Issuu

SPILL THE BEANS Jessica and Zac Parsons | FIRE AND ICE Thunderbolts Hockey

Ramen!

FROM BROTH TO BOWL

TIGER KIMCHI RAMEN FROM 2ND LANGUAGE

Hit Reset

DECLUTTER, DESTRESS, AND MORE WAYS TO BRING CALM TO YOUR LIFE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

$4.95

$999,900

his custom-built home by Randy Elpers sits on over three acres of meticulously maintained landscape. Features include 4 bedrooms, 3 full/3 half baths, grand two-story foyer with oak hardwood floors, and dentil crown molding. The main level offers a home office with built-ins, formal dining with wainscotting, living room with coffered ceiling and fireplace, and updated eat-in kitchen with island and pantry. The family room boasts soaring ceilings and wall-to-wall windows. The spacious owner's suite includes dual closets and luxurious en suite with jetted tub. The basement features a rec room, wet bar, and gym. Outside: heated pool, pool house with kitchenette, and detached storage.

224 E Mount Pleasant Road, Evansville

xperience this stunning new construction by Mattingly Homes in Victoria Woods. The welcoming foyer leads to an open-concept living area with soaring ceilings and a cozy gas fireplace. The gourmet kitchen features a large island, stainless appliances, walk-in pantry, and spacious dining area. The owner's suite boasts dual vanities, freestanding tub, and tiled walk-in shower with dual heads. The spacious walk-in closet with built-ins connects to the laundry room. Additional bedrooms share a hall bathroom with twin sink vanity. Outside: covered patio overlooking the tranquil backyard. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths • 2,175 SQFT

mmaculate one-owner home in Ironwood—ready for its next chapter! Built with EnergySmart features, this home offers modern efficiency and a thoughtful layout. The open-concept living space showcases an electric fireplace with elegant mantle and floating bookshelves. The eat-in kitchen features an oversized island, bar seating, granite countertops, stainless appliances, pantry, and dining area. The owner's suite offers a luxurious en suite with twin-sink vanity, tiled walk-in shower, and large walk-in closet with built-ins. Outside: private backyard with covered patio, full privacy fence, and 2-car garage.

6965 Ironwood Circle, Newburgh

$399,000

harming home in Victoria Village! The foyer welcomes you with a formal dining room to the right, leading into the spacious living room with soaring ceilings and a cozy gas fireplace. The eat-in kitchen features stainless appliances, a breakfast bar, pantry, and ample casual dining space. The expansive owner's suite includes an attached sitting room, walk-in closet, and luxurious en suite with double sink vanity, jetted tub, and walk-in shower. Two additional bedrooms share a full hall bathroom. Upstairs: spacious bonus room for additional needs. Outside: open patio and generous backyard perfect for relaxing and entertaining. 3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths • 2,275 SQFT

$399,900

3 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths • 1,953 SQFT

1575 Firefly Cove, Boonville

2230 Long Cove Circle, Newburgh

reaming of a lakeside oasis? This is it! Set on nearly an acre with a finished walk-out basement. The two-story foyer opens to a home office, formal dining, and family room with arched windows overlooking the lake. The kitchen features a large island, stainless appliances, and flows into the living room with gas fireplace. The main-level owner's suite boasts dual vanities, soaking tub, walk-in shower, and custom closet. Four upstairs bedrooms include two with en suites. The basement offers a movie theater, wet bar, full bath, and workout room. Outside: inground pool, outdoor fireplace, bar, and lake views. This home has it all!

2800 Briarcliff Drive, Newburgh

$624,900

6 Bedrooms, 4 Full + 1 Half Baths • 6,002 SQFT

4 Bedrooms, 3 Full + 3 Half Baths • 5,492 SQFT

$995,000

$184,900

erfectly situated just steps from Downtown Newburgh, this inviting home offers comfort and convenience! A covered front porch with planters provides a warm welcome. Inside, the spacious living room flows seamlessly into the eat-in kitchen with newer stainless appliances and cozy breakfast nook. Three bedrooms share a roomy hall bathroom with tub/shower combo and linen closet. Step outside to an open deck overlooking the fenced backyard — ideal for relaxing or entertaining. The property includes two storage sheds, a firepit, and carport. Additional updates include new flooring throughout and modern lighting. Home sold as-is. 3 Bedrooms, 1 Full Baths • 1,065 SQFT

405 Middle St., Newburgh

Janice Milllleer

81 2- 453 453-07 -0779 79 | Janice.Miller@erafirst.com Visit janicemiller.com or text JANICE to 35620 to learn more!

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

2 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Saxe Pinkston Financial Group is proud to be named to the 2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams List FOUNDED OVER 40 YEARS AGO, we believe that

Susan Cooke Senior Registered Client Associate

Senior Vice President PIM Portfolio Manager

D. Scott Saxe

Tiffany Renshaw

Cory Pinkston

Tyler Saxe

Samuel Steimel

Senior Vice President Senior PIM Portfolio Manager

Terry Correll

Vice President (Investments)

Branch Manager Senior Vice President (Investments) PIM Portfolio Manager

Saxe Pinkston Financial Group has grown into one of the most respected financial advisory firms in the Evansville area, with a team that boasts 200-plus years of combined experience. What sets its advisors apart is their unwavering commitment to personalized, client-first financial guidance. Advisors serve more than 1,000 clients across 34 states and manage more than $1.3 billion in assets as of 10/10/2024 — with no minimums, reflecting their mission to help all investors, regardless of financial standing.

Senior Registered Client Associate

From its roots in a transactional “stockbroker” era of the 1980s, the firm has evolved into a practice focused on unbiased, strategic advice. Saxe Pinkston specializes in retirement planning, legacy and estate strategies, college savings, and generational wealth transfer, among other key services. Advisors take the time to understand each client’s goals and risk tolerance before crafting a custom plan.

Financial Consultant

Sharyi Bryan

Senior Client Associate

The Saxe Pinkston Financial Group was named as a Best-inState Wealth Management Team by Forbes Shook for 2025*. D. Scott Saxe was named to Barron’s Top 1200 State by State Advisors for 2025** for the State of Indiana. We believe the practice’s accolades reflect the dedication and professionalism of their team.

25 NW Riverside Dr., Ste. 320 812-425-6251 saxepinkstonfinancialgroup.com *2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams: Awarded January 2025; Data compiled by SHOOK Research LLC based on the time period from 3/31/23 - 3/31/24 (Source: Forbes. com). The Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams rating algorithm is based on the previous year's industry experience, interviews, compliance records, assets under management, revenue and other criteria by SHOOK Research, LLC. Investment performance is not a criterion. Self-completed survey was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. 11,674 wealth management teams were considered for the rating; 5,331 (45.66% of candidates) were named 2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams. ** 2025 Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors: Awarded March 2025; Data Compiled by Barron's based on the time period from Oct. 2023 - Sept. 2024 (Source: Barrons.com). The Barron's Top 1,200 Financial Advisors ratings are based on the previous year's assets under management, revenue generated for the advisors' firms, and the quality of the advisors' practices. Investment performance isn't an explicit factor because clients have varied goals and risk tolerances. Self-completed questionnaire was used for rating. This rating is not related to the quality of the investment advice and based solely on the disclosed criteria. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), Member SIPC. Saxe Pinkston Financial Group is a separate entity from WFAFN.

Saxe Pinkston Financial Group continues to serve clients with integrity and care, especially those nearing retirement or managing significant life changes such as inheritances — proving that a deeply personal approach still is the foundation of exceptional financial service.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

4 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Featured January | February 2026 • Volume 27 | Number 1

SPORTS

FEATURES

COVER STORY

Net Returns

Get It Together

Raving Over Ramen

When the Thunderbolts slashed an overtime goal into the net last spring, the city became home to a championship hockey franchise. The team shares how it has built its winning culture and brought its boisterous fanbase along for the ride.

Want to give yourself a fresh start? It’s as easy as tweaking your daily routines. From planning meals in advance to permanently parting ways with clutter, these expert tips will bring you a clean home environment and greater calm.

Dorm food? Think again. Ramen is a flavorful, filling delicacy with East Asian roots, and bowl by bowl, diners are catching on. Chefs share their love of ramen and the secrets behind each variation cooked in their kitchens.

ON THE COVER Hungry? You will be after reading about the 20-plus varieties of ramen — like this steaming bowl of tiger kimchi from 2nd Language — that are available at area restaurants. The hot dish packs a welcome punch in the winter: “Hot soup on a cold day — it sells itself on that point,” says 2nd Language line chef Clint Pollack. Photo by Zach Straw PHOTO BY BAILEY HARDIN, EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Inside

January | February 2026 • Volume 27 | Number 1

10 In Every Issue From the Editor Borrowed Wisdom … What is a trebuchet, and more things we learned while producing this issue … Conversations with readers … Meet this issue’s contributors … Where in the world is Evansville Living? … Subscribers of the Issue David and Linda Poland left the River City, but it never left them … Jeff and Misty Bosse’s Newburgh home is gaining notice

19 The Bend What perks up coffee couple Zac and Jessica Parsons … A segregated library once served Black readers … The new Eykamp Sculpture Gallery strikes a pose … Alex Kor’s book honors his parents’ legacy … “Lost Treasures of Indiana” nods at local icons … Remembering when Lamey’s Grove and The Corvettes rattled Gibson County with rock ‘n’ roll … Set your schedule with our events calendar

39 Dwell Quilters embrace tradition and modern trends … John Schroeder tees off in his eclectic backyard … River City Coffee & Goods expands beyond Downtown … a waterfront paradise on Stringtown Road is for sale … Plus, don’t miss the Home of the Issue

85 Savor Chef Michael Hite is made for the kitchen … Dierks Bentley’s Row 94 bourbon goes down smooth … Pastries from Parrella Petite … Charlie’s Candy Shop keeps a sweet tradition alive in Knox County … Dig into Tex-Mex flavors at Chuy’s … Wrap it up with our directory of area restaurants, eateries, and bars

39 58

144 Final Detail Elayna Zausch on using a vision board to turn plans into realities

42 6 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

Wedding Book The

2026

SEVEN MARRIED TRI-STATE COUPLES SHARE HOW THEY CREATED THEIR SPECIAL DAY

YOUR GUIDE TO PLANNING THE

ULTIMATE WEDDING! Venues, Catering, + Much More!

AFTER PAGE

Say “I Do” with an easy wedding checklist!

Jon and Kait Maddox

Sponsored Content AFTER PAGE 48 WEDDING BOOK Discover venues, planners, caterers, florists, and more for your big day COVER PHOTO BY PATTON PHOTO

109 BE WELL, EVANSVILLE Read about top ways to improve your health and happiness, plus age with style 138 WNIN Explore WNIN’s upcoming program highlights, guide listings, and stationwide happenings for February and March

NOW ENROLLING

for Kindergarten Experienced teachers who make every child feel safe and cared for from day one High-Quality, Engaging Learning Experiences

Coming Soon SUMMER TRAVEL GUIDE Road trip! See what treasures await just a short drive from home EDUCATION Invest in the future with regional institutions, courses, and programs VISIT JASPER, INDIANA Uncover the Dubois County city’s destinations for food, culture, and fun

A curriculum that balances early reading skills with the social confidence to make friends Lasting Relationships Developed in a Supportive Community

READ THE DIGITAL EDITION Evansville Living is published bimonthly with a seventh issue in April by Tucker Publishing Group, Inc., 25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Suite 200, Evansville, IN 47708. Evansville Living is printed at Sheridan, CJK Group, Pontiac, IL. Periodicals postage paid at Evansville, IN, and additional offices. U.S. Postage Service ID: Evansville (ISSN 1533-0613) POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Evansville Living Magazine Subscriber Service Dept., PO Box 291944, Kettering, OH 45429-9995. © 2026 Evansville Living.

EVSCschools.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

January | February 2026 Volume 27 | Number 1

Editor & Publisher Kristen K. Tucker

President, Tucker Publishing Group, Inc. Todd A. Tucker

Editorial Jodi Keen

Managing Editor

John Martin Senior Writer

Granite

Quartz

Marble

Soapstone

Quartzite

We are THE place to select your slab We template, fabricate, and install. We have a wide selection of quartz and a large slab inventory of granite.

cabinetscounters.com 812-858-3300 7387 S.R. 66 • Newburgh, IN

Maggie Valenti Staff Writer

Design Laura Mathis

Creative Director

Chanda Ramsey Art Director

Sarah Morgason

Senior Graphic Designer

Curate your story, We’ll frame the rest.

