WE’VE ALL READ A NOVEL in which a sickly heroine is sent to the seashore for fresh salt air, where she recovers to meet a swarthy lighthouse keeper. The plot device is based on a grain of truth.

After visiting a salt cave in Massachusetts, Skye Winslow, a naturopathic doctor, was inspired. Salt air is charged with negative ions, shown to increase oxygen absorption, reduce symptoms of colds and allergies, and ease respiratory ailments. Thus began a three-year effort to transform a historic home into the Carmel Salt Caves.

They aren’t actual caves but two cave-like rooms. No matter. They’re bewitching, hand-hewn from pink Himalayan salt sustainably sourced from Pakistan. Chill in a zero-gravity recliner or plop down on the salt. Starry lights twinkle, the “fireplace” carved from 300-million-year-old salt glows, and the sound of waves mingled with spa music lulls. Microparticles of pharmaceutical grade salt are dry-misted inside the low humidity, 73-degree caves.

A 50-minute session is like spending four hours at the ocean. Go on, make salt angels.

The post Soul Soother: Cave of Wonders appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

DENISE KATZ WANTS TO take the shame out of being a purebred dog breeder, and, for that matter, out of having one’s heart set on a specific breed of dog. The vet has spent 10 years in animal rescue, including time with Indianapolis Animal Care Services. Her current mission as director of Zionsville’s The Love Pet Project rescue is to improve the health of dogs in need of a home. TLPP works with shelters in Boone County and occasionally supports the Marion County Sheriff’s office. Otherwise, its focus is on breeders, an unusual stance in the animal welfare world where the word is synonymous with “puppy mills.” Most rescues won’t work with breeders.

“We’re taking a holistic approach to dog welfare, and to do that, you have to work together with breeders,” says Katz. “People are always going to want purebreds.” Dogs need to be matched with the right home. Katz uses the example of someone who needs a hunting dog. It’s highly unlikely you’ll find a pointer in a shelter. Or a Lab for a young family. Or a Cavalier King Charles spaniel for the senior who wants a calm lap dog.

While some breeders only see a quick buck, most truly care about dogs. But many don’t know what they don’t know. When they do realize they need help, it’s unclear where to get it. “Nobody is willing to take the shame away,” says Katz.

But she is. After examining their adult dogs, Katz teaches breeders how to best ensure healthy puppies that will easily find homes. This may mean surrendering dogs who can pass on genetic conditions like deformities, heart defects, dental and ocular issues, extreme shyness, and parvovirus. Sometimes, a mother lacks maternal behavior, often caused by being bred too young, and shouldn’t have more puppies. Katz recalls one breeder willingly relinquishing seven dogs.

Once such dogs are in the care of TLPP, Katz and her team spay and neuter them, give heartworm and flea treatments, and resolve medical issues to the extent possible before offering them for adoption. Many are popular smaller breeds, from Havanese, Yorkies, and pugs to Pomeranians, dachshunds, and Chihuahuas. TLPP gives potential adopters a clear picture of a pup’s condition to avoid it being surrendered later due to unexpected costs. For instance, hopeful Frenchie parents are told hefty vet bills are likely ahead, since the breed is prone to health issues.

Luxating patellas (kneecaps that easily dislocate) are fairly common in toy breeds. Katz noticed the condition seems to show up in females after their first litter. TLPP is working on a study with Purdue University to find out why. As such discoveries are made, they’re shared with breeders. “I’ve made friends. We’re bringing them along,” shares Katz.

Recently, the American Kennel Club dispatched her team to Tennessee, where a woman was breeding Norwegian elkhounds—97 of them, all of which left with TLPP. “This lady had financial and other issues and had gotten in over her head. She wasn’t this horrible person,” recalls Katz. It would have been easy to post on social media that she shut down a bad breeder and watch donations roll in. But that isn’t how Katz operates. “It’s not my place to judge. It’s to teach breeders how to do it right. We’re here for the animals.”

The post Pet Project appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

BUYING A HOUSE is already a stressful experience. Now, imagine making that enormous decision based solely on video tours while living more than a thousand miles away. Such was the case for Jeff and Eliza Widelski. The Colorado residents of eight years decided last winter that the time had come for them to stop renting. They wanted to purchase a home, but they felt the Centennial State wasn’t a good fit. “Colorado real estate had skyrocketed,” Jeff says. “That led our circle of friends to leave, and we were left there alone. We found that familiarity and people we knew were very important to us.”

Landing on Indy as their new home wasn’t totally random. Jeff was born in Northern Indiana, and he had lived downtown in the late ’90s. With Eliza’s family north of Chicago, Indy made sense. The comparatively low Hoosier home prices and cost of living were also appealing. Conducting the home search from so far away, they put a lot of trust in their Realtor, Natalie Clayton of Maywright Property Co., who went above and beyond by capturing detailed videos of prospective homes and sending them to the Widelskis back in Colorado.

And then they saw it—a 1910 Holy Cross beauty with tasteful updates, a great front porch, and classic curb appeal. The couple share an affinity for older homes, so “it popped off the page to us,” Jeff says. They spent hours “touring” the neighborhood on Google Maps and falling in love via Street View. The stress was worth it, according to Eliza. “It all came together perfectly,” she says. “Holy Cross feels much more suburban and closeknit, and it has good walkability.” And compared to Colorado? “People are a lot more friendly here,” Eliza says.

