite like the Dream Car Museum. That’s according to Jason Ailstock, a finance director with Bennett Motors and the curator of the Dream Car Museum, located at 2400 N. Heidelbach Ave. “There’s

After taking a trip to Orlando, Florida, last year, Evansville native Jesika Ellis stepped off the plane back home and sent a text message that would change her life. For years, Ellis and her close friend Amber Knight, the text

Then University of Evansville alumna Kaitlin Emmert was completing her practicum as a music therapy major, she worked with a mother and her baby in the neonatal intensive-care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital. “She was doing skin to skin contact

My love of food and appreciation for the culinary arts has led me to taste meals from the simple to the extravagant. Here I share a few varied dishes that fall under my not-so-short list of favorites. Known for its

Impress your guests with a new holiday recipe this season. Whether you want something sweet, savory, or unique, these reader-shared recipes from Evansville Living's feature "Our Winter Traditions" are sure to delight. Latkes For Jeffrey Berger and his family, December

To show how stories in the January/February 2016 issue of Evansville Living fit into the broader world, this edition of Link Up brings the Internet to you. Evansville native Larry Miller has played the guitar and accordion on the sidewalks