Advertising Jessica Hoffman

Senior Account Executive

Jennifer Rhoades

Senior Account Executive

Adeina Mars

Sales and Marketing Coordinator

Elayna Zausch

Special Projects Coordinator

Distribution Gregg Martin

Distribution Manager

Contributors

Little Bird Framing gives your treasures a place to land. Curated, crafted, and created to help you organize the moments that made you.

8 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Kelley Coures Katie Henrichs Charles Kiesel Michelle Mastro Alison Petrash-Hall Shawn Rumsey Zach Straw Timothy Weir Alli Wuertz

Windows and doors intentionally designed to SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscriptions are $18 for one year; $24 for two years; or $30 for three years. To start a new subscription, renew an existing subscription, or change your address, call 800-607-4410 from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. CT Monday-Thursday and 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m. CT Friday; send an email to EvansvilleLiving@sfsdayton.com; or visit the subscriptions page at evansvilleliving.com.

deliver solutions for real life.

CALENDAR ITEMS, COMMUNITY UPDATES, AND DINING GUIDE Email events@evansvilleliving.com information no later than eight weeks prior to the magazine cover date. Details may be edited or deleted for space.

ADVERTISING Take advantage of Evansville Living’s prime advertising space. Call us at 812-426-2115 or visit evansvilleliving.com.

MISSION STATEMENT The staff of Evansville Living strives to inform, instruct, amuse, and entertain our readers, helping them get the most out of living in Evansville and the surrounding area. With each issue, we provide a targeted audience of active, well-educated consumers for our advertisers. We look to positively chronicle the many unique aspects of living in Evansville and the Tri-State to benefit our community.

p Jeremy Bethel, Sam Mills, Cherie Simpson, Nick Wood, and Ray Butler.

812-228-7000 • 5420 Vogel Rd., Evansville pellaofevansville.com

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TUCKER PUBLISHING GROUP, INC. Todd A. Tucker, President Kristen K. Tucker, Vice President

25 N.W. Riverside Drive, Ste. 200, Evansville, IN 47708 812-426-2115 | evansvilleliving.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

From the Editor

Borrowed Wisdom

appy New Year! In 2024, as we set out to rethink the look and feel of this magazine to celebrate its 25th anniversary, we found ourselves returning to the simple words first shared by Carla Frank — founding design director of O, The Oprah Magazine and owner of a namesake design firm — during the redesign of Southwestern Missouri city magazine 417: “Clean it up. Calm it down.” With full credit — and gratitude — we borrowed that guidance because no other words captured our intention so clearly. We have used similar words before — Todd likes to ask if we can make it “cleaner, neater, tighter” — but what really spoke to us was “Clean it up. Calm it down.” Those words informed every decision, from typography to color to white space, helping us create a magazine that feels more intentional, more breathable, and more at ease. Now, we’re extending that same borrowed wisdom beyond the page and into our lives. The feature story, “Get It Together,” on page 30 applies “clean it up, calm it down” to the spaces we inhabit every day. In our household, we spent the greater part of last year talking about decluttering. “You know, all of this stuff used to be money” is what I say — another piece of borrowed wisdom. But we do get things done. We’re perennially cleaning out the garage, the primary closet, and the “sports” closet. The problem is, we’re not getting rid of enough stuff as we reshelve and reorganize. I do make regular trips with donation bags to World Wide Missions Consignment Store and Evansville Goodwill Industries. Still, the input seems to be greater than the output. I absolutely love the gorgeous cover photograph of ramen by Zach Straw. Creative Director Laura Mathis and Staff Writer Maggie Valenti joined Zach at the photo shoot at Randy Hobson’s Downtown Evansville restaurant 2nd Language on one of those extremely cold December days. They sampled what they photographed, but only after Randy insisted on making fresh, steaming bowls. Maggie teamed up with Senior Writer John Martin to produce the feature, “Every Bowl Has a Soul” — another bit of borrowed wisdom. Selena Ye, manager of Hokkaido Ramen House, used the phrase “every bowl has a soul” to explain the dish’s appeal is that each guest feels it was made just for them. Fill up with a bowl on page 92. Recently, we began surveying Evansville Living readers after publication of each issue. While we conduct an annual reader survey and have through the years polled readers on a variety of topics, our methods of gathering feedback typically are organic — hearing from readers on the streets, at events, through social media, etc. If you subscribe to our weekly digital newsletters, you will certainly receive a survey. Please take a minute to answer the questions; respondents’ names are included in a drawing for $100 prizes from local eateries and retailers. You can sign up for Monday’s Navigator business newsletter and Thursday’s Insider lifestyle newsletter at evansvilleliving.com/e-newsletter.

THINGS WE LEARNED

A CITY WITH HEART

John Schroeder’s trebuchet

One of the joys of producing a bi-monthly city magazine is meeting the people, places, and things that make our bend in the river so eclectic and special. In this issue, we learned that Honey Moon Coffee Co. owners Zac and Jessica Parsons (page 19) prefer fruity tones in their coffee at home and are intentional about the music played at their four shops. West Side resident and podcaster John Schroeder welcomed us to his backyard (page 41), where visitors can drive golf balls off his porch and launch items from a medieval-style trebuchet. Evansville Thunderbolts Captain Matthew Hobbs says winning the city’s first SPHL championship in April “was surreal.” A minor league team with major league heart (page 26), the Bolts are vigorously defending the title. Fans are catching hockey fever, too. We’re reflecting on the keen talents and passions of late real estate agent Susan Haynie, who died in August. She was instrumental in helping renovate and design a riverfront condominium now home to Lloyd Winnecke and Carol McClintock (page 44). “An icon of design,” McClintock recalls of her dear friend. – John Martin and Jodi Keen

As always, I look forward to hearing from you!

Kristen K. Tucker kristenktucker

letters@evansvilleliving.com

10 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

PHOTOS OF KRISTEN K. TUCKER AND THE TREBUCHET BY ZACH STRAW. RAMEN ICON FROM ADOBE STOCK

TH E LE XU S NX

THE FUTURE IS FULL OF QUESTIONS. HERE’S AN ANSWER.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

12 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Conversation | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CONTRIBUTORS

Elayna Zausch “I have so much enthusiasm for 2026 and want everyone to go into their new year with excitement and drive.”

“Thank you so much for making me the cover story of your recent issue. What an honor! The article came out beautifully, and I appreciate all of the work that you put into it.”

Evansville native Elayna Zausch shares her experience making a vision board with hopes of inspiring others to create their own this new year. Find her tips on page 144.

– Roger Kalia, Evansville

Revved Up Kindness November/December 2025

The article was great! I really enjoyed having the story told. The MG TD was, and continues to be, a big part of my life! – Julie Barrow, Newburgh

Thunderstruck in the River City November/December 2025

Thanks for your great write-up. I hope many fans will enjoy their Thunder memories. The article’s location was also superb. – Dave Ellenstein, Evansville

May the Score Be With You November/December 2025

Love the interview with Roger Kalia in the new issue. All of his personality comes through! Great questions, too. – Timothy Weir, Evansville

Guitarists to the Gods November/December 2025

My new story about four quietly famous guitar gods who went to high school in Evansville just dropped. Pick up the new holiday edition of Evansville Living magazine for it and more. – Art Woodward via Facebook

A Messy, Gooey, Tasty Process November/December 2025

We have always known she was great and now so does the Tri-State! – Judy Schmitt’s Cinnamon Rolls and More via Facebook

Deck the Halls … and Walls … and Mantles November/December 2025

Congratulations to Candis Stratton and Stratton Interiors for your feature in this month’s Evansville Living! I’m beyond proud of you!

Alison Petrash-Hall “I loved writing about the deeply personal and emotional moments that mattered most to couples — the ones that couldn’t be captured on camera.” Louisville, Kentucky, resident Alison PetrashHall is a digital marketing specialist for Indiana University Communications and Marketing. The Wedding Book stories she penned start after page 48.

– Joshua Stratton via Facebook

Barking for Good September/October 2025

Thank you, Evansville Living, for the story about the wonderful K9 Training Facility our founder, Joe Sells, helped facilitate. We are committed to carrying on his legacy in every way we can. – Oliver’s Heroes K9 via Facebook

SEND YOUR NOTES TO LETTERS@EVANSVILLELIVING.COM

ELAYNA ZAUSCH AND ALISON PETRASH-HALL PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE. SHAWN RUMSEY PHOTO BY CHANDA RAMSEY

Shawn Rumsey “Talking to Olivia and Rob about their baked goods business was genuinely fun. … They truly enjoy what they do.” Shawn Rumsey has covered regional news and sports as a writer and editor. The Evansville native’s interview with Parrella Petite owners Olivia Parrella and Rob Lacer is on page 88.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

The Indiana State Games is a local non-profit dedicated to promoting active aging by offering Olympic-style competitions in both recreational and competitive sports for individuals 50 and older. Held annually in Evansville, these games provide a fun and supportive environment for adults to stay active, engage in friendly competition, and celebrate their athletic achievements.

JOIN INDIANA STATE GAMES IN SUNNY PORTUGAL • With Optional 4-Night Madeira Island Post Tour Extension • With Optional 3-Night Portugal’s Templar Tomar featuring Nazaré & Fatima Pre Tour

From the Portuguese capital, Lisbon, to the sunny cliffs of the Algarve and the Portuguese Riviera, venture along Portugal’s stunning shoreline. Encounter picturesque resort towns, winding cobblestone streets, oceanfront promenades, and quaint villages.

TOUR DATE: OCTOBER 18 – 27, 2026

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For bookings made after April 19, 2026, call for rates.

RATE INCLUDES ROUND TRIP ECONOMY AIRFARE THROUGH EVV HIGHLIGHTS… Lisbon, Belem, Cork Factory, Evora, Alentejo, Algrarve, Picnic Lunch in Monchique, Portuguese Riviera, Obidos, Sintra, UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Contact Tourcy for more information or to explore other tour options.

812-746-8516 • concierge@travelwithtourcy.com • travelwithtourcy.com

14 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Snapshots Crossed Off the Bucket List

SUBSCRIBERS OF THE ISSUE

DAVID AND LINDA POLAND

PHOTO OF DAVID AND LINDA POLAND PROVIDED BY SOURCE

Sisters Carolyn Kissel and Joyce Waters of Evansville and their husbands, John and Steve, explored Europe in July via a Viking cruise. Evansville Living City View joined the quartet for a photo opportunity in front of Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna, Austria.

Blooming Beauties Hilltopper Homecoming Evansville Living Creative Director Laura Mathis and Senior Writer John Martin — both Western Kentucky University graduates — celebrated their alma mater’s homecoming in November with WKU senior Brodie Curtsinger, whose work as a photography fellow was featured in the September/October issue.

Play Ball! Casey and Bissy Keown showed off the September/October issue — and dug February/March 2023 Evansville Business out of the vault — while attending Game 3 of the World Series on Oct. 27 in Los Angeles, California, to cheer on fellow Evansvillian Don Mattingly’s Toronto Blue Jays against the Dodgers in a game that stretched to a whopping 18 innings. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE

Nelson “Douglas” Midgorden, Kellie Midgorden, and Madeline Midgorden of Des Moines, Iowa, brought along the September/October issue — featuring Wild Summer Lights at Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden — during an October visit to the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden. The Midgordens are uncle, cousin, and aunt of Publisher & Editor Kristen K. Tucker.

Ho, Ho, Holiday Shopping Chase Oswald, owner of Evansville’s Bar Louie, gives Santa his best tips on local shopping, starting with Evansville Living’s 2025 Holiday Gift Guide, during Ballet Brunch: Nutcracker Edition Nov. 15 at the restaurant.

