March / April 2013

No one knows Evansville Americana like Dennis Haire. He and his wife, Margaret, love to preserve the history of this city, and their collection of local historical items extends from 1848 to the 1960s. Also providing context is Bill Bartelt,

Old Man Winter has officially left the scene. But as we all know here in Southern Indiana, spring is shaky. It throws a thunder tantrum and then just as quickly settles into a quiet, sun-filled calm. That can leave many

Decades ago, Evansville probably would have called itself a meat-and-potatoes city. Not anymore. These days, families and friends gather for sushi on birthdays and Chinese buffets on anniversaries. They eat kimchi before seeing the IceMen play at the Ford Center.

To many outdoor mavens in the area, spring has sprung when the first reports of morel finds begin coming in from around the Midwest. Here in Southern Indiana, this annual renewal comes in April, and it’s the signal for mushroom

Everyone needs a way to escape. Michelle Walker, of Newburgh, Ind., prefers running. The mother of six has run 60 marathons over the last six years. Running helps her focus on her children and their needs, work on her to-do

Filled with ruffled clothing, chunky jewelry, colorful toys, sparkly shoes, and knit hats, La Petite Demoiselle is a handmade paradise for a little shopper-in-training. French for “The Little Miss,” La Petite Demoiselle is a girls’ boutique that holds true to

They were meant to direct motoring passersby to the charm of massive ancient rock formations on top of Lookout Mountain near Chattanooga, Tenn. Yet in time, the 900 giant, minimalist “See Rock City” signs painted on barns across the country

Stepping into a squad car for a ride-along with Vanderburgh County Deputy Sheriff J.J. Budde was exciting for me. After studying criminal justice, this was my chance to live a bit of what I learned with a man who has spent six

You can take the Hoosier out of Indiana, but you can’t take Indiana out of the Hoosier. Comedian Jim Gaffigan, a native of Chesterton, Ind., has now lived in New York longer than he lived in the Hoosier state. Yet

According to the color space experts at Pantone®, the hottest color of 2013 is emerald green. In step with this lush trend is a hand-painted parrot drawer chest from Century Furniture. Fashion designer Oscar de la Renta uses his own

These days, Bob and Judy Graper use their home and entertainment haven in The Lakes at Victoria Manor, near Victoria National Golf Club, to watch sports and gather with friends and family. But 11 years ago, all they had on

Since his days working in restaurants as a college student, Henderson, Ky., native Brooks Reitz had a knack for experimenting and creating new cocktails. Now he has his own label. Reitz’s interest in cocktails began when he worked at the

The Fresh Market (6401 E. Lloyd Expressway) has offered fresh, natural food to Evansville since 2011. The store’s Old World market atmosphere offers a butcher shop, bakery, fish market, and produce stands, all under one roof. And now, shoppers can

Each year, for me, spring brings a renewed sense of purpose and an appreciation for the health benefits that come from being outside. Coupled with the Lenten season, spring also finds many individuals renewing healthier eating habits, including eating lighter

Hot yoga changed Johnni Southerland’s life. And she’s getting national attention because of it. The Evansville resident was featured in the February issue of Prevention magazine, a digest published by Rodale Press. Her soon-to-be daughter-in-law, Jenna Bergen, is the fitness editor

Spring seems slower to come around this year. My daffodils, crocuses, and Lenten rose bloomed in February, though the lingering white and gray of winter still cling to the Ohio Valley. Even so, when you read this magazine the fairer

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (3300 N. First Ave.) reopened a franchise in Evansville. The building had previously housed another Popeyes restaurant. Stepto’s Bar-B-Q Shack and Catering Co. (4430 N. 1st Ave.) has closed. Fox and Hound Bar & Grill (5416 E. Indiana

Spring is in the air at USI’s Flower Funfest, a two-day event featuring a motivational guest speaker, a 10K race, food booths, clowns, face painting, and much more. Centered around fitness and aiding those in poverty, the Funfest (April 12-13)

Celebrate spring with the 15th annual Plein Air Paint Out, First Brush of Spring, from April 18-20, in New Harmony, Ind. Each year, this historic town attracts more than 200 artists of all ages. The Paint Out turns the entire

The Evansville Philharmonic Guild, now in its 59th year, works to develop community support for the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra. The Guild has established and operated a number of events supporting the EPO, including the Lollipop Concerts and the Helen McKinney

When attorney, mother, wife, and community volunteer Robin Evernham, 32, was diagnosed with stage IV cancer and given roughly one year to live, her friends and family sprung into action to organize a fundraiser. In the first eight weeks, they

Lisa Miller is wiping away tears. It’s hard for her to talk, so the other five people in the room fall silent, sensitive to the seriousness on her face. They’ve all sat in on the same presentation; they’ve all listened

Blooming rhododendrons and azaleas are a sure sign that spring is here and a new season has begun. Yet Indiana’s typically hard clay soils can lack the quality nutrients these plants need to survive. That’s why these plants need a good

There’s a reason you get a flashlight with your room key at Canyon of the Eagles Park and Resort. It’s just a little more than an hour’s drive from Austin’s bright lights and music scene to the 940-acre nature park

It is not hard to see why Jesika Ellis, 40, has her hands full. She’s an artist, the interim director of the University of Evansville’s two galleries, one of the founders of Evansville’s bi-annual YART event, and a married mother

Evansville native David Rodenberg was well versed in the art of modeling clay before he started elementary school. Now, the retired high school art teacher will have his first solo exhibit in the Sculpture Alcove Art Gallery at the Evansville

As Backstage Bar & Grill prepares to celebrate its one-year anniversary in April, the live entertainment venue-cum-restaurant looks back on its brief history – and consequently, looks eagerly forward – with plenty of expectations to continue to establish itself as

An elegant woman feeding the birds, a page on his way to becoming a knight, and a troll hiding beneath a bridge – these are just a few details in the new mural at John H. Castle Elementary School. Michael

They come in suits and in jeans; with friends and by themselves; just after work and on their days off — and the wine draws them in. But there’s a lot more to a wine tasting than the substance in your

Has Evansville’s bicentennial (celebrated last year) and Evansville Living’s coverage of it inspired you to learn more city history? The Final Detail in the March/April issue of Evansville Living (last page) features a variety of historical items bearing Evansville’s name.