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Evansville
Saturday, February 4, 2023

July / August 2018

Evansville Living

This Land is Our Land

From glaciation to a changing river bend, the topography, physiology, and geology in southwestern Indiana is rich to say the least. At surface level it is easy to see why this land is special. But digging further into the underlying levels of bedrock, more and more explanations are revealed to just how unique the area Vanderburgh County occupies is. Dr. William Elliott, associate professor of geology and chair of the geology and physics department at the University of Southern Indiana, describes topography as how much high elevation or low elevation is in an area.

In Harmony

It was natural for Connie Weinzapfel to find herself a home in New Harmony, Indiana. For 30 years, she had made the small community her home base for her career — first as director of the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art and then as director of Historic New Harmony. But it wasn’t until 2017 that she began to seriously consider making the artist village her home.

Life is a Picnic!

Joy, sorrow, guilt, romance, happiness; there’s nothing that can evoke an emotional response quite like food can. Food is a part of our everyday lives, the centerpiece for our holiday celebrations, and the accompaniment to most special occasions. Most of all, there’s nothing like a shared meal to bring back memories.

Village People

Abraham Lincoln may only have lived in Indiana for 14 years of his adolescence, but the former U.S. president’s impact on the state has been remembered and honored for more than two centuries. At the Lincoln Pioneer Village and Museum in Rockport, Indiana, the goal is to educate school groups and the community on what life was like when Lincoln lived in Spencer County. The Works Project Administration built the village, with 13 replica cabins, in 1935, and the museum followed in the 1950s.

Downward Cats

I had closed my eyes, centered my breath, and prepared to begin my yoga practice when I felt something fluffy brush my leg followed by a scratchy lick on my big toe. I opened my eyes and Tulip the cat was contentedly sitting on my mat unfazed by the nine people in the room trying to get their zen on.

Revolutionary Roads

 Many roads wind through the more than 260 square miles of Vanderburgh County, but these well-traveled paths have seen changes through the decades. At one time, roads were more often than not paths where animals crossed, then they became Native American trails, and later pioneer trails. The oldest path, trail, or road in Evansville is said to be Red Bank Road.

On Guard

 There’s a quiet beauty one can find in Evansville’s city cemeteries. Located just off Highway 41 North, Oak Hill Cemetery and Arboretum is a tranquil 175-acre historic burial ground home to more than 70,000 interments along the hillside and flat lands of the property. We took a walk through the Victorian-inspired Oak Hill, established in 1853, to discover some of the notable markers within. With the help of city cemeteries superintendent Chris Cooke, we are delving into some of the curious histories found in the cemeteries.

Polka Party

 While attending Volksfest a few years ago, Susan Wilkie could see the polka ready to come out in hesitant and shy attendees and was struck with inspiration. If people felt like they didn’t know how to dance, she would teach them. The member and drill sergeant of the Evansville International Folk Dancers began the Bierstube Bootcamp as a precursor to the bierstube season each year to help willing dancers learn how to polka the night away.

Making a Comeback

Shing-Lee has been a staple on Main Street since it opened in 1971 as one of the first Chinese restaurants in Evansville. However, fans of the long-standing establishment haven’t been able to get their fix since June 2016 after a fire in an adjoining building caused serious damage to the restaurant. Earlier this year on May 1 owners Foo Shung “Frankie” and Yin Ling Jung reopened and are serving up their classic Chinese cuisine once again.

Fork in the Road

Personal chef Cheryl Mochau was in a slump. A foodie rut, she explained to her friends. “One of my friends suggested going to lunch in St. Louis. It was so out of the blue,” says Mochau, who has been cooking for 27 years. “We sort of just did our own little tour. We tasted as we went along and we had a blast.”

Editor's Letter

New Horizons

Forty-two years after Evansville celebrated America’s bicentennial with the installation of the Four Freedoms Monument and six years after the City of Evansville marked its own bicentennial, Vanderburgh County turns 200 this year.

Chew On This

Chew on This

El Paisano Grocery and Taqueria, 225 S. Green River Road, has opened a small Mexican grocery with a restaurant attached, offering authentic Mexican dishes like tacos, tortas, and burritos.  Nibbles

Epilogue

Call of Duty

 Evansville answered Uncle Sam’s call during World War II and soon became a hub for the home front efforts. During this time, multiple factories were established to make products for the war, and many men and women from the Tri-State joined the forces.

Digging In

Heaven Scent

Hancock County, Kentucky, may be an unlikely place to find fields of lavender. But Erin Ramsey and her family, owners and operators of Big Roots Farm, are quickly changing that.

Art Talk

Let it Gogh

Almost 50 years ago, Dr. Dennis Davenport read his first book about the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh. Given to Davenport by a friend, the book immediately enticed him with the story of one of the most famous and influential painters in history. Now, Davenport lays claim to a collection of more than 60 replicas, books, mugs, and trinkets of the post-impressionist artist.

Departments

Mission Accomplished

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead Shirley Becker has lived her life by this quote. For the past 20 years, she has worked alongside family, friends, and community members to found the nonprofit Pulmonary Fibrosis Partners. Now, Becker is taking a step back from the organization, which will be taken over by the Deaconess Foundation next year.

From Collegiate to Culinary

Locals call it A Squared. Bob Seger sang about it. It has 300 restaurants in a 20-miles radius and more than a dozen breweries, and the Big House! Ann Arbor, Michigan, is home to the 200-year-old University of Michigan. If you think there is no better place to be in autumn than a college town, put Ann Arbor on your destination list. Delta flies from Evansville to Detroit three times daily; Ann Arbor is a 30-minute drive from Detroit Airport. Driving time to Ann Arbor from Evansville is about 7 hours.

Culture

Cold Hard Stare

Brian Mullins and Chris Tapp have come a long way since playing in high school bands. Now, the two members of The Cold Stares have songs with more than one million streams on Spotify, and licensing from TNT and Animal Kingdom.

Collectibles

Dishing it Out

Doug Patberg knows how to keep several plates spinning at once — enough to put on a gathering for 250 people to be exact. The event and wedding coordinator began collecting vintage china to use for corporate and private functions about 15 years ago. “It’s just becoming really popular again with the shabby chic barn weddings,” he says. “They all like that type of look.”

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