TIME AND DISTANCE haven’t diminished

Linda and David Poland’s love of Evansville. The 1969 and 1970 Benjamin Bosse High School graduates moved around the country as David’s ministerial calling took him to pulpits in Illinois, Texas, and Missouri, while Linda pursued a career as a children’s librarian. The Polands, now residents of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, eagerly await the arrival of Evansville Living. “We love the articles when homes are featured, and it helps us with our travel plans,” David says. “We’ll ask ourselves, do we want to get to Evansville when this or that is going on? We even like the area travel suggestions. We appreciate the information on dining opportunities and reviews.” The couple return to their hometown at least once a year to see David’s brother, Bob, and his sister, Pat Wheeler. Evansville Living keeps them abreast on how their hometown has changed since 1970. “If you were to ask what we read in Evansville Living, I would answer, ‘What don’t we read?’” David says. – John Martin

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

16 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Epilogue

Award Season Stunner

Jeff and Misty Bosse’s modern home snags a statewide design honor By Jodi Keen

PHOTO BY GLENN TANG AND MITCH ELLIS, BLACK PIXEL

eff and Misty Bosse didn’t set out to build an award-winning home, but their modern residence along Newburgh, Indiana’s riverfront still snagged the attention of a major design organization. “We were flattered and excited,” Misty says of learning that the International Interior Design Association’s Indiana chapter honored her and Jeff ’s dream home with the Residential/New Construction Award at its Interior Design Excellence Awards on Oct. 24. “We thought we had a good thing going … and this is kind of like the icing on the cake.” Designed with family friend and Hafer architect Jack Faber and featured in Evansville Living’s July/August 2024 issue, the home’s striking geometric elements and array of windows and balconies add a noticeable dash of modernity to the more traditional homes along the riverfront. “Everybody who talks to us has positive things to say about how cool it looks, or they mention reading the article in the magazine and that they would love to see it sometime,” Misty says. “It’s definitely a topic that comes up frequently. We’re proud of it, but also, it’s our home, so we’re definitely humbled.” In honoring the Bosses’ home, the IIDA saluted the couple’s unique design preferences, including mixing elements of

mid-century modern and transitional design. The association also nodded to their family’s art collection, which the Bosses arranged with Faber to mimic a museum-like gallery setting. “We enjoyed the process so much,” Misty says. “Credit goes to Hafer and the design team and Jack — they did a wonderful job.” haferdesign.com

It’s your responsibility~ Has your home been tested for radon? Radon is a radioactive gas that seeps into homes, businesses, people, and pets! Radon concentrations are up to ten times higher during the winter. Radon particles attach to lungs immediately and continue accumulating over time. Sensitivity to radon is highest in early life. Radon destroys cells, causes cancer, and kills over 20,000 people annually in the U.S. It is preventable! Call (812) 479-5850 January is Radon Action Month ~ Take Action! www.pophamconstruction.com

Popham Construction is Licensed and Certified in Radon Testing & Mitigation by the Indiana State Dept. of Health and the National Radon Proficiency Program (NRPP)

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

18 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

The Bend Roger Kalia at the POINT OFphotographed VIEW Victory Theatre at the start of his sixth season as the Music Director of the Evansville Philharmonic

COFFEE MATES Has it really been nearly 10 years since Honey Moon Coffee Co. debuted? Husbandand-wife owners Zac and Jessica Parsons have expanded beyond their original cozy corner on South Weinbach Avenue into four shops manned by 80 employees selling globally influenced products. The duo shares what keeps them going (it’s not just caffeine) and connected to each other. 

POINT OF VIEW

COFFEE MATES Has it really been nearly 10 years since Honey Moon Coffee Co. debuted? Husband-and-wife owners Zac and Jessica Parsons have expanded beyond their original cozy corner on South Weinbach Avenue into four shops manned by 80 employees selling globally influenced products. The duo shares what keeps them going — it’s not just caffeine — and connected to each other. 

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

The Bend POINT OF VIEW

Finding The Perfect Blend Hikes, traveling, and daily rituals keep Zac and Jessica Parsons grounded By Jodi Keen and John Martin

Honey Moon has been the site of several love stories, including yours. How does it feel to know your business has played a significant role in shaping others’ lives? Zac: That’s honestly probably the most

Jessica Parsons working the counter at the Burkhardt Road location

When you think back to the versions of yourselves who opened Honey Moon Coffee Co. 10 years ago, what surprises you most about who you are today? Jessica: I’m surprised we made it. [laughs]

Ignorance is bliss. We definitely went into it with just rose-colored glasses. We had no idea how difficult it was going to be.

Zac: But there was a little bit of a stubbornness and a “stick-tuitiveness” that revealed some things to both of us about our characters. And because we were in it together, that pushed both of us to show up for the other in ways that allowed us to make it through some really challenging times.

Jessica: Being a married couple, running a multi-store business, there are days where

I’m having a breakdown and then he’s completely calm. [Laughs] And then there are a lot of days where he’s more worked up and I’m completely calm. We kind of play that role for each other. If we see the other starting to have a little meltdown, we’re like, “OK, we got this.”

Zac: We joked about it, but it also ended up being true that we were both divorced and we started the business together before getting married. And so it was almost like, if we can make a small business partnership work for a couple of years, then perhaps our marriage … we’ll have a good shot. And so it was a little bit of a training ground for our marriage. We didn’t get married until a couple years into doing the business together.

COFFEE CONNECTIONS Zac and Jessica Parsons have a new project percolating for 2026. Purchased online and shipped monthly, The One Coffee Ritual provides a bonding exercise for couples. The inspiration is derived from the Parsonses’ own journey as a blended family with six children after they married in 2018. During four coffee tastings, couples go through “relationship deepening prompts,” Zac explains. The concept is in development, and the Parsonses view it as a way to further expand the reach of Honey Moon while helping couples stay strong and connecting with customers who “might be all over the country and can’t come in,” Zac says.

20 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

gratifying part of it when we have rough days or tough days or is-it-worth-it days. There’s a mantra that I’ve been really encouraged by lately. It’s “create things that create things.” From the beginning of the first location, we are creating a space for others to come and fill. So, whether it’s with the name, or just the coffee shops being a good place for first dates or proposals, it is very affirming.

If you could build a Honey Moon satellite shop anywhere in pop culture, where would it be? Zac: We took a post-COVID trip to

Hawaii and had a great experience with the culture there. And because of the time change, we were there early in the morning. We ate more breakfast in Hawaii than we do in the Midwest because of the time change. And so we imagined, if we were to do something like that … tying it into the TV world, the TV show “Lost” was also filmed in Hawaii, which I know was a mysterious island, and they probably didn’t need a coffee shop, but —

Jessica: Hey, everyone needs coffee. [laughs]

Who is more likely to change the music in the shop? Who has stronger opinions about merchandise? Zac: I’m the music person. Jessica: And I’m the merch person. We’re both actually highly sensitive to walking into the shop. If the playlist ends and it’s ultra silent, we’re both, like, jumping on it very quickly. We know our business is how you make people feel. We understand that it matters.

PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

Zac: It’s one of the most important things

Zac: [laughs] Yep. Pickleball has been a

Name the best coffee you’ve ever tasted. Zac: Mine is Ethiopian Yirgacheffe. Jessica: King Arthur Geisha, which is

If your relationship had a house roast, what flavor notes would define it? Jessica: Spicy. Zac: Some sort of spicy notes, yeah. Jessica: We’re very different, but the longer

to me about the vibe that’s set.

Colombian. We tend to like sweeter, fruitier because we drink a lot of coffee … and it’s got a lot of fruity tones. That’s not everyone’s preference, but we tend to like those.

What do you do together for fun? Zac: I think hiking has probably been the

biggest thing that we’ve done consistently. It’s nice because it lends itself well to traveling and exploring. When you’re on a coffee farm, you’re going up mountains. We tend to go to Angel Mounds, and that’s our special place. We enjoy spending time together just for the sake of that, but it’ll often be an intention behind the beginning of the hike, like, what do we need to kind of work through? And we found that, just walking together, moving forward together, puts us in a good head space to solve something or move it a little bit closer to completion.

Jessica: But I’m uber competitive, and we like to play pickleball, too.

new one that we’ve enjoyed, as well.

we’ve been a couple, we’ve gone from being single origins [laughs] to, like, a house blend where we’ve taken on more of each other’s care. Zac was always the risk-taker, and now I’m like, “Oh yeah, we could probably do that.” And I’ll just jump in.

Zac and Jessica Parsons with Ana Viscaino’s on her coffee farm in Guatemala

Jessica: We’re black coffee drinkers. We have

Zac: She’s definitely the risk-taker at this point.

a Chemex, we have an auto (coffeemaker), we have an Aeropress, we have pour over. But for our utilitarian get-up-first thing, we’re just going to our drip coffee machine.

Do you have a morning coffee ritual at home? Zac: We have a routine. The night before,

What is a small daily habit that keeps you grounded? Zac: Honestly, our coffee ritual is designed

I will grind the coffee, prepare the filter, have the water ready, and have it in the machine. She wakes up before me — the machine is Wi-Fi enabled — so she can wake up, grab her phone, hit “brew coffee,” crack her knuckles, dust the cobwebs off, and then walk into the kitchen to be able to serve that for herself. … In the next 30-60 minutes, I’ll eventually wake up and send her a text, and then she will bring me coffee in bed.

for that. I know that at the end of every day when I’m out of gas, there is something I can do to show her that I love her by grinding this coffee and preparing it. And she knows that there’s something she can do for me because I am just not as much of a morning person as she is and I appreciate her bringing that to me in bed. And I feel like that grounds me.

honeymooncoffeeco.com

ENCYCLOPEDIA EVANSVILLIA

STANDING ALONE

Remembering the city’s segregated library for Black readers By Kelley Coures The local public library system is vast and open to all, but it once was segregated. Willard Library, founded by Willard Carpenter in the 1880s, was a privately owned library, but a publicly owned

system was desired. Evansville’s system began taking its multi-branch form in 1908. Unlike Willard Library, which loaned books and made its physical place open to all races, city branches were limited to white citizens. Evansville harnessed the vast wealth of industrialist Andrew Carnegie to build and open two libraries in 1913 — one on West Franklin Street and one by Bayard Park, both white populated areas. Carnegie provided $10,000 for a separate library for Black residents, whose settlement in Evansville was limited to a few geographic areas, including a portion of Cherry Street from what is now Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard southwest to Fourth Street.

COFFEE FARM PHOTO PROVIDED BY HONEY MOON COFFEE CO. CHERRY STREET LIBRARY PHOTO COURTESY OF HISTORICEVANSVILLE.COM

Construction on the Cherry Street library began mid-block between Fourth and Fifth streets. Opened in late 1914, the stately building designed by architect Clifford Shopbell served the Black community until the local library system — which merged with the county in 1981 to form Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library — ended its policy on segregation in 1952; the Cherry Street library was sold to the Boy Scouts in 1955. As Welborn Memorial Baptist Hospital expanded in 1970, the former library was razed and replaced by the Welborn Clinic, itself demolished in 2024. Sadly, no historical marker commemorates the Cherry Street library’s legacy. events.evpl.org

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

The Bend

ON DISPLAY

Room to Shine Evansville Museum dedicates its first gallery for sculpture By Timothy G. Weir

he four women sculpted in Carrara marble stood silently under wraps for 15 years. These mythological figures of Abbott Pattison’s “The Caryatids” were among the 1,000 sculptures at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science awaiting a permanent showplace. After extensive surface cleaning, “The Caryatids” in September joined the 23 pieces in the museum’s new Eykamp Sculpture Gallery. Weighing as much as a baby blue

whale, “The Caryatids” glows in natural light, its serene faces gazing outside. Art patrons Richard and Rita Eykamp and other funders underwrote this spacious new room — designed by Hafer and built by Core Contractors. Opened to the public in October, it gives the museum its first dedicated sculpture gallery. “This beautiful space gives visitors another path to explore the museum,” Jennifer Evans Corn, the museum’s John Streetman Executive Director, says. “Its high ceiling and windows that overlook our sculpture garden and the Ohio River create an immersive experience.” Cheyenne E. Miller, the Virginia G. Schroeder Curator of Art, chose works that enhance sculpture’s three-dimensional connection with viewers and reveal the breadth of the museum’s collection, including long-unseen works. “Sculpture is one of the most enduring forms of human expression, STANDING AT ATTENTION Overlooking the Ohio River, Eykamp Sculpture Gallery pieces — including Abbott Pattison’s “Caryatids,” “Apollo,” a 2nd-1st century BCE figure by an unknown artist, and Seth Velsey’s “Pink Torso” — offer glimpses of artistic expression spanning two millennia. The journey continues outside with some 21st-century works like “Sisters” by Gino Miles.

