May / June 2015

Editor's Note: Roger McCain passed away from cancer in October 2023. He drew on his love of cycling and the outdoors for this 2015 story. A pair of boots and a pair of wheels — that’s all we need to

For two years Crystal and Sean Claspell have been coming to Little Lambs, bringing their three-year-old daughter Aliya and two-year-old son Elijah. Aliya’s due date was in March, but when she arrived on Christmas Day three months premature and only

It’s not all work for Amy Clark and Abby Wells when they visit Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center at 3701 Bellemeade Ave. The 2015 Easter Seals representatives sometimes struggle to stifle laughs as they work. Clark jokes with her physical therapist

It’s taken 50 years to catch on, but the game with the funny name combining elements of tennis, badminton, and table tennis is gaining momentum nationwide. Pickleball, started in Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 1965 by three men as entertainment for

“Bourbonism” — that’s the term Mayor Greg Fischer has coined for the recent surge of bourbon tourism in Louisville, Kentucky. Eager to capture the growing number of bourbon pilgrims, distilleries old and new are pouring dollars into production facilities, interactive

Mountaintop views and under-the-sea experiences are among the many attractions of Eastern Tennessee. It’s an area of natural wonders and creature comforts, history and novelty, a place within reach and beyond expectations, and a place for a backpacker and a

One foot into the log cabin home of Max Soaper and his girlfriend Linda Williams, which sits on 500 acres in Henderson, Kentucky, and you realize it’s a cabin occupied by more than just two humans. A playful skunk waddles

I have a soft spot in my heart for Italian cuisine. Afforded my first opportunity in management at an independent Italian restaurant, I learned to appreciate the family aspect of service and dining. Coming from a home that loved to

For those of us who like soft drinks in desserts (remember loving grandma’s Coca-Cola cake?), Evansville now has access to the ultimate pie — the SKI pie. Though it sounds like a culinary concoction from the West Side Nut Club

Breakfast foods with a Polish twist — that’s what Toast, a new brunch restaurant on Evansville’s West Side, promises and delivers. Owners Kassy and Marcin Lauer combine Kassy’s love for making breakfast foods with Marcin’s Polish heritage and serve brunch-style

Like so many chefs, Bill Hughes claims the love of food was instilled early in his life. The owner of Bill’s Restaurant in Owensboro, Kentucky, grew up in nearby Leitchfield, and dinner was an important time of the day. Those

Stepping into the Hajari family restaurant, it’s clear the owners are proud of the country from which they are from. Orange, white, and green paint line the walls of Taste of India depicting the Flag of India. Posters of the

Pat Brentano’s passion for art and the environment is evident in her voice. The moment she begins speaking on the subject, it’s hard not to be entranced by the Evansville native as she describes her work. “What I’m trying to

More than 4 million people visit Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, annually. Rooted in history, it’s the resting place for 14,000 veterans. Few realize a cemetery with an impressive military history is in their own city. The Historic Oak Hill

For 24-year-old Patrick Cowe, magic is reality. The Bosse High School graduate is now among the very best in the world at a trading card game called Magic the Gathering, one in which players, or wizards, go head-to-head, trading cards

The first bicycle and pedestrian path attempted in Evansville was in 1927 when a St. Louis architect was hired to plan the city’s park system. It was to be called the “Pleasure Path” and would wind along next to Pigeon

Now Open: Chava’s Mexican Grill (4202 N. First Ave.) is now open on Evansville’s North Side. Nibbles: Tom + Chee, a new restaurant coming to Evansville, is being constructed on N. Green River Road. The shop specializes in grilled cheese

With spring comes the blooming of lush, manicured gardens. That’s why the Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association presents the Tour de Fleur 2015 Garden Walk. From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on June 20 and 21, visitors are invited to

Water has long inspired art, and, in its fourth year, the New Harmony Music Festival and School has channeled that inspiration with the theme “Rivers, Waterways, and Streams of Life.” Various performers like Mazz Swift and Michael Brown will perform

One of the most colorful mayors in Evansville’s history was Republican Manson Reichert. Elected in 1942 as the Indiana municipal election law changed making city elections off a year, Reichert’s term lasted five years. His school board fired, then rehired

Having an inquisitive 3-year-old daughter, my wife and I are asked a lot of questions. Recently, while we were outside, she asked, “Daddy, what’s that smell?” It didn’t take long to realize she was referring to the flowing cherry tree in

Situated at the convergence of four unique neighborhoods (Culver, Blackford’s Grove, Goosetown, and Wheeler), Haynie’s Corner Art District, blends diverse businesses with cultural attractions. First Fridays is a new monthly event that highlights indoor and outdoor art exhibits and artists

Curt Nance remembers when S. Green River Road, where his parents’ photography studio and farmhouse was located, was lined with farm fields. Nance Galleries still stands on the original foundation of the former business, begun in 1947, but today’s visitors

For every plant and garden lover, a simple vertical garden hanger is a perfect way to bring the garden inside. The hanger allows you to display your favorite plants inside without sacrificing valuable space. To start your project, here are

Outside of the front entrance of Tom Wilson’s West Side home, a restored sign reading “Long Haven” greets visitors. When Wilson first discovered the sign in a crawl space of the cellar, it was bent and missing letters after being

The Nightingale Guitar Company occupies a brief, but interesting chapter in the annals of music history, as the only guitar ever manufactured in Evansville. The company held a one-of-a-kind patent that never has been replicated. Unfortunately, because of a fire,

The daily routine of managing Timberview Flower Farm can be daunting for longtime owners Mary Ellen, 81, and Floyd Damm, 84. But it’s one the Damms look forward to every morning. “It gives you a reason to get up every

No amount of prior research about Dr. Ted’s Musical Marvels can prepare you for the moment your eyes — and ears — meet his collection of vintage musical instruments. Usually it’s a “wow!” that escapes the lips of visitors upon

To show how stories in the May / June 2015 issue of Evansville Living fit into the broader world, this edition of Link Up brings the Internet to you. Everyone has a favorite activity to help them escape the world,