November / December 2011

It’s not enough to describe the sleek curves and artistic angles of the new, gleaming $127.5 million Ford Center at the corner of Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It is a marvel that must be seen. Generous

A photo comparison of Roberts Stadium (left column) and the Ford Center (right column). Roberts Stadium: The toilets offered no automated flushers. The paper towel dispensers were manual, as well. Unless handicapped-accessible, the stall doors swung inward, leaving less room for

•  290,000 Total square feet at the Ford Center. •  127.5 Million of dollars for the design and construction of the arena. •  0 Dollars from property taxes used to build the arena. •  8 Camera positions to broadcast basketball games.

Main Gate Sports Bar & Restaurant – 520 Main St. Less than 0.1 miles from the Ford Center Opened specifically to capitalize on the attention the new arena might bring, the aptly named Main Gate — with a typical bar-food

The Cincinnati Bengals did not have the best NFL season last year. They had two talented wide receivers, whom sports writers loved to call divas, yet the professional football team floundered, which caused the fan base to shout the team

On the right side of his vest is one of the most important patches Jack Miller wears: an eagle, wings outstretched as if descending upon prey. In its claws is a banner that reads, “All Gave Some, Some Gave All.”

The holiday season offers such tempting fare as sweet potato casserole (460 calories and 16 grams of fat per seven ounce serving), pecan pie (500 calories and 27 grams of fat per slice), and eggnog (300 calories and 17 grams

Nearly 30 years ago, Newburgh, Ind., resident and artist Becky Geis opened a studio in her basement. She taught would-be creators the art of decorative painting. Four years later, in 1986, she relocated the studio to a house at 121

Stepping into the McJohnston-Orr house in the Riverside Historic District is like visiting a museum. Victorian décor and well-placed, quality antiques enhance the home’s Italianate architectural style down to the smallest detail. Even the hallway joining the front living area

Fall. The season between the one I love and the one I hate. Perfection. Beauty. Dull. Drab. All describe the three months of the year between late September and mid-December. When I think about the first crisp, cold snap, I

In 2009, the Time Out Lounge looked like it belonged in the 1980s. The longtime bar in the even longer-time Executive Inn was architecturally on its last leg. Officials from the City of Evansville were eyeing it for demolition to

In a quaint strip mall on the West Side is a cupcakery, the Pacetré Bake and Brew. Owned and operated by Evansville natives Judy Pace and her two daughters Kelly and Tracy, the Pacetré offers a whimsical selection of cupcakes

Leaving Evansville was the best thing I ever did. Until I came back. I arrived in 1987, fleeing a managerial job in Atlanta that no more suited me than being a deep-sea diver. Unlike any other place I’ve lived, this

I’m pretty darn excited about the Ford Center. Our entire magazine staff is thrilled about it. For the past few weeks, conversations have begun, “Have you been in the Ford Center?” Tons of folks have; an estimated crowd of 6,000

J. Gumbo’s (1211 N. Tutor Lane) opened on the corner of Burkhardt and Vogel roads. The gumbo, jambalaya, bumblebee stew, and other Cajun and Creole classics are available in this fast-casual Evansville location. Founder Billy Fox Jr. uses the same ingredients and spices

Vernon Jordan is a strikingly tall man. When he enters a room, people notice. Evelyn Walker learned this in 2001 when she convinced Jordan to speak in Evansville. Her request came in support of One Book One Community, a reading

The National Gingerbread House Competition in Asheville, N.C., has a simple premise: Turn a sugar and spice treat into a showcase event. Southern Living loves the festivity that brings 200 holiday masterpieces into one room. The gingerbread houses show a

In a nativity scene, the pieces are always the same: Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger. The same scene depicts the same holiday, Christmas, every December, but as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Four years ago, Don Baggett had something up his sleeve that would help Vanderburgh County Court Appointed Special Advocates. Baggett’s wife Theresa serves as vice president of the board of directors for the nonprofit organization. The couple thought a magic

It’s not that the look of Los Tres Caminos is unique compared to most other Mexican restaurants — it has the aesthetically pleasing mix of colors throughout the interior that creates the atmosphere of an Americanized Cinco de Mayo fiesta

The current debate over the consolidation of city and county governments sounds oddly familiar to people who can recall Evansville in 1959 and J. William Davidson. Former city controller “Bill” Davidson was sworn into office as mayor of the city

When my wife and I decorate for the holiday season, we incorporate plants into the design. Not everything comes from our garden because we like to use a mix of fresh-cut evergreens with berries and various dried elements. Here, holiday

Evansville Dance Theatre closed its doors in March 2011 after 30 years serving Evansville’s art community. Despite the loss of this institution, Evansville has no lack of opportunity for young dancers. Here’s a closer look at five local studios offering

Mike Riley and Doug Padgett have been management leaders at WEHT Channel 25 for the better part of nearly four decades. Running a business side by side for so long might force some people into neutral corners once the workday

Marty Simmons was a stud basketball player. The 6-foot-5-inch forward came to the University of Evansville in 1985 after transferring from Indiana University. Simmons, a former Illinois high school star, was talented enough for a big-time program. IU certainly fit

Ron Snodgrass works with mirrors, not glass. His work varies from the contemporary to the abstract. Snodgrass’ pieces are sometimes functional mirrors masquerading as art. He often uses colored mirrors for wall hangings, tables, pedestals, or partitions. Mirrors cover the

In a naturally lit alcove, on the second floor of the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science, are a group of wild animals forever caught in natural poses — biting at an itch, violently killing, and devouring prey. The

Somewhere in the middle of the 2011 summer, Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel hosted a media tour at the new arena under construction. Reporters gathered with cameras, digital recorders, and notepads. He pointed to features worth noting such as the 20-foot ceiling

Pinned with tacks on the walls of the University of Evansville’s design conference room are old photographs — black-and-white images of a 1950s tearoom from the play Master Harold … And the Boys intermingle with portraits of barelegged strippers. These

Margaret Haire loves to give new life to old materials. When she and husband Dennis built their East Side home nearly 25 years ago, they re-used brick, pecan floorboards, and yellow long-leaf heart pine beams (recreated as flooring) salvaged from

To show how stories in our Nov/Dec 2011 issue fit into the broader context of world events, this edition of Link Up brings the Internet to you. No Google search required. Cold as Ice For many people wanting to run

Recently, Editor Kristen K. Tucker learned to cook a 5-course French Christmas dinner — in Wisconsin. Under the direction of Chef Scott Baker of L’ecole de la Maison, a cooking school at the Osthoff Resort in Elkhart Lake, eight enthusiastic

On Sept. 15, 2003, John Harris experienced the worst pain he had ever felt in his life. It unrelentingly stabbed at his back and stomach. He went to the emergency room where a doctor injected a pain medication into Harris’