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so we wanted works that spanned the millennia,” she says. “We present the evolution of sculptural practice, from ancient Rome to the present day.” To keep things fresh, the museum will rotate the sculptures displayed and add works to the sculpture garden. The latest piece — Gino Miles’ bronze sculpture “Sisters” — soars 18 feet into the sky. It was donated by Anne-Merelie Murrell, a Los Angeles, California, entrepreneur and art collector, who commissioned it in 2009. Her gift resulted from the museum’s strong relationship with Miles, a Santa Fe, New Mexico, artist whose stainless-steel “Stargazer” has greeted museum visitors since 2021. “Because I knew the museum was interested in building up their sculpture collection, we were able to make Ms. Murrell’s donation happen very quickly,” Miles says. He transported the sculpture from Connecticut to Evansville and directed its installation in the sculpture garden. “We positioned ‘Sisters’ to be seen from the new gallery window and riverfront walkway and balance the sculpture garden’s other pieces,” Miller says. emuseum.org PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

AUTHOR PROFILE

Overcoming the Odds Alex Kor’s book recalls the legacy of his Holocaust survivor parents By John Martin

the son of two Holocaust survivors, Dr. Alex Kor is full of stories and has the book to prove it. Released by Pediment Publishing in May 2024, “A Blessing, Not a Burden: My Parents’ Remarkable Holocaust Story and My Fight to Keep Their Legacy Alive” discusses not only historical prejudice, but also antisemitism the Kor family endured once they settled in Indiana after World War II. Kor’s parents shared a common experience but differed as individuals. His mother, Eva Mozes Kor, was a real estate agent and prominent speaker and activist who detailed her controversial stance of forgiving her Nazi captors in a 2013 Evansville Living interview. Her husband, Mickey, lived a more private life as a pharmacist. Kor — who was raised in Terre Haute and served as the University of Evansville men’s basketball podiatrist in the early 1990s — began working on the book in August 2023 with co-author Graham Honaker. One motivation was to tell his father’s story since it was lesser known than his mother’s. He also describes the book “as a call to action for other descendants of the Holocaust. That is, with Holocaust survivors being the casualty of time, I hope children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren read the book and are motivated to make a difference in this world.” Two months into their work, Israel was attacked by Hamas. “The domino effect was that people of all ages, including Jewish students at middle schools, high schools, and colleges, now faced harassment, threats, physical and verbal abuse,” Kor says. “ … I try to demonstrate how my parents and other Holocaust survivors overcame incredible odds to regain their freedom and pursue

SHELF LIFE

LOST TO TIME Hoosier touchstones fill columnist’s new book By John Martin

Alex Kor at Evansville Wartime Museum Eva, Alex, and Mickey Kor

their hopes and dreams. I can only hope that our young people will follow a similar path without having to deal with the ills of anti-Semitism.” Proceeds from the book go to CANDLES (Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors) Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Terre Haute, which Eva Kor founded, as well as a Butler University scholarship in her name.

Bygone local landmarks permeate Joseph S. Pete’s “Lost Treasures of Indiana.” The author, a columnist for The Times of Northwest Indiana in Munster, weaves a nostalgic look at past tastes, events, experiences into the 2025 Reedy Press release. Pete reminisces about Sir Beef’s claim to serve “one of the world’s finest roast beef sandwiches.” The chain closed locally in the 1980s. Pete also touches on Pie Pan, the North Side diner that closed in 2024 that he says could “satisfy your hunger without cleaning out your wallet.” He reflects on Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden’s decommissioned monkey ship and long-gone Downtown structures such as Assumption Church, “a grand cathedral-like parish with a towering steeple” and Evansville’s first Catholic house of worship. The now-razed Louisville & Nashville Train Depot’s Romanesque architecture gets a word, as does the Evansville Shipyard, the LST-manufacturing hub that “helped win World War II,” Pete writes. Recalling such meaningful locations is worth the time, Pete says, and Hoosiers should be “better custodians of our past.” Find “Lost Treasures of Indiana” at Barnes & Noble. reedypress.com

pediment.com candlesholocaustmuseum.org

PHOTO OF ALEX KOR BY ALLI WUERTZ. PHOTO OF ‘A BLESSING NOT A BURDEN’ BOOKS FROM AMAZON.COM. EVA, ALEX, AND MICKEY KOR PHOTO PROVIDED BY ALEX KOR. ‘LOST TREASURES OF INDIANA’ BOOK PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOURCE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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The Bend DO YOU REMEMBER?

Music and Memories The fabulous years of rock ‘n’ roll in Gibson County By Charles Kiesel

any area bands and venues were backbones of the rock ‘n’ roll era in Southwestern Indiana. Of the three most popular places to jam — Lamey’s Grove, Lutz’s Barn, and Midway, all sprinkled throughout Gibson County — Lamey’s was a favorite. It was easily accessible along U.S. 41 north of Warrenton Road, had the best acoustics, a large parking area, and a wooden dance floor, and was the home of The Corvettes.

, Sonny Kixmiller, Russell, Neil Long The Corvettes: Jim Blythe Walters and Mike Don Russell, Rex 2005 Reunion Dance

“Dances were the teen activities in those days. Groups of girls could go and groups of guys (to) meet kids from other towns or schools,” says Gayle Lee, younger sister of The Corvettes lead singer Neil Long. “I was allowed only because my big brother promised Mom to watch over me.” Lee was singing with The Corvettes at the time.

Local and famous musicians entertained at those venues. Jerry Lee Lewis played at Midway. Boots Randolph, famous for his saxophone hit “Yakety Sax,” visited Lamey’s. Area bands often were opening acts. The Corvettes — made up mostly of Knox County-area residents such as Long on lead vocals, cornet, and tambourine; Don Russell on bass; Jim Russell on rhythm guitar and vocals; Rex Walters on lead guitar; Mike Blythe Dave Hargrave, and Bruce Stephenson on keyboard at different times in the band’s history; and Sonny Kixmiller on drums — opened for Ike and Tina Turner, Roy Orbison, Jan and Dean, Bobby Sherman, Exile, The Byrds, and Tommy James and the Shondells. Decades later, Don Russell and his brother Jim were approached by a young singer-songwriter studying at Vincennes University who was looking for a backing band. That budding artist was John Mellencamp. The Corvettes also had the opportunity to record “Elvira,” a song written and originally recorded by Dallas Frazier and released in December 1965, but the band passed. Instead, the Oak Ridge Boys’ 1981 recording of “Elvira” hit No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, sold two million units, and earned them a Grammy in 1982. Lamey’s Grove, which hosted The Corvettes for around 10 years, was torn down in the 1980s. The Corvettes reunion dances at the Old Haubstadt Gym in 2004 and 2005 were evidence of the continued popularity of The Corvettes and the power wielded by the music of the 1960s.

HISTORICAL PHOTO OF THE CORVETTES PROVIDED BY SONNY KIXMILLER. 2005 REUNION DANCE PHOTO OF THE CORVETTES PROVIDED BY CHARLES KIESEL

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

The Bend SPORTS

Rallying For The Cup Pro hockey heats up as the Thunderbolts carve out their first championship By Jodi Keen and John Martin

he air inside Ford Center was crackling with tension. It was late April and the final week of the SPHL hockey playoffs. Having knocked off the league’s top two teams, the No. 7-seed Thunderbolts found themselves in an overtime fight with the Ice Bears of Knoxville, Tennessee, and needed just one more goal to clinch the President’s Cup. Fed a pass from Bolts goaltender Ethan Price, forward Aidan Litke sliced the puck past the Ice Bears’ goalie and into the net. Red and blue lights blazed from the goal posts, spotlights hit the rink, helmets were thrown in the air, and the crowd went wild. The Bolts had done it; the Cup was theirs. On the ice, assistant captain Scott Kirton leapt into forward Jordan Simoneau’s arms. Forward and first-year

“It was unbelievable, something that we’ve been fighting for for so long.” Thunderbolts captain Matthew Hobbs

Bolt Derek Contessa, grinning from ear to ear, grabbed a fan’s phone for a selfie. Captain Matthew Hobbs skated between staff members, shaking hands and thanking each. While DJ Khaled’s “All I Do Is Win” blared from the speakers, players glided across the ice in a daze, taking it all in. Fans remained through the Cup presentation, cheering as each player skated a loop and raised the city’s first trophy.

26 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

“It was surreal,” Hobbs, who joined the Bolts in 2022, told Evansville Living in December. “It was unbelievable, something that we’ve been fighting for for so long. I’ve been replaying it almost every day in my head, to be honest.” With nearly a decade of play under their belt, the Evansville Thunderbolts have carved their place in the city. The hockey club has a growing fanbase to cheer on the nearly two-dozen players who, with Head Coach Jeff Bes, have developed a championship-winning culture. “We believed we could do it, but nobody else really did other than our loyal fans,” Hobbs says. “It definitely was extra sweet that we were able to prove a lot of people wrong.” Owned by Ford Center management company VenuWorks, the Thunderbolts PHOTO BY KENDRA DUPONT, EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS

average nearly 3,600 fans per home game and started this season strong as they seek to defend their title. Bes says the Thunderbolts are built on hard work, professionalism, and accountability. “We buy into that, and it’s helped our foundation,” says Bes, a Canadian native who has led the club since 2019 and has a lengthy résumé of playing and coaching at various levels of hockey. Minor-league sports players and coaches come and go, as do franchises on occasion. Local hockey fans, stung from the acrimonious departure of the ECHL’s IceMen in spring 2016, gradually warmed up when the Thunderbolts — named for the war-era P-47s produced here — debuted that fall. Focusing on player development, the organization attracts talent from across the U.S., Canada, and even Europe. “We’ve built a good culture,” says Hobbs, a 26-yearold forward from Burlington, Ontario, Canada, who played most of the 2021-22 season for the Birmingham (Alabama) Bulls before being picked up by the Bolts on waivers. “You’re treated like a pro. So, it’s definitely something that is a top attribute to being able to recruit guys.” Fans have embraced the team — and each other. “I love the sense of community that Bolts hockey brings,” says Anna Borowiecki of Newburgh. “It brings me so much joy getting to catch up before and during games with friends who have become family.” SPHL teams log substantial bus time during their 58-game regular season: The 10-team league stretches from Moline, Illinois, to Pensacola, Florida. Players vie for opportunities in National Hockey League-affiliated feeder leagues such as the ECHL and the higher-up AHL. “It’s a really pro environment. The Ford Center is a first-class arena. Coming in, you feel that, the guys feel like a pro,” says 29-year-old Kirton, a five-year Bolt from Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. “It just provides guys a good opportunity to get better at hockey.” Players reside in local apartments from training camp in October through the playoffs in April. Part of the job is community outreach, including making school and hospital visits and running children’s camps. A booster club hosts monthly dinners and helps them with grocery shopping. Fans brush shoulders with the team by bidding on game jerseys and attending public open skates with players. “They all see my grandson and call him their ‘little buddy,’” says Evansville resident and season

THUNDERSTRUCK The Evansville Thunderbolts have built a successful foundation on and off the ice. In addition to celebrating the club’s first-ever SPHL championship in April, players such as Assistant Captain Scott Kirton (bottom left) volunteer in the community and spend time with devoted fans. The club is known for developing and boosting talented players: Goalie Kristian Stead (bottom right) earned the league’s inaugural Goaltender of the Month honor this season.

ticket holder Katrinka Rynder. “A few have come and taken him skating in their free time. There is no way to put into words how special each of these guys is.” “Bolts fans are very dedicated,” says Dan Katz, who began emceeing Thunderbolts games in October 2021, one month after retiring from his longtime job as a 14 News TV anchor. “The atmosphere inside Ford Center is incredible. The natural enthusiasm is pretty wild, but when you add the newly updated Jumbotron and sound system, it can get downright ear piercing.” Fans and players alike want to see more seats filled at home games, saying the 750-member season ticket holder band-

TOP AND RIGHT BOTTOM PHOTOS BY BAILEY HARDIN, EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS. LEFT BOTTOM PHOTO BY KENDRA DUPONT, EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS

wagon has plenty of room. “These guys are great hockey players, they’re hard working, and they’re an asset to our community, and I feel like they really get slept on,” Evansville resident Kirt Ethridge says. “The guys compete their hearts out and fight every minute to try and gain an advantage. I think they are the absolute perfect fit for this area,” Katz says. “I always tell people that it often seems like a TV show with a hockey game happening on the ice below. But both shows are exciting, and win or lose, the fans always seem to leave the arena with smiles on their faces.” evansvillethunderbolts.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

The Bend Harlem Globetrotters

Disney on Ice: Jump In! ▪ JAN. 29-FEB. 1 Skating characters from films “Inside Out 2,” “Moana 2,” “Zootopia,” “Frozen,” “Toy Story,” and “Encanto” use a “Magical MousePad” to leap from one famous story to the next. Ford Center, disneyonice.com

