Growing up along the banks of the Ohio River in Evansville, Adam Ellenstein quickly found a comfort in the water. He remembers his grandmother Jeanne Ellenstein’s pool and swimming there as a child. “I always have felt a real sense of center when I’m in the water,” says the University of Evansville graduate.
It’s just not the holidays without ___________? Ask anyone to complete this sentence, and you likely will receive an array of answers. Often passed down from generation to generation, traditions bring people together, remind us of what’s important, and give us a chance to reflect on the past. While all people do things a little differently, their traditions focus on much the same — food, family, and fun.
Santa Claus has a lot of names to add to his nice list this Christmas. Thanks to an outpouring of community support and donations, the Santa statue that once welcomed visitors to Evansville via U.S. Highway 41 again is greeting travelers. On Sept. 25, the community gathered to watch the refurbished Santa hoisted back to a standing position behind Peckenpaugh Plumbing & Custom Remodeling, 11812 U.S. Highway 41 N.
Like most Mondays after class dismisses, Deena Laska-Lewis steps onto the dimly lit stage in the gymnasium of Caze Elementary School amid a gaggle of giggly girls to lead Pirouette Project, a program she started to give underprivileged girls the chance to dance.
Mellow Mushroom, 101 W. Second St., Owensboro, KY, is now open. The restaurant offers appetizers, salads, specialty pizzas, sandwiches, desserts, and lunch specials. Nibbles
Where has the year gone? Wasn’t it just summer? Not even a few weeks ago, we still were wearing shorts and sandals around town. But we change gears quickly around here, especially when it’s time to celebrate the holidays. Long before we started our own shopping lists, the Evansville Living team made the decision to commemorate holiday and winter traditions in this issue.
Traveling to Washington, D.C., from Southern Indiana is no small feat, especially when the 730-mile trek is in a tour bus. However, a September trip to the nation’s capital was worth the effort for a group from Lyles Station, Indiana. At the end of the line, they would witness the historic ribbon cutting of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Deoxyribonucleic acid, otherwise known as DNA — have you considered testing yours to discover your family story? I tested with AncestryDNA, the world’s largest consumer DNA database. AncestryDNA promises to uncover your ethnic mix, discover distant relatives, and find new details about your unique family history with a simple test.
Morgan Steckler, 18, is a senior at Signature School. In June, she traveled with fellow members of Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana for an environmental service-learning opportunity to Costa Rica. After a five-hour plane ride, I marched off the plane with eight other Girl Scouts and our chaperone Lucy Himstedt, Girl Scouts of Southwest Indiana’s now-retired chief operating officer, into the surreal chaos of the beautifully different culture of Costa Rica.
Some of the world’s finest limestone can be found in quarries tucked in hills of the towns of nearby Bloomington and Bedford, Indiana. Located in Bloomington, Empire Quarry is the most famous quarry in the area, having provided nearly 19,000 tons and 207,000 cubic feet of stone for construction of the Empire State Building in New York City. Removal of the quarry’s limestone resulted in today’s beautiful scenery and views, like the sheer walls and the deep man-made pools which exhibit a vibrant emerald color from the limestone minerals.
Although only open for a few months, Franklin Street’s new ice cream shop has created a following of loyal customers, with some visiting as often as three times a week. One regular customer is Evansville resident Trish Jeffries, who says Fat Elvis — a concoction of banana, peanut butter, and chocolate reminiscent of Elvis Presley’s favorite sandwich — is her favorite.
Evansville is a foodie city. While our city offers many opportunities for trying new dishes and types of food, many seek the comfort of classic dishes and favorites that never change. For the patrons of Cork ‘N Cleaver, known simply as the Cork to regulars, classic is just how they like it. “They like what they like,” says Steve Bennett, owner and manager at the Cork. “They know when they come here, they are going to get a certain thing. The dressing is going to taste the same, everything is going to be the same.”
Lamasco Bar and Grill, 1331 West Franklin St., impresses customers again with its loaded nachos, which are a big seller and a crowd favorite. Lamasco’s kitchen manager Amber Newman says, “We make our nachos with green pepper, onion, tomatoes, lettuce, jalapeño, taco meat, queso, shredded cheese, and serve it with salsa and sour cream. We also make our chips fresh daily.”
While most people know of Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural genius, many are not aware his protégée William Wesley Peters was instrumental to most of Wright’s creations. Dr. James Renne — a retired orthopedic surgeon who practiced at Deaconess Hospital and Welborn Clinic — has a strong interest in architecture and has studied Peters’ and Wright’s creations extensively.
Decorating Christmas trees is an event many look forward to around the holidays. Some may wait until after the celebration of Thanksgiving to pull out boxes of glass or handmade ornaments, while others eagerly set up trees in early November. Traditions for decorating range from modern themes to those practiced in the Victorian age.