FAVORITE FEATURE
The front porch

PURCHASE DATE
February 2024

NEIGHBORHOOD
Holy Cross

SQUARE FOOTAGE
2,526

The post A Long-Distance Relationship appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

• Book a private golf simulator bay with a 15-by-10-foot 4K HD screen.
• Renting an e-bike and hopping on the Cultural Trail a block away is an easy date night. (Get the picnic basket add-on.)
• You can even take a wood-burning or glass-painting class.
• Grabbing a drink and taking in the skyline from the patio is always an option.
• All craft cocktails have local ingredients, like the Indy Fashioned with Hotel Tango bourbon.
• Ask what the seasonal slushie is before you order, though. Peckish? Go for the Spare Tire Rolls.
• They host Colts away game parties. Make a reservation.

The post Unspoken Rules: The Hangar appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

IF YOU KNOW where to look, you’ll find them sprinkled throughout Indy: hidden-gem neighborhoods filled with well-maintained homes, nearby amenities, and vibrant communities. For Madeline and Collin Noll, East Avalon Hills was the perfect—albeit unexpected—place that checked every box on their wish list. And it was right under their noses all along.

Both were born and raised on the north side. Their families still live in the area, so it made sense to settle there after selling their home in Louisville. They wanted a house with room to grow into, a big yard for their big pup (a cutie named Miller), an office for Madeline, and ample storage.

After a months-long search, Realtor Robbin Edwards sent them a 1970 colonial revival. “There were only two previous owners, and the house was in pristine condition,” Madeline says. Plus, the half-acre lot felt too good to be true. They submitted an offer immediately.

In no time at all, the couple has fallen in love with the neighborhood. “It’s a very warm, friendly, family-oriented neighborhood. Many homeowners have been here 20-plus years, and everyone greets each other,” Madeline says. “Plus, we love being so close to the interstate and the amazing amenities the north side has to offer.”

FAVORITE FEATURE
The huge backyard

PURCHASE DATE
February 2024

NEIGHBORHOOD
East Avalon Hills

SQUARE FOOTAGE
2,700

The post Hidden Treasure appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

How would you describe your style?
I’m a high-end fashion kind of guy. But I do like to mix expensive pieces with bargain finds.

You are known as “The Fabulous Mr. Patrick.” What does being fabulous mean to you?
It means being very unique, especially in regard to style.

How does fashion help you express yourself?
Fashion allows me to be who I am, to be just me.

What is the first step in putting together a look?
I do think about where I’m going. Is it going to be dressy? Is it going to be casual? I try to figure that out first so I can pick out the particular pieces that would be outstanding for that event.

How do you incorporate flair when dressing for your day job?
When it comes to dressing on the professional level, I always add a very unique piece—a shoe, a tie, or another accessory that stands out.

Where or from whom do you draw inspiration?
One of the classiest ladies in this city that I look to in regard to fashion is Miss Alpha Blackburn, a local designer and businesswoman. She is such an epitome of class and fashion. She is an icon.

Which designers are your favorites and why do you gravitate toward them?
An up-and-coming designer I have fallen in love with is Reco Chapple. He is an African-American designer who has worked for a lot of celebrities. But what I like about Reco is that he makes distinctive fashion for women and men. A lot of designers gravitate toward one or the other; Reco can give you the best of both worlds.

What is one piece you could not live without?
A good boot. I love boots, especially with a heel. 

What advice would you give to someone wanting to grow in their fashion confidence?
I would say if you’re true to yourself, you can always make fashion be true to you. I’m true to myself. I live in my own skin regardless of who likes it or who doesn’t. Fashion makes me.

The post My Look: Patrick Bouquett, Marketing Director appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

THE HOMETOWN candle brand known well beyond state lines, Penn & Beech has opened the doors of its first standalone shop. The bright, petite space is lined with built-in, antique-green shelving with recessed lighting to show off their familiar minimalist jars set off by old-fashioned floral wallpaper and a marigold couch. Owner Seth Doles had been eyeing the Nickel Plate District for quite a while.

“When this particular spot became available, we knew it was right. We wanted to invest in an area that has lots of room for growth and is newly developing to be a walkable urban core, and that’s what we feel we are getting.”

Reservations are encouraged to pour a custom soy wax candle using any of 120 fragrances, among them Cashmere, Hotel Lobby, Sage, and Aperol Spritz. Two of the most popular are the warm, sweet Bourbon and P&B Blend, a clean, sharp, fresh smell that wafts through countless kitchens and powder rooms in our area. Candle crafters can sip a glass of wine or a local brew as they work.

The post Shop Talk: Penn & Beech Candle Co. appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

WHEN THE 2024 James Beard Awards were announced, the winner for Best Chef: Midwest was Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai. Her Southeast Asian street food eatery isn’t alone in being nationally acclaimed. A parade of restaurants have made Minneapolis/ St. Paul a hotbed for top-tier dining.