Peter/Wendy ▪ JAN. 30-FEB. 8 In Jeremy Bloom’s lyrical interpretation, Peter Pan lures Wendy away from her nursery to the magical world of Neverland. Evansville Civic Theatre, evvcivic.org

Scene

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Chill in the ‘Ville

▪ JAN. 19 Jelani Cobb, author and dean of Columbia University’s Journalism School, keynotes the William G. and Rose M. Mays Lectureship to end a weekend of celebrations for the civil rights leader. University of Evansville, evansville.edu

▪ JAN. 23-25 Paddle up and stay out of the kitchen at this round-robin pickleball tournament. 3rd Shot Pickleball, pickleballtournaments.com

Harlem Globetrotters ▪ JAN. 19 High-flying slam dunks and more are in supply when these basketball performers take the floor. Ford Center, harlemglobetrotters.com

The Boatload of Knowledge at 200 ▪ JAN. 24 This bicentennial lecture celebrates the arrival of the Philanthropist, a vessel of educators, scientists, and artists who helped develop the Owen-Maclure community in 1826. Working Men’s Institute Museum & Library, New Harmony, Indiana, visitnewharmony.com

Evansville Thunderbolts: Star Wars Night ▪ JAN. 24 May the puck be with you at this themed hockey game against Illinois’ Quad City Storm. Ford Center, evansvillethunderbolts.com

Night of Memories

Oops! All Birds ▪ THROUGH JAN. 23 Browse this juried art exhibition featuring birds native to the Ohio River Valley. Wesselman Woods Nature Center, wesselmanwoods.org

▪ JAN. 24 The Hot Stove League’s youth sports fundraiser includes autograph and chat sessions with guests such as Yankees legend Don Mattingly, Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs, and David Freese, a hero of the Saint Louis Cardinals’ 2011 World Series title. University of Evansville’s Meeks Family Fieldhouse, hotstoveleague.org

28 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Indoor Triathlon & Duathlon ▪ JAN. 25 Athletes of all levels challenge themselves and square off in swimming, biking, and running. Ascension St. Vincent YMCA of Southwestern Indiana, ymcaswin.org

A New Deal for the River ▪ JAN. 28 Eilidh MacLeod, daughter of University of Evansville history professor James MacLeod, speaks on the impact of the 1937 Ohio River flood, including WPA projects that helped the city recover. Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library’s Central Branch Browning Rooms, events.evpl.org

Kinky Boots ▪ JAN. 29 Featuring a score by pop singer Cyndi Lauper, this Tony-winning musical follows the journey of two people who discover that changing the world can start with changing your mind. Old National Events Plaza, kinkybootsmusical.com

The Mann Site Presentation ▪ JAN. 29 This talk covers The Mann Site, a Posey County archaeological location featuring ceramics and artifacts from the Ohio Hopewell and Swift Creek cultures between the years 100-500. Angel Mounds State Historic Site, indianamuseum.org

Disney on Ice: Jump In!

Richard III ▪ JAN. 30-FEB. 1 Catch the last in Shakespeare’s War of the Roses play cycle, an exploration of Richard’s win-at-allcost approach to power. STAGEtwo@321, Evansville Shakespeare Players on Facebook

First in Evansville: The Life and Career of Estella Moss ▪ FEB. 2 Browse an exhibit celebrating Moss, whose 1976 victory in the race for Vanderburgh County recorder made her the county’s first Black woman elected official. Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library’s Central Branch, events.evpl.org

New Traditions Series ▪ FEB. 5 These free, public performances by the Evansville Philharmonic’s Eykamp String Quartet highlight music by underrepresented composers. Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, evansvillephilharmonic.org

“BEWILDERED BARN OWL” BY JOEY LUZAR ARTWORK PHOTO PROVIDED BY WESSELMAN WOODS. OTHER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE

Winter Jam ▪ FEB. 5 No tickets are sold, but $15 donations are requested at the door for this tour featuring contemporary Christian musicians including Chris Tomlin, Matthew West, and Newsong. Ford Center, jamtour.com

Boonville Community Polar Plunge ▪ FEB. 7 Be bold, get cold, and raise funds for 19,000-plus Special Olympics athletes from Indiana. Scales Lake Park, soindiana.org

Orchid Escape ▪ FEB. 15-MARCH 14 Hundreds of colorful blooms fill the zoo’s Amazonia rainforest exhibit for this annual display. Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden, meskerparkzoo.com

Great Lakes Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships

pop numbers during these multi-sensory musical experiences. Trinity United Methodist Church, feverup.com

Chocolate Charge 5K ▪ FEB. 14 Is chocolate your valentine? Competitors can indulge in milk chocolate fudge truffles from Sweet Schmitt’s Candy. Deaconess Sports Park, tristatefit.com

Valentine’s Day Dueling Pianos ▪ FEB. 14 Enjoy dinner with your sweetheart and tunes played by Twilight Tunes Dueling Pianos. Bokeh Lounge, bokehvibes.com

Bond! James Bond ▪ FEB. 15 Vocalists Dan Domenech and Chloe Lowery join the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra for a Pops concert of film songs that are shaken, not stirred. Victory Theatre, evansvillephilharmonic.org

▪ FEB. 12-13 The touring Listeso String Quartet performs two sets of well-known

▪ FEB. 19-22 John Cariani’s collection of nine short, interconnected scenes explores love and loss on a winter night in Almost, Maine. University of Southern Indiana’s Theatre, usi.edu

America’s 250th Birthday Celebration ▪ FEB. 28 The Evansville Philharmonic performs patriotic numbers ahead of July’s national celebrations. Victory Theatre, evansvillephilharmonic.org

▪ FEB. 21 Comedy hypnotist and magician Tyzen headlines this fundraiser for Parenting Time Center. Victory Theatre, parentingtimecenter.org

Bingo for the Parks Valentine’s Edition

Candlelight: Coldplay & Imagine Dragons and Tribute to Queen & The Beatles

Almost, Maine

Giggles for Good

▪ FEB. 9-14 The city hosts athletes from this premier NCAA Division II conference. Deaconess Aquatic Center, glvcsports.com

▪ FEB. 11 This 21-and-over fundraiser offers prizes ranging from $50 to $500. Friedman Park Event Center, warrickparksfoundation.org

SuperBride Sunday

SuperBride Sunday Orchid Escape

Rob Spear: 250 Years of American Folk Music ▪ FEB. 17 This live performance is part of a series featuring informative programs by the Southwestern Indiana Historical Society. Willard Public Library, willardlib.org

▪ FEB. 22 Prep for your big day by meeting planners, caterers, florists, venues, photographers, and more. Old National Events Plaza, superbridesunday.com

Passage ▪ FEB. 24-MARCH 1 Students perform Christopher Chen’s play about how power imbalances affect personal and interpersonal dynamics. University of Evansville’s May Studio Theatre, evansville.edu

Eat Up Evansville ▪ FEB. 26-MARCH 8 Savor special menu items, value-based dining options, and family-style carry-out deals from participating restaurants in this food-centric celebration. Eat Up Evansville on Facebook

Ida and The End

Great Lakes Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championships GREAT LAKES VALLEY CONFERENCE SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE EVANSVILLE REGIONAL SPORTS COMMISSION. OTHER PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE

▪ FEB. 27-MARCH 1 This original musical by USI student Pandora Wells emerged from the troupe’s 2024 Summer Playwriting Workshop. STAGEtwo@321, stagetwoevansville.org

Women’s Club of Newburgh Craft Show ▪ FEB. 28 Browse more than 200 booths of handmade creations by regional artisans. Castle High School, womensclubofnewburgh.org

Horror Con ▪ FEB. 28-MARCH 1 The River City’s scariest convention offers cosplay, celebrity guests, and paranormal and supernatural experts. Old National Events Plaza, evansvillehorror.com

Ohio Valley Conference Basketball Championships ▪ MARCH 5-8 College basketball’s first tickets to the national tournament are punched at this showcase featuring the OVC’s top teams, including from USI. Ford Center, ovcsports.com

NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championships ▪ MARCH 10-14 The best Division II swimmers and divers compete for national titles. Deaconess Aquatic Center, ncaa.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Get It

Together!

You made it to a new year — and, if we’re being honest, it didn’t magically clear the

counters, the calendar, or the mental clutter. Between busy schedules, overflowing closets, and good intentions that haven’t quite stuck, many of us could use a reset. In this feature, professional organizers and designers, life coaches, everyday residents, and our staff share real-life approaches to making things a little calmer and a little more functional, from organizing hardworking spaces and letting go of what no longer serves you to meal prepping, managing stress, and building better habits that actually last. You don’t have to change everything to feel better. Sometimes, getting it together starts with just one space, one habit, and one decision.

30 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

ALL ILLUSTRATIONS RENDERED USING ADOBE AI

A less-cluttered life starts with better utilization of space, says Joann Bogard of The Mindful Organizer. Give possessions a permanent home so they are compartmentalized and easily accessible.

Stuff Out, Calm In

Set yourself up for success through better organization BY JODI KEEN Need to get a grip on your life?

Joann Bogard recommends starting with better organization. “We’re crazy busy all the time, rushing out of the house, and a lot of that is because we don’t have a plan, we don’t have our lives organized enough,” says the longtime Evansville resident. Bogard, who long has had a passion for organizing, established The Mindful Organizer in 2021 and sees firsthand the stress that disorganization sews and the energy it draws from people. Being better organized can mean you’re getting out of the house on time, choosing what to wear in advance, and finding food in the freezer because you’ve already meal prepped. “(Organizing) can be, ‘I want my pantry to look like Pinterest,’ but typically it’s, ‘I’m overwhelmed, I can’t find things,’” she says. Bogard says preparing for the next day is important, “and it’s hard to do when you don’t know where things are.” One way to start is by investing in designated drop zones. “Having

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

physical spaces for everything is important,” she says. “Instead of shoes piling up by the front door, set them on a rack. Have a box for mail to go into. Look for something that collects those things and compartmentalizes them so they don’t walk off.” In fact, Bogard underlines drop zones as a critical solution to a common stressor. “When we’re stressed about personal space, it creates turmoil in other areas in our lives,” Bogard says. A key stumbling block: not having frequently used things within easy access. “Having things easily accessible helps you create that routine or habit of not just putting something down, but putting it away. Put it where it goes,” she says, adding, “It’s easier to put them back because you’re creating a habit.” One tip to crossing items off your list: Involve a friend to help you stay on track. For example, “Many women want help purging clothes in their closet. They know how to do that, but carving out time and having someone

hold you accountable, to me, it’s like exercise,” Bogard says. “I know how to exercise, but I’m horrible at holding myself accountable. I just need someone to kickstart me. It’s the same with organizing.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Decluttering 101

The Mindful Organizer’s top tips for cleaning up and making space BY JODI KEEN

Show yourself grace, but stick to your structure. You can reprioritize, Bogard says, but don’t start another project until the first one is done. “Make them small projects, like utensil drawers or where you store your pots and pans — not ‘I’m going to reorganize my kitchen,’” she says. Make sure to be kind to yourself during the process. “We’re all busy. I even do that, too — how can someone who organizes not find something?” Bogard laughs. When purging items, she recommends using boxes or black trash bags so your eye isn’t drawn back to what you’re trying to shed. “Once it’s in the bag, people usually don’t dig back through there,” she says. “For things they’re unsure about getting rid of, get a cardboard box, box it up, mark it with today’s date, and put it in the garage, basement, or attic. And if you haven’t used it in a year, don’t even open it — go ahead and donate it. You already know you don’t need it.”

Clutter can involve important files,

heirlooms, and everyday items, but once they stack up, their purpose gets lost — and creates stress. To declutter, Joann Bogard of The Mindful Organizer emphasizes setting priorities, showing yourself grace, and sticking to the plan.

an organized home. For example, “Do I work better if I have everything out on my desktop, or do I tuck it away because it gives me anxiety to see it?” she says. “Ask yourself that question — most people know themselves well enough to answer it.”

Figure out what results are best for you before you begin.

Make a handwritten list and use it to prioritize.

Bogard says to have a conversation with yourself to identify what you truly need in

Prioritize what’s most important in that first minute. “Using index cards is helpful because you can shuffle them,” Bogard says. Start by setting goals — Card One could say, “I won’t stop until I finish this.” “A client’s problem usually is that there are so many projects to get done, they start one, don’t finish it, then start another, and don’t finish it. They don’t prioritize correctly,” she says. “Take time to make those lists and then physically cross things off or throw the card away when you’re done.”

