November / December 2021

Celebrating Christmas in a large family like the Guerzinis isn’t too different from any other family. We decorate the house, find that special tree, bake cookies, and wrap presents. Christmas Eve, we head to Newburgh United Methodist Church for a

“Life has loveliness to sell,” Sara Teasdale wrote in her 1918 poem “Barter.” Indeed, innkeepers Ryan and Lucinda Embry enjoy and share that loveliness at Sophie Grace’s Bed and Breakfast. Nestled on tranquil Maple Hill less than a mile from

No matter the season or the reason, we love a good tradition. One of the best times of year at Evansville Living is planning our November/December issue. Since ours is a bi-monthly publication, we can’t devote an entire issue of

Madeline Beeson’s parents like to say she started singing even before speaking. She now fosters the next generation of singers through vocal lessons at Beeson Studio of Voice in Downtown Evansville. An Owensville, Indiana, native, music has defined Beeson’s life.

If you enjoy hitting the town but want an alcohol-free drinking experience, you aren’t alone. Data from the global market research firm Mintel in 2019 found 45 percent of millennials would give up alcoholic beverages to improve their health. Enter

Holiday cooking is the ideal opportunity to perfect a new recipe for a receptive audience, but the biggest stumbling block is often knowing where to start. For holiday gatherings, Pam Riley Heironimus — a retired chef who used to command

Set to the delicate traces of “Suite Pastorale: Idylle” by composer Emmanuel Chabrier, sunny yellow irises gracefully bloom underfoot and spread across the surrounding walls before fading from view. A cobblestone street appears, leading to such a lifelike projection of

Robin Lawrence has hurdled many obstacles throughout her life, from battling melanoma in the early 2000s to now facing Stage 4 anal and rectal cancer with heavy metastasis to the liver. Through it all, she has maintained her positivity, drawn

Traditions enrich the holiday season by allowing loved ones to recognize the culture and history that has shaped their identities. They add meaning to our experiences and enhance a sense of belonging with others. In an uncertain world, we find

Dan Sauls’ deep blue 1969 Dodge Super Bee is the product of nearly 20 years of restoration and a lifetime of nostalgia. Purchased in 2000, the Super Bee is the same year, make, and model as his very first car.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of volunteers handed out about 7,000 USDA farm-to-family food boxes per week at Hartke Pool on Evansville’s East Side. Now known as Feed Evansville, the group was only hitting the tip

Growing up in my house, we had a Christmas cake every year. They were actually fruitcakes, and my mother was fond of two cakes she ordered through the mail: Collin Street Bakery Regular Deluxe® Fruitcake (made in Corsicana, Texas, since

Sadia Ragland was born to dance. In 2008, she graced the cover of Evansville Living’s November/December issue, handpicked from a list of local models for her exuding confidence. The issue was also historic, being the only one in the magazine’s

The next time you attend an event at the Tropicana Conference Center on N.W. First Street, turn and look at the flood wall running along the property line of the adjacent OneMain Financial building. The large expanse beyond was once

Christmas time tends to be filled with merriment — a pleasant season of good tidings and joy. But what happens when the jolly holiday turns into yuletide terror? “13 Slays Till X-Mas,” a horror film anthology produced by Owensboro, Kentucky-based

From the shores of the Ohio River to the sandy beaches of Hunting Island, South Carolina, driftwood finds new life inside the third-story workspace of Debbie Krugman Goldman’s Riverside Historic District home. There, she burns intricate patterns onto the smooth,

Having a comfortable living space is essential for any homeowner, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only does Enjolé Interiors’ design stylish spaces for their customers, but now they have their own new enchanting environment. The custom interior design studio

Evansville’s East Side is well known and loved for its many takes on the brick Tudor-style abode. But some homes also feature iron emblems dressing up their chimneys. Most come in an “S” shape; some are elongated and tilted to

Each year, the Tri-State’s Jewish residents observe Hanukkah by displaying beautiful, nine-branched menorahs. A daily symbol of love, faith, and celebration during the eight-day holiday, each menorah is as unique and different as the owners themselves. Evansville resident Tory Schendel

A hedge-laden door is tucked in an inconspicuous corner at the back of an 1860s Victorian house in Downtown Evansville. Its placement looks so natural that you wouldn’t notice it — unless you were looking for it. Inside, a darkened

Deep in the small garage workshop behind his Sandborn, Indiana, home in Knox County, you can find Tom O. Reed absorbed in his craft, sanding away on homemade wooden kitchen utensils. But these are no ordinary cooking tools. Each has

Many chain restaurants fill their menus with common but complicated and overpriced dishes, but Drake’s keeps it simple and sticks to what it does best — beer, burgers, and sushi. Originating in 2007 in Lexington, Kentucky, Drake’s is owned by