Sean Sherman of Indigenous restaurant Owamni by The Sioux Chef and education center Indigenous Food Lab is a past winner of Beard’s Best Book award for The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen. Gavin Kaysen of Spoon and Stable is a former Best Chef: Midwest. The area is peppered with Beard award finalists, including the English pub George & The Dragon (ganddpub.com) and the Italian sister restaurants Bar La Grassa and 112 Eatery. What to do in between meals when in the Twin Cities—besides napping? Loads.

The Minneapolis Institute of Art is a first-class yet free museum packed with familiar names (Vincent van Gogh, Joan Miró, and Ai Weiwei, among others) as well as contemporary exhibits to discover. Upcoming is At the Moulin Rouge featuring works by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and his circle. For an outdoor experience, the Walker Art Center’s Minneapolis Sculpture Garden surrounds you with creativity both bold (like Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s landscape-defining Spoonbridge and Cherry) and refined (like Ta-coumba T. Aiken, Rosemary Soyini Vinelle Guyton, and Seitu Jones’ Shadows at the Crossroads.)

Throw your hat in the air at Nicollet Avenue and 7th Street. You’ll find plenty doing the same near the Mary Tyler Moore statue celebrating her Minneapolis-based sitcom and its iconic opening credits sequence.

If You Go

CHEER Catch the Twins at Target Field, conveniently located near its own public-transit train station.

APPLAUD The Tony award–winning Guthrie Theater opens its season with The Lehman Trilogy. Take a tour of the costume and scene shops.

EXPLORE An aquarium, 500 stores, 50 restaurants, a roller coaster, and mirror maze make up the Mall of America.

The post Traveler: Minnesota Wins appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

IT’S A STORY that seems straight out of Hollywood—lifelong friends purchasing a duplex together and living side by side. But this story didn’t play out on the big screen; it happened in Indy’s Willard Park, where Elizabeth Anderson and Vicky Morrow are living out their dream.

Friends since they were 18, the Tennessee transplants were roommates many times over the years. They liked living together and understood one another’s quirks. When Elizabeth returned to the Circle City from Korea, she moved in with Vicky and her husband, Sam, while she house hunted. The arrangement was supposed to be temporary, but a wild real estate market sent that plan asunder. The friends had long joked about buying some land and living together, but when Elizabeth suggested a duplex in all seriousness, the Morrows agreed without hesitation.

Their wish list was straightforward: It had to be move-in ready and have HVAC, and the laundry room could not be in the basement. Their friend and Realtor, Lee Bailey, helped them navigate the drastically low inventory. After touring a “terrible” duplex, Elizabeth asked Lee to show them a lovely remodel they’d been monitoring, which was made even more enticing by a recent price cut. “We all liked it right away,” Vicky says. “It was nicer and bigger than any other duplex we’d looked at.” They’ve already implemented new traditions, like their “Monday Rot,” where they order takeout, watch a show, and relax. Future plans include adding a patio for hangouts and building a secret bookshelf door to connect the two spaces.

FAVORITE FEATURE
The remodeled bathrooms

PURCHASE DATE
March 2024

NEIGHBORHOOD
Willard Park

SQUARE FOOTAGE
1,800 on each side

The post Friendly Neighbors appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.

INDIANA LANDMARKS has a soft spot for homes of a certain age. The private historic preservation organization’s website and bimonthly magazine, Indiana Preservation, showcase exceptional old structures around the state—from a former automotive building with concrete floors and roll-up garage doors for days to a modernist stunner by Lake Michigan—that make DIY homebuyers dream big. Mark Dollase, Indiana Landmarks’ vice president of preservation services, explains that they have “an ongoing relationship” with the properties they acquire (following a lengthy vetting process) that goes beyond the sale of the house. “We attach what are called ‘protective covenants’ to the deed of the property to make sure that it’s maintained over a long period of time and doesn’t become a demolition threat again in five years,” he says. “We will be looking out for that property for decades.” Ready for a fixer-upper that’s not a quick flip? These diamonds in the rough from Indiana Landmarks are for sale as of press time and still standing strong, proof that they just don’t build them like that anymore.

HORNER HOUSE, BEVERLY SHORES Designed by renowned Swiss architect Otto Kolb in 1949, this idyllic wonder with views of Lake Michigan consists of three buildings: the three-bedroom main house with its living room cantilevered over a ravine, a guesthouse, and a one-car garage. $924,900 

504 E. O&M AVE., NORTH VERNON Spanning a whopping 5,550 square feet over three floors, the home of downtown North Vernon’s original J.R. Greathouse & Son’s Hardware store has plenty of mixed-use potential—residential on top and retail on bottom. The interior is an exposed brick wonderland, and the property comes with an adjacent vacant lot for parking or expansion. $124,900

458–462 N. CASS ST., WABASH These two historic homes are being sold as a bonded pair. The more-spacious one (on the right, at 2,177 square feet) is move-in ready, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms. It could serve as a handy home base for the more involved renovation of its next-door neighbor, a four-bedroom stucco beauty with salvageable original woodwork and interior doors and a well-preserved stairway. $135,900

The post Old Bones appeared first on Indianapolis Monthly.