Clearly marked racks and shelves show us what we do and don’t have, as well as give each item a permanent home. Doing this creates a habit of “not just putting it down but putting it away,” Joann Bogard says.

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themindfulorg812.wixsite.com/tmo812

LESS IS MORE

Years of touring for-sale homes bursting with stuff made Realtor Carol McClintock ready to shed when she moved to a new condo in 2024. “I had all the dishes from our wedding and silver and all that stuff — gone. We never missed it,” she says. (See her new home on page 44.)

PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

Break Up With Stress

WE TRIED IT

Stress affects our minds,

Letting Go, With Love

Swedish death cleaning reveals my appreciation for sentimental treasures BY JODI KEEN When Joann Bogard mentioned many of her The Mindful Organizer clients struggle parting with sentimental items, I felt that pang of tenderness — try wrenching my parents’ wedding champagne glasses from my hands! To keep personal treasures from becoming clutter, I recently turned to Swedish death cleaning. The Scoop Author and artist Margareta Magnusson popularized the term for purging possessions to spare loved ones that burden after you pass away. I’ve helped prepare four extended family residences for estate sales, so I fully support this principle. Embracing it, though, has been harder. Bogard recommends keeping only what you can display. “At your fingertips, it’s visual, and it makes you smile, but not if it’s in a box where you’re never going to look at it again,” she says.

The Process I identified items I feel deep connections to and found ways to make them usable. Concert PHOTO BY CHANDA RAMSEY

tickets can become framed wall art. T-shirts from college clubs can be sewn into a cozy blanket. Yearbooks can be digitized, their hard copies returned to the schools’ archives. But a multi-colored jewelry tray has held more dust than rings. Someone who decorates with a feminine touch may love the floral handkerchiefs I collected as a child. Did my paternal grandmother even use her opera glasses? Cool as they are, they can go.

The Verdict Sentimental treasures still dot my decor, like the milk bottle-turned-flower vase from my paternal grandfather’s dairy farm and the tiny glass birds that my maternal grandmother loved. I’ve found that Bogard was right — seeing those trinkets triggers memories far more valuable than the items themselves. But instead of keeping those Little Golden Books, sharing and reading them with my cousins’ young children will create a new generation of memories, and ultimately, that’s the legacy I want them to leave.

bodies, and spirits, but easy rituals can reduce and prevent those feelings. Dr. Juan Cabrera says practicing gratitude is one of the simplest boosts that people can give themselves. “This is something that I do every morning with my first cup of coffee before I leave the house,” says Cabrera, who opened his mental health practice in 1997. “I’ll write — literally, I have journals dating back years — gratitudes I come up with every morning. … A gratitude practice sets my mind in a positive direction, so that throughout the day, I’m thinking more positively than negatively.” For batting back stress, Cabrera also recommends setting boundaries, taking microbreaks, and using a one-taskat-a-time approach to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Give your mind attention through meditation and breathing exercises, and make sure you sleep on a consistent schedule. Bursts of physical activity (and the socialization that may come with them) also help dial down stress: Cabrera enjoys playing pickleball and does 15-20 minutes of yoga each morning. Most importantly, don’t feel like you have to go it alone. From friends and family to medical professionals, “turn to your support network for assistance and advice,” Cabrera says. jcabreraassociates.com

— John Martin and Jodi Keen

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Reign In Your Closet

Organize your space better, while not putting items out of mind BY MICHELLE MASTRO

Creating a clutter-free closet takes time and will power. It’s

common for people to put something away and then forget about it — or think, “I’ll deal with this later,” but never do. It’s the trap of the closet: It easily hides away items that might not have a home anywhere else. But all that clutter and disorganization quickly piles up, no matter if it’s behind closed doors. “What most people don’t realize is that a closet is a productivity tool, not just a storage space,” says Thomas VanVactor, owner and lead designer at Closet Pros. “The way your closet is designed directly affects how smoothly your mornings go.” Poorly designed closets cause clothes to get lost, wrinkled, or forgotten — you may even unintentionally buy duplicate items. VanVactor recommends a combination organization system that mixes hanging, shelving, and drawers. This should include drawers that keep the everyday items tidy and shelves that provide open visibility so you can lay eyes on everything stacked on them. Circling back to those wrinkled outfits, hanging space prevents clothes from becoming rumpled or piling up. “When these elements work together, the closet stays organized long-term because the layout actually supports your day-to-day routine,” VanVactor says. Also, try a zoning system that separates your closet-based items into three different sections. Zone One includes everyday wear and should go front and center in the closet. Zone Two groups items you use weekly or occasionally and should be placed on mid-height shelves or the second

34 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

row of hanging for easy access. Zone Three is reserved for seasonal or rarely used items; place these on the top shelves or in labeled storage bins. The result: Everything has a regular landing spot that you become familiar with. “A well-designed closet works like a map: You always know where things live,” VanVactor says. closet-pros.com

IN PLAIN SIGHT Cindy and Steve Basinski never have to wonder what’s in their closet — they can see almost everything. On display in their H.G. McCullough-designed home (featured in the September/October 2022 issue) are racks of everyday wear and back-lit shelves of shoes at the ready. Seasonal items are tucked away into drawers, cabinets, and clear bins — out of sight but still within reach.

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

The Mighty Mudroom

Tips for designing the hardest-working room in the house BY MICHELLE MASTRO Keep the outdoors outside — that’s the concept behind a mudroom, which collects coats, boots, and more outdoor gear. Sinks and laundry essentials also make it a perfect spot to stop and clean up before heading inside.

The best mudrooms streamline your daily routine. They

offer dedicated storage solutions for placing outerwear, shoes, and accessories, all of which you can grab on the go or securely deposit after a long day. Furry friends even make their way in via dog showers and grooming stations, perfect for pampering your pooch and keeping dirt out of your home. Whatever your needs, a mudroom reflects — and impacts — how you live. “Ample storage is the biggest consideration,” says John Diekhoff, part-owner of Popham Construction. Landing zones for backpacks and cubbies tall enough for hanging jackets are two go-to design choices. “The best cubbies also feature space above for winter hats and gloves,” he says. Ideally, below the cubbies, there are footlockers for rain boots, work boots, and winter shoes. Speaking of shoes, Diekhoff says mudrooms also should have a bench for easy changing. If you are switching out house slippers or sandals for outer footwear like hiking shoes, designate a place to sit down and simply make the swap without any hassle. Recent design trends feature a combination mudroom/laundry room. In these, the floor-to-ceiling cubbies typically are converted into shelves to hold laundry essentials. To further optimize your laundry needs, Diekhoff recommends adding a large basin for pre-soaking laundry, cabinets for steaming clothes, an ironing station, or pull-out drying systems. Back to the dog showers. “I actually try to push these,” Diekhoff says. Showers come with a handheld shower head and are elevated MUDROOM PHOTO BY JOHN DIEKHOFF/POPHAM CONSTRUCTION. DOG WASH STATION PHOTO BY GLENN TANG AND MITCH ELLIS, BLACK PIXEL

so you don’t have to lean over as you would bathing your pup in a bathtub. Most important is keeping the inevitable water that sneaks in at bay. “Regardless of whatever you use your mudroom for, I always encourage clients to choose tile or luxury vinyl flooring for their water resistance capabilities,” Diekhoff says. Avoid wood or wood-engineered flooring because they do not hold up to the elements. “But you can use wood in your cabinets and cubbies — many homeowners today prefer painted wood cabinets — but that is the preference of the homeowner,” Diekhoff says. “There is no right or wrong answer here.”

KEEP MESS AT BAY

Newburgh residents Jeff and Misty Bosse included pull-out stairs in their mudroom so their French bulldogs, Norm and Lulu, can easily trot up to the sink for a bath. “It’s a great concept,” Misty says. (Read more about their award-winning home on page 17.)

pophamconstruction.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Prepped With Love Stephanie and Allison Clark bond over creating weekly meal plans BY JODI KEEN

Planning meals brings stability and healthier eating to a hectic weekly schedule, Stephanie and Allison Clark say. The mother-daughter duo enjoys working together, Stephanie says: “When I have the chance to have time with my kids, I’ll do that.”

Stephanie Clark remembers

once lamenting that she has no special talents. Her mother replied, “Of course you do. You are so organized!” Glamorous or not, being organized keeps her life running smoothly, and her talent takes a tasty turn in the kitchen. On a Sunday afternoon, there’s a good chance you’ll find Stephanie and her daughter Allison at home, chopping vegetables and trading recipes. Stephanie began meal prepping once her children — now ages 31, 28, and 25 — were grown. Despite the empty nest, she and husband Alan, who serves as CEO of Owensboro, Kentucky-based CRS OneSource, still were busy. Acknowledging meal prepping’s ultimate convenience, Clark was attracted to having healthier food options at the ready. “Once you do it and see how much easier your life is and how much healthier you can eat when you have something you can grab, it makes an enormous difference,” Stephanie says. “It’s more about having things on hand so that when we’re going home and hungry from running errands, there’s some-

thing we can grab instead of stopping for food on the way home.” Allison joined her mother a year ago after moving back to Evansville. Every few weeks, the pair swap recipe ideas from social media and cookbooks, devise a weekly meal plan, then spend Sunday afternoon cooking and preparing anything from egg bites and lasagnas — “we always make a double batch

36 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

and freeze those,” Stephanie says — to cups of overnight oats or chia seeds. The result: They’re eating healthier, reducing food waste, and saving resources, money, and time — the latter, by their estimate, about three hours cooking per week. “It brings a lot of peace and calmness to spend that time with my mother, plus clarity on what I’m going to be eating. I’ll think, ‘The pasta salad we made sounds delicious. I can’t wait to go home and eat that,’” Allison says. “It brings peace to everyday life where things could be chaotic.” Their ritual underscores a key ingredient to meal prepping: One does not need to be a culinary expert or invest in intricate equipment to successfully plan their meals. Moreover, they are more present with each other because the chaos of cooking a meal each day is eliminated. “We bond and talk. We get to spend the day together,” Stephanie says.

Tips for Meal Prepping Customize your plan:

Stephanie and Allison assess how many people they’re feeding and prioritize grab-and-go options for breakfast and lunch. They shop their refrigerator and pantry first and also use the ReciMe app: Upload a picture of a recipe to the app, which populates ideas into a miniature cookbook, grocery list, or even a meal plan.

Start simple:

“An egg bake is so easy,” says Stephanie, who incorporates items about to lose their freshness, like vegetables. “We dump everything in a 9x13 pan and bake it.” If meal prepping alone, stick to 1-2 things so cooking and cleaning don’t eat up too much time. Depending on the time of year, the Clarks break out the crockpot for soups — “set it and forget it!” Stephanie says.

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

Headspace, Then Habits

Changing your mindset opens the door to greatness BY JODI KEEN Susan Hyatt cuts right to the chase: “What’s robbing you of success?” the Evansville-based Master Certified Life Coach asks clients, encouraging them to identify the habits and behaviors that are holding them back from self-improvement. Although consistency and accountability factor heavily into creating good habits or breaking negative ones, in order to truly change yourself, Hyatt says you have to align your awareness, thinking, and goals. Hyatt’s advice is sourced from experts, medical studies — and her own lived experiences. “One (habit) I consider an absolute miracle is I went from someone with a Ph.D. in Couch Potato to someone who moves her body consistently,” she says. She decided who she wanted to become, plugged into that mindset, and changed her identity around exercise. “People who knew me then marvel that I’m somebody who now has an app to lift weights,” she says. “Susan Hyatt in 2007, she would have laughed at that.” Be Your Biggest Cheerleader “What you’re telling yourself needs to be supportive,” Hyatt says. “Self talk often is so negative. We’ll discount ourselves in a way that we’ll never speak to someone else.” She recommends this as the first obstacle to overcome: “Universally, you change habits by the way you think and speak to yourself.”

SETTING ATTAINABLE GOALS Last February, the Evansville Thunderbolts were struggling to make the playoffs. Coach Jeff Bes called a meeting, where players outlined steps toward becoming a championship hockey team. “Those short-term goals Coach always sets (are) a good way to tackle big tasks,” Captain Matthew Hobbs says. “We put it all on the board and stuck to our plan.” (Read more about the Bolts and their eventual SPHL championship on page 26.)

