Live in Evansville long enough and you’ll quickly find there are beautiful homes to be viewed in each of our neighborhoods. In 2019, we knew our list of 10 most beautiful homes was only a fraction of the interesting residential builds in the city. For this year’s list, we set out again (immediately after going to press with our first list) to find new homes that caught our eye. Scouting the streets, we have collected a new list of 10 homes to admire.
It is rare enough for a historic home to have many of its original features, such as light fixtures, stained glass windows, and statuaries. It is even rarer for a historic home, built in 1856 and extensively remodeled in 1876, to have an original residential fountain in the yard, which is what compelled Dr. Charles Hudson to purchase his historic home in the Downtown Riverside Historic District in 1984. “Everything you see in the yard is original, and that is almost unheard of in a house that is that old,” says Hudson.
Gazing at a piece of art by Jeff “Rip” Bender, you’re likely to not catch all the elements at first glance. “If you look close enough, there’s a lot of abstract, textural stuff, but you also see little animals and characters around it,” he says. “You can find more trappings the more you look at the work.”
Geography and place are some of the biggest influences on Matthew Graham’s poetry. Now appointed by the Indiana Arts Commission as the Indiana State Poet Laureate, he is sharing the art form with the place he calls home. Starting his two-year term earlier this year on Jan. 1, Graham is working to bring poetry awareness and education throughout the state.
Many people have hobbies they enjoy privately, but Evansville native Westly Coleman puts his passion for photography on full display. After starting to snap photos about a year ago, the University of Southern Indiana custodian joined the Evansville Photography Group on Facebook where he learned more about taking professional photos and eventually created an Instagram page to share his own.
The novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, changed the world we live in on a dime. When it came to eating out and supporting our favorite local restaurants, the mode went from dining in to carry-out and delivery. During the stay-at-home restrictions, we ordered take out from six local restaurants. Some spots were known favorites while others were new; regardless, we were eager to dig in and try. Get a taste of our take-out before placing your own orders!
Evansville Living’s Idea Home 2020 is bringing a breath of fresh California air to the area. As work on the property continues, the vision for the interior design of the home is coming together with the help of Hirsch Custom Homes’ design team, Carol Huffman and Izzy Shappard.
It’s been rough, no doubt about it. The word COVID-19 appeared in this letter in the March/April issue. Overnight we went from being cautious about hugging and shaking hands to staying home and wearing masks and gloves if we had to venture out for essentials. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb joined most other governors by issuing a six-week stay-at-home order.
There is a familiar face now leading the University of Southern Indiana men’s basketball team. Stan Gouard has replaced previous head men’s basketball coach Rodney Watson upon his retirement after 11 seasons with the team.
Evansville, like other cities in the U.S., participates in the U.S. Census every 10 years for a variety of benefits (other than it being required in the Constitution). Cities derive many financial resources from state and federal governments using census data and qualify for larger allocations when they reach certain population thresholds. In Indiana during the 19th and 20th centuries, there also were friendly competitions from the two second-tier cities (Fort Wayne and Evansville) to reach the No. 2 position after Indianapolis.
Three surgical suites. Five days. More than 70 surgeries. It was not a small undertaking, but for a team of healthcare professionals from Evansville, the challenge was worth helping Honduran patients in need.
The University of Evansville has a compact campus, but it is filled with beautiful outdoor spaces, including the mysterious Echo Point. Called fondly by its unofficial name, Echo Point is the exact center of Clifford Circle in the Sesquicentennial Oval — UE’s front lawn that faces Lincoln Avenue.
Evansville and its trees are celebrating a big anniversary this year. It is the 20th year the city has participated in the Tree City USA program through the Arbor Day Foundation. To celebrate, 20 trees were planted on March 27 for the 20th anniversary in 2020 along Lincoln Avenue in the State Hospital Park, along with another 80 trees planted throughout the park.
Next time Warren Batts plays at the Red Geranium in New Harmony, Indiana, drop by, introduce yourself, and thank him for me. The guitarist and singer was a big help to me when I was reporting my story, “Meet the Beatle,” which appears in the May issue of the Smithsonian Magazine. I don’t think I could have done it without him.
Social distancing. Face masks. Hand sanitizers. The COVID-19 outbreak throughout the U.S. and the world has changed all of our lives drastically in a very short amount of time. As Indiana entered the second part of a five-stage plan to reopen businesses and bring life back to normal beginning May 4, Evansville began to reemerge as well after weeks of quarantine.
When it comes to springtime cooking, Sue Blakeslee, member of the Southwestern Indiana Master Gardener Association, digs to her family roots for inspiration on recipes, like her fresh and easy spring romaine salad with poppy seed dressing. Combining her mother’s passion in the kitchen with her father’s green thumb, Blakeslee says her favorite recipes utilize the fresh fruits and vegetables growing in her own backyard. She paired this sweet twist on a traditional spring salad with a juicy steak from Aldi, a glass of white wine, and crunchy bread on the side.
Nothing pairs better with summer than a refreshing, cold beer. As warmer weather visits us, I tried three frothy drinks from local brew houses.
In the 1930s, it was not an uncommon occurrence for those in the Midwest to be paid a visit by the Jewel Tea Co. salesman. These traveling salesmen from the northern Illinois-based company sold fresh ground coffee, tea, spices, and other grocery and household items from 1901 to 1981.
It's time to listen. Evansville Living has and always will be a platform to celebrate the good things about our city, but right now the best use of our platform is to amplify the voices that can speak directly to the black experience in our country, city, and community. Over the coming days, we will be giving our platform over to several community members who will share their experiences so that we can learn and grow together. Our role, and what we're also asking of you, is simply to listen.
It's time to listen. Evansville Living has and always will be a platform to celebrate the good things about our city, but right now the best use of our platform is to amplify the voices that can speak directly to the black experience in our country, city, and community. Over the coming days, we will be giving our platform over to several community members who will share their experiences so that we can learn and grow together. Our role, and what we're also asking of you, is simply to listen.
It's time to listen. Evansville Living has and always will be a platform to celebrate the good things about our city, but right now the best use of our platform is to amplify the voices that can speak directly to the black experience in our country, city, and community. Over the coming days, we will be giving our platform over to several community members who will share their experiences so that we can learn and grow together. Our role, and what we're also asking of you, is simply to listen.
It's time to listen. Evansville Living has and always will be a platform to celebrate the good things about our city, but right now the best use of our platform is to amplify the voices that can speak directly to the black experience in our country, city, and community. Over the coming days, we will be giving our platform over to several community members who will share their experiences so that we can learn and grow together. Our role, and what we're also asking of you, is simply to listen.
It's time to listen. Evansville Living has and always will be a platform to celebrate the good things about our city, but right now the best use of our platform is to amplify the voices that can speak directly to the black experience in our country, city, and community. Over the coming days, we will be giving our platform over to several community members who will share their experiences so that we can learn and grow together. Our role, and what we're also asking of you, is simply to listen.