So, this is Christmas — time for sipping hot chocolate in front of the tree, eating one too many rolls at dinner, and indulging in holiday traditions with family and friends. This season, the staff of Evansville Living reflects on

Late on Dec. 10, devastation swept through western Kentucky as multiple tornados decimated communities and left many people homeless or dead. Recognizing the scope of the tragedy and motivated to help our Southern neighbors, scores of Tri-State businesses, nonprofits, and

Each December, if you find yourself turning south onto Lombard Avenue from Lincoln Avenue on Evansville’s East Side, you undoubtedly have been greeted by a cluster of lights on a distant lawn. Intrigued, you may have moved ahead, crossing Bellemeade

 A floor-to-ceiling garage door on the storefront of Homer’s Barbecue (128 Second St., Henderson, KY) opens the restaurant to evening traffic in downtown Henderson. The buzz of big screen TVs broadcasting the night’s sporting games and the chatter of patrons

The industrial building at 2250 S. Green St., Unit B, Henderson, Kentucky, doesn’t stand out from the road, but several exterior signs lead the keen-eyed passerby into a gravel parking lot and through a firm wooden door to Jasmine Elzy

“Life is like a box of chocolates” — and so are the holidays! With the exhilarating chaos of ugly sweater parties and gift shopping, it’s easy to forget to step back and enjoy the season. Luckily, the Tri-State offers several

Experience the magic of a Victorian-style Christmas through the end of December through authentic 1800s architecture and furniture adorned with lights, garland, trees, and Christmas knickknacks at the Reitz Home Museum at 112 Chestnut St. The Reitz Home Victorian Christmas

With Giving Tuesday already under our belts, many Evansville nonprofits and organizations are making it easy to keep the charitable spirit alive during the holiday season. Donating time, money, or even a bit of extra Christmas cheer is all it

The Christmas season has arrived, and there’s no shortage of events to celebrate this merry holiday this weekend. Get in the Christmas spirit with Evansville Living’s staff pick events.   Christmas at Germania Maennerchor 7 p.m. Dec. 3-4 Germania Maennerchor,

Jennifer and Naj Sassi had big plans for their new restaurant when they took over from the previous owner of Kabob Xpress about one year ago. Since then, they’ve offered Tri-State residents their own take on Middle Eastern cuisine by

Hanukkah, also known as the Festival of Lights, is an eight-day Jewish celebration commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple during the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire in second century B.C. Meaning “dedication” in Hebrew, Hanukkah starts on Nov.

 This past summer, when Evansville Living was invited to a media preview of The LUME, an immersive Vincent van Gogh experience at Newfields in Indianapolis, we jumped at the chance to see the much-anticipated show firsthand. (Read the full story, “Il-LUME-inating

Happy Thanksgiving! This week is about spending time with loved ones and counting your blessings. There are also plenty of ways to get out and enjoy Evansville’s holiday festivities with friends and family. Check out these Thanksgiving weekend events.   

At roughly 7 a.m. this Sunday, Nov. 21, several explosive charges will detonate, and the 18-story tower at 420 Main St. will crumble to the ground, taking with it 50 years of Evansville’s memories. Built in 1970 as the headquarters

Combine a cup of talent with two tablespoons of ambition, fold in a heaping spoonful of memories, and add a dash of fate. That’s the special recipe that led Newburgh, Indiana, resident Lexi Bailey to whip up her own baking

Thanksgiving is a day for family, fun, and frantically cooking a gourmet meal from scratch. This year, if you’re ditching the cookbooks or experiencing a burnt turkey-related emergency, local restaurants are offering an alternative. Dine in for Thanksgiving-themed specials, or

There’s much to be thankful for in the Tri-State this holiday season. In addition to feasting, there are plenty of Thanksgiving Day activities and opportunities to help others. 2021 Gobbler Gathering Nov. 23 Evansville Rescue Mission, 500 E. Walnut St.

Christkindlmarkt is a German tradition like no other. Those traveling the streets of Germany and Austria during the holiday season are greeted with colorful decorations, hearty food, hot drinks, homemade chocolates and candies, heartwarming Christmas carols, and hundreds of craft

The donut balls at Donut Bank are on par with the rest of its popular bakery menu, but the November Donut Ball of the Month is standing out from the rest. Red velvet cake traditionally is a careful blend of

Drawing influences from melodic artists like the Indigo Girls, Stevie Ray Vaughan, James Taylor, and John Mayer, Evansville Living readers’ choice for 2021’s “Best Local Band” has spent the last decade bringing a distinct musical harmony to the area and embracing

The Evansville arts community is thriving. Whether you browsed the abundance of local artwork at Haynie’s Corner’s First Fridays over the summer or were inspired by artists featured in recent issues of Evansville Living such as Britton Starr, Janice King, and