Align Your Thinking With Your Goal Pay attention to and match your thinking to what you’re wanting to become. “Awareness of what you want to change, who you’re becoming, and how you’re thinking needs to be in alignment,” Hyatt says. “Otherwise, step into a new identity.”

Start Small “Seventeen years ago, I was someone who said, ‘You can’t make me exercise.’ Now, I run 4-5 times a week and lift weights 4-5 times a week,” Hyatt says. “It started a little at a time: walking a few days

Make only what you need:

Update your recipes:

Join forces with a friend:

Do it one bite at a time:

At first, “We made too much of too many types of things. It’s a lot to do in one day, and we couldn’t eat it all before it went bad,” Allison says.

Meal prepping is more fun with company — and dishes and ingredients go further when shared. “Keeping each other accountable has been very good,” Allison says.

HOCKEY PHOTO BY BAILEY HARDIN, EVANSVILLE THUNDERBOLTS

Stephanie has been on a high-protein kick, and recent meal-prepped dishes have included a hearty salad with beans and yummy sweet potato brownies.

Meal prepping “can be overwhelming if you’re cluttered and don’t know where to start,” Stephanie says. “Start with a few things, and grow to what works for you and your family.”

a week, me being curious about what I’m capable of. At the time, I didn’t like it, but moving my body was necessary for my mental and physical health — it motivated me because I felt so bad all the time. I started moving to feel better with my mental health and it escalated and improved from there.” Hyatt says to expect a certain amount of regression where old thoughts and habits come back, and use your new mindset to address it. “Say, ‘OK, let me reframe this thought and, with kindness, redirect myself back to what I want to do,’” she says. “It’s not black or white. It’s all part of the process. People give up way too soon because they’re not doing it perfectly.” Think positively and proactively, Hyatt encourages. “If it has crossed your mind, it’s something you really crave and want, and you have what it takes to create it,” she says. “You wouldn’t have the desire without the ability to do it. That’s my biggest pep talk. Otherwise it wouldn’t dawn on you.” susanhyatt.co

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

NEW HOME DESIGN

•

LIGHT COMMERCIAL

•

R E M O D E L & R E N O V AT I O N

hgmccullough.com • 812.428.0174 • 2146 Glenview Dr., Evansville • Find us on

RESET NEW YEAR 38 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

•

Dwell CREATING

THE JOY OF MAKING IT Quilting demands dedication, precision, and an artistic eye — and the stunning results often could be right at home in an art museum display. For Diana Mahrenholz and Carole Douglas, quilting is both a skill passed down from previous generations and a creative outlet for unique, modern styles. 

Diana Mahrenholz

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Dwell CREATING

Not Your Grandmother’s Quilt Bright colors and intricate embroidery define today’s quilts By Maggie Valenti

aintree Quilters Guild members Diana Mahrenholz and Carole Douglas devote hours to carefully stitching embroidery that eventually shapes pieces of fabric into works of art. Though sewing machines can handle much of the work, intricate quilt tops still are best done by hand. The fluffy dogs emerging on Mahrenholz’s quilts and the brightly colored flowers that Douglas makes

Diana Mahrenholz

Carole Douglas

40 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

bloom still follow the tradition of shows in Texas, Kentucky, Connectitheir mothers and grandmothers, cut, and Florida. She’s proud of the with a modern touch. many ribbons her quilts have earned, “There is a huge German combut the accolades are not what drive munity around here. Everybody her to quilt. “What I love most about and their grandmother quilts and quilting is all the friends I have made crochets,” says Douglas. over the years, from my ‘Monday Sew’ Mahrenholz took inspiration group at First Christian Church in from her mother, who handEvansville and the Raintree Quilters sewed a quilt top for Mahrenholz’s Guild to the ladies I go to sewing 1980 wedding to her husband, retreats with,” she says. Terry. “She said if I wanted it done, I’d better do it myself,” “What I love most about she recalls. Thus began her quilting is all the friends I have 45-year quilting journey. “When I began sewing made over the years. ” quilt tops in the ’80s, we cut Diana Mahrenholz sandpaper as patterns to draw pieces on fabric to cut out. Everything was hand-quilted,” Douglas learned to quilt from her Mahrenholz says. Now, quilters grandmother in the 1970s and started are armed with rotary cutters, by making quilts for her beds “with mats, and sewing machines to cheap old fabric, old clothes, and sheets create their fabric masterpieces. — everything and anything,” she says. She creates pieces with bright, “Then I joined the guild, and they got bold colors and patterns that me straight about the proper etiquette feature florals, stars, and even of making quilts.” animals: one design includes an The North Sider prefers to quilt orange phoenix emerging from mid-century modern styles on Japanese flames on a bright blue backModa Grunge cotton, a multi-shade ground. Many of her quilts end up fabric that adds dimension to her decorating the walls or warming creations. She spends several months the beds in her Poseyville, Indion each quilt, with some details — ana, home. She also has featured Christmas trees, a flower arrangement, her work at 4-H fairs, the guild’s or a butterfly — cut from silk. Many Harvest of Quilts show, and at of her designs are inspired by pictures she sees and recreates in her own style. Like Mahrenholz, Douglas’ quilts have won several awards at the guild’s annual show. Though one quilt was purchased at September’s show, Douglas does not sell many — she says she quilts for fun: “I’m never happier than when I’m at my machine. Frustrated but happy.” Mahrenholz agrees: “If you asked me what my favorite quilt was, I’d have to say it’s always the one I’m working on, because it’s the joy of making it.” raintreequiltersguild.org PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

ON THE OUTSIDE

Fire Away! A career landscaper pursues big plans for a final backyard — his own By John Martin

ot every homeowner possesses a backyard large enough to drive golf balls from a tee box on the porch without worry of damage. Even fewer have a lake to host a blazing mock Viking funeral or be the splash point for projectiles fired from a wooden launcher. John Schroeder can make all of these claims. The retired business owner (he sold Schroeder’s Landscape & Aquatic Nursery in 2017) describes his 14-acre West Side backyard as a passion project. “I did 4,300 backyards in my career, and I’m going to work on just one more,” he says. Schroeder’s interest in a backyard course piqued in the late 1980s when he witnessed a man hitting golf balls off his deck. After Schroeder built his own raised deck in 1992, he installed synthetic turf and eventually built a par 3 green across the lake. Since then, he estimates that he and his friends have struck more than 150,000 balls in that direction. His vision evolved into an 18-hole course with 12 tee boxes and four turf greens, under construction since 2022. Golfers from Mater Dei High School and the University of Southern Indiana — as well as the basketball team — have visited. Schroeder explains the concept as “exclusionary golf,” where a small group

PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

can have a private course for fundraising, team-building activity, or “just good-old fashioned fun.”

“I did 4,300 backyards in my career, and I’m going to work on just one more.” John Schroeder

If that’s not fun enough, consider Schroeder’s trebuchet, a catapult-like medieval weapon. The idea was planted by fellow adult Boy Scout committee friends who “discussed how cool it would be,” he says. Assembled about five years ago with help from master carpenter Phil Shreve, the trebuchet’s massive arm can sling a watermelon or jug of water high into the air and plunge it into the lake a few hundred feet away. A fall gender reveal party featured exploding balls of colored powder over the lake. Schroeder has added an ax-throwing area. The idea to go big and do it well was sparked by Mater Dei wrestling coaches Joe Gossman and Mike Goebel, plus Bobby Watson, the first-year University of Evansville men’s basketball coach who was killed in the Aces’ Dec. 13, 1977, airplane crash. “Take pride in what you do,” Schroeder remembers

TAMMY AND JOHN SCHROEDER say the backyard vision is all “John’s dream,” but Tammy has long loved the quiet, rural land where the couple raised their sons. “We feel safe, and we see a lot of wildlife.”

Watson telling high school students at an assembly. Schroeder hosts a podcast and website called “Trespassing Aloud,” encouraging others “to dream big, be patient, and don’t be afraid to try different things,” he says, adding that his unique backyard is “my metaphor for a pretty exciting life while trying to stay balanced on the important things.” trespassingaloud.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Dwell ON THE MARKET

LAKEFRONT MAJESTY

Breathtaking views define this North Side home By John Martin Although this ranch-style home is approaching 80 years old, high-

WHAT’S IN STORE

Eastward Expansion River City Coffee & Goods’ hometown pride spreads to Eastland Mall

end updates and timeless craftsmanship ensure many more years to come. Taking center stage is its lakefront setting, which offers stunning visuals for onlookers plus many spots to admire the beauty from indoors. “Every room on the back of the house is full of floor-to-ceiling windows that capture the view. The home was definitely designed for that purpose,” says listing agent Marc Hoeppner with @properties. Other selling points include recent renovations of the kitchen and master bath by Popham Construction, as well as a cozy living room with seats surrounding a sunken fireplace. The finished basement packs a recreation room, kitchenette, office, and full bath. Outside, there’s extensive landscaping and ample patio space. “The winding lane and woods make this property feel like it’s tucked away, but you’re only steps away from Evansville Country Club and minutes from Downtown,” Hoeppner says. “That combination is hard to beat.”

By John Martin

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE

owntown wasn’t big enough to hold Heather Vaught’s love for her hometown. Almost a decade after opening River City Coffee & Goods at 223 Main St., and three years after sister store Memo five doors down, Vaught’s small business enterHeather Vaught prise has expanded to Eastland Mall. River City Goods (just goods, no coffee) carries a variety of apparel, decor, kitchen items, and other fun things at various price points. The shop has the Evansville-branded merchandise River City is known for, but Vaught, well aware of Eastland Mall’s regional reach, knew she needed more. “We brought in a couple new brands and some more Indiana-, Kentucky-, and Illinois-themed goods for some of our neighbors who come to visit our mall,” Vaught says. Data show that Eastland Mall remains a highly visited Evansville destination, and Vaught decided it was the best place for her to grow River City. “I’ve heard sometimes people say, ‘Oh you have that coffee shop with the trinkets,” when really we have always been a gift shop first – with everything from locally made soaps to really nice $500 handmade leather bags. I’m just trying to emphasize the quality and specialness of the goods that we carry, and that they are made by real people who either have connections to our city or have a small business in the U.S.” River City’s lease at the mall runs through March. “Our plan is to be there through then, and hopefully it works out so that we can stay longer,” Vaught says.

3307 Stringtown Road Year Built: 1948

Listing Price: $795,000

Vital Stats: three bedrooms, three full bathrooms, one half bathroom, 3,923 square feet

Listing Agent: Marc Hoeppner, @properties

rivercityevv.com

42 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

RIVER CITY COFFEE & GOOD’S STOREFRONT PHOTO AND PHOTO OF HEATHER VAUGHT BY ZACH STRAW

Blinds installed in this issue’s “Home of the Issue”

Jeff Barbour, Owner Tyler Steckler, and Justin McAllister

Contact Tyler Steckler at 812-490-4457 for your free in-home consultation. Find us online at www.budgetblinds.com to see more of our work.

Powering Evansville Homes Locally owned and licensed, Mister Sparky provides residential electrical services with a focus on education and transparency. We help homeowners understand their electrical needs then handle the work with care.

OUR SERVICES

• Smoke Detectors

• Emergency Repairs

• Wiring

• Electrical Repairs

• Outlets/Switches

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• Ceiling Fans/Lighting

• Electrical Panels

• And more!

701 N. Weinbach Ave. Ste. 650B, Evansville, IN 47711 812-818-7770 | mistersparky.com/evansville JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

A Fresh Fit Lloyd Winnecke and Carol McClintock embrace river views from their renovated condo BY JODI KEEN • PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

arol McClintock and Lloyd Winnecke have called five places in Evansville home since marrying in 1989, and they say the condominium they moved into in 2024 will be their last. By the end of 2023, as Winnecke was finishing his final of three terms as mayor, the couple was ready to downsize from their 5,000-square-foot condo on Main Street, but they wanted to stay Downtown. A listing at Riverfront Condominiums four blocks

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away caught McClintock’s attention — after all, she is a top-selling Realtor with her namesake team at F.C. Tucker Emge. “I like the size of it. I didn’t know about living in 1,700 square feet, but it’s plenty big,” says McClintock, who had sold the unit four times in her real estate career before buying it herself. “I was familiar with the condo and the location, and we wanted to get down to the river.” Although 3,300 square feet smaller than their prior home, the condo fits the couple’s needs just right: They can

THE GOOD LIFE Lloyd Winnecke and Carol McClintock love living in their riverfront condominium, which is spacious and comfortable despite clocking in at just 1,700 square feet. Nearly 20 sub-contractors and designers helped renovate and reimagine the condo, and the couple praises the result. “It all works,” McClintock says.

host cocktail parties, dinners, and fundraising events, then unwind by reading, watching sports on TV, or enjoying those river views. That said, the condo — built in 1988 — was dated and had a closed-off floor plan, so in 2024, the couple turned to a talented pair of longtime friends: interior designer Tay Ruthenburg and late real estate agent Susan Haynie. “We saw the possibilities of making it a special unit for Carol and Lloyd,” says Ruthenburg, who owns Evaline Karges Interiors. Steve Briscoe, former co-owner of F.C. Tucker Emge, worked with Ruthenburg and Haynie to identify layout changes. “There are a lot of personal touches there,” says Briscoe, who had

“We are regularly amazed at our views of breathtaking sunsets. And no two sunsets look the same.” — homeowner LLOYD WINNECKE remodeled the couple’s most recent condo at The Meridian Plaza, which was featured in the January/February 2014 issue. “We made a number of changes (at The Meridian), but not to this extent.” They started by narrowing and opening the southeast wall between the kitchen and dining room to let the gathering areas

breathe. After cutting overhead holes, they found that, by shifting some ductwork, they could raise the ceiling about 16 inches. The new open-concept kitchen and dining room features custom-built Fehrenbacher Cabinets and bar seating, plus a a beverage cabinet hidden behind motorized shutters. To simplify design options and open up

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

FRESH FACE Interior designer Tay Ruthenberg, along with McClintock, Winnecke, and longtime friend Susan Haynie, developed a design aesthetic of “clean, open spaces filled with simple but important furniture,” he says. Taking the condo down to the studs, they narrowed and opened a wall between the kitchen and dining room, raised the ceiling more than a foot, and painted the entire condo the same clean white. Included is a custom-built beverage bar that, when its motorized shutters are raised, reveals personalized bottles gifted to the former mayor.

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spaces, they chose to paint the entire condo the same clean white. “We did go with all one color, which some people would not like,” McClintock says. Interior walls in the primary suite were moved to enlarge the closet — “That closet ended up being bigger than the closets we had at the other joint!” McClintock laughs — expand the bathroom, build a new shower, and add storage for linens. Some plumbing was relocated, and new flooring and ceramic tile were installed. Renovations overseen by Steven Dunlap lasted around five months and involved taking the unit’s bearings down to the studs. Logistics for a demolition job on the third floor of a condo building meant that, to get materials into the unit, anything large — from drywall and windows to countertops — had to be lifted three stories by crane and passed through its balcony. In addition to leading the demolition and rebuild, Dunlap performed all trim work throughout the condo. The couple moved from The Meridian Plaza to Riverfront Condominiums in 2024. “I love the openness of our condo,” Winnecke says. “We removed walls, relocated doors, and totally re-thought the look of the main bedroom. It has a much brighter, cleaner, and more open feel.” With a blank canvas, Ruthenburg and Haynie set to work making the condo feel like home for Winnecke and McClintock. “We desired a design aesthetic of developing clean, open spaces filled with simple but important furniture,” Ruthernburg says. “We didn’t put pendant lights in the kitchen because we didn’t want to interrupt the view (of the river), but we did use a chandelier in the dining room.” He also avoided heavy drapery on the windows, opting instead for electric blinds. “There’s wonderful light in this unit because it’s a corner unit,” Ruthenburg says, so he added a wall of mirrors to the dining room to capture that light and bounce it around the gathering spaces. A balcony sits adjacent, a perfect spot to take in the sweeping views from this river-facing condo. “We are regularly amazed at our views of breathtaking sunsets. And no two sunsets look the same,” Winnecke says.

“I think it works well for their organized lifestyle: It’s open, clean, yet sophisticated and comfortable.” — TAY RUTHENBERG, interior designer and owner of Evaline Karges Interiors

The neutral walls allowed the couple to throw in pops of colors, such as pillows in deep blue, dark peach, and a multi-colored geometric print flanking the burled cube in the living room. A delightful burst comes from a vibrant skyline painting by Evansville artist Michael Key hanging on the wall of mirrors, a housewarming gift from Haynie. Surrounding an electric fireplace are built-in cabinets, backlit to illuminate shelves filled with books, family photos, decorative art pieces, and personalized mementos from Winnecke’s time in office. Pillows, statues and trinkets featuring elephants dot the decor, nodding at Winnecke’s terms as a Republican mayor. Only a few pieces of furniture — including the burled cube, Karges dining table and hutch, and pair of living room chairs — made the move from the Main Street condo. Sentimental pieces include a buffet that McClintock’s father purchased in Europe. The couple works demanding jobs — in addition to McClintock’s longstanding real estate career, Winnecke has served as CEO of the Evansville Regional Economic Partnership since January 2024. Therefore, downtime is minimal and crucial. Ruthenburg and Haynie kept design light for the primary bedroom with minimal furniture and efficient, uncluttered storage. Just like the rest of their home, bedrooms are “not anything lacking, but not too much,” Ruthenburg says. “I think it works well for their organized lifestyle: It’s open, clean, yet sophisticated and comfortable.” “Between Tay, Susan, and Lloyd and Carol, they all have good taste, so everything they picked was very nice,” Briscoe says. Her work on the condo also serves as a tribute to Haynie, who was killed in late August 2025 during a home break-in. She had been friends with the couple — and a close coworker with McClintock — for nearly 30 years.

ROOM WITH A VIEW Evansville’s riverfront serves up brilliant sunsets, and Winnecke and McClintock have one of the best spots to admire them. The beauty isn’t just outside. Architects of their redesigned condominium included style icons such as Tay Ruthenberg and the late Susan Haynie: “What a team,” McClintock says.

“We are so lucky to live in a space with input from both Tay and Susan. What a team,” McClintock says. “Susan was an icon of design and worked well with professionals like Tay and Steve. They valued her feedback. … As I look around our condo, I see Susan in the simple, white, clean look, the mirrored wall with a Michael Key mounted on the mirror, Karges furniture mixed with contemporary styles … it all works. We appreciate all of their effort to make this space our home filled with happy memories.” Moving only four blocks from their prior residence, she and Winnecke still walk early each weekday morning through

Downtown and along the Greenway Passage, picking up litter along the way. “We do like the convenience (of being) Downtown. But … we’re off the beaten path a little bit, so we like that,” McClintock says. “We committed to living Downtown when I first took office in 2012 and have loved every minute of it,” Winnecke says. “There’s a special excitement about living Downtown. … And best of all, we get to walk to everything.” Visit evansvilleliving.com to see a list of businesses that participated in this renovation. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Wedding Book The

2026

SEVEN MARRIED TRI-STATE COUPLES SHARE HOW THEY CREATED THEIR SPECIAL DAY

YOUR GUIDE TO PLANNING THE

ULTIMATE WEDDING! Venues, Catering, + Much More! Say “I Do” with an easy wedding checklist! Jon and Kait Maddox

“Where the magic begins...” “Choosing The Black Horse Barn for our wedding made my dreams come true. Since I was a little girl, I wanted to be married in a red barn. Growing up, I was raised around farms, barns, and tractors. Getting married at The Black Horse Barn in beautiful Lynnville, Indiana, was all that I had envisioned for our special day! Being a bride and walking down the aisle on our wedding day at The Black Horse Barn was everything I’d hoped for. Meeting Kathy Jones, owner of the venue, for the initial walk around made us feel like we were right at home. Hearing the breakdown of how and why Kathy built the barn made it feel even more perfect for our wedding. The Black Horse Barn is beautiful inside and out. The decorations we chose enhanced the beauty of the barn. The barn itself

tells its own love story. From the handmade wood tables, beautiful crystal chandeliers, and a gorgeous bar that came out of a hotel in Chicago in the 1930s. Kathy made us feel like family. The big day came, and when I say that Kathy saved the day multiple times, she really did. From finding my garter to locating my veil, she was there every step of the way ensuring everything went smoothly ... offering a drink of water and a positive word when the nerves kicked in. My wedding at The Black Horse Barn not only made my wedding dream come true, Kathy made this experience one that I will never forget, from the moment I first walked into The Black Horse Barn to the minute we walked out as husband and wife!”

Brooke + Damian Douglas

Book A Tour: TheBlackHorseBarn.com • 812-454-7307

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Celebrating Our

27th

ANNIVERSARY!

Alterations by Olivia

P E R SO N A L I Z E D S E RV I C E &

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812-858-8736 • 107 Sharon Road, Newburgh, IN 47630 • alterationsbyolivia.com BY APPOINTMENT ONLY JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Visit Vincennes

Stunning, historic wedding venues less than an hour away! Apple Hill Orchard

GEORGE ROGERS CLARK MEMORIAL

401 S. Second St. Vincennes, IN • 812-882-1779 nps.gov/gero

LITTLE HILL FLOWER FARM

6643 Overhead Road Vincennes, IN • 812-890-8781 littlehillflowers.com

George Rogers Clark Memorial

PRESIDENT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON’S GROUSELAND 3 W. Scott St. Vincennes, IN • 812-882-2096 grouseland.org

The Grand Bankquet Hall

Little Hill Flower Farm

APPLE HILL ORCHARD 6235 Ford Road Bruceville, IN • 812-324-9010 facebook.com

THE GRAND BANKQUET HALL

302 Main St. Vincennes, IN • 812-881-5892 thegrandbankquethall.com

President William Henry Harrison’s Grouseland

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702 Main St. 812-886-0400 • visitvincennes.org

STORIES BY ALISON PETRASH-HALL

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Chase & Payton

VENUE Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science PHOTOGRAPHER Sharin Shank Photography VIDEOGRAPHER Echo Hill Productions WEDDING PLANNER DayLily Events CAKE Bea Sweet Treats CATERING Acropolis Catering and Bea Sweet Treats DJ Seniour Events FLORALS & DÉCOR J’Petals Florals & Gifts by Jayme Floyd RENTALS TRU Event Rental Inc

ayton Johnson and Chase Whitler’s story began at Evansville’s North High School. At first, they were friends, but their romance sparked while both attended Indiana University in Bloomington. Their love persevered while Chase’s career moved him around the country and Payton studied abroad in Italy. After Payton lived for a time in Dallas, Texas, Chase proposed at a quiet beach near their North Carolina home. Diving into the details of wedding planning, and especially dress shopping, was enjoyable for Payton. Chase was happy to support her vision and see it all come together. Their Sept. 27 wedding was set at the Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, with nearly 300 guests in attendance. The ceremony unfolded on the sunny west lawn overlooking the riverfront. “We loved the ceremony, as we were surrounded by our family and closest friends acknowledging our commitment to one another,” Payton says. 

CHANDELIERS Mistletoe & Ivy PHONE BOOTH Little Willows Wedding, Events, and Designs HAIR & MAKEUP Bri Updike and Sydney Bragg, ICON Hair Studio WEDDING BANDS Brinker’s Jewelers, Inc. WEDDING DRESS Magnolia Bridal House BRIDESMAID DRESSES Revelry SUITS Rose & Bliss INVITATIONS Places and Pine DETAILS Heather Johnson and Ginger Whitler JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Cocktails, dinner, and dancing to live music took place inside the galleries and foyer. The sound of a baby grand piano, saxophone, cello, and violin filled the air. Decorations were in an elegant palette of white and gold, complemented by fresh roses and greenery. Their photographer captured the museum’s paintings and sculptures in the background. “We were able to use the entire museum for our celebration,” Payton says. “Our guests were able to look at the beautiful artwork during the evening.” Guests were able to leave recorded messages for the couple in a telephone booth, and pictures of their parents and grandparents adorned the baby grand piano. It was essential for both Payton and Chase to get married in Evansville so their grandparents and extended family could be with them on their big day. “People across the United States were present for our wedding,” Payton says.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Taylor & Kelsey PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEOGRAPHY Jamie Lynn Photography

orn and raised in Evansville, Kelsey Reker and Taylor Strange moved to Denver in 2021 but always knew they wanted to return home to get married. After their engagement, they began planning a celebration deeply rooted in the people and place they love. Over two years, their vision grew into an extraordinary outdoor wedding held on a family friend’s private property. Kelsey, an interior designer, spent months drawing up the perfect scaled floor plan using Google Earth and SketchUp. A runway between two fields was transformed into an unforgettable hometown celebration and Kelsey’s dream DIY wedding. “Almost every single detail — and I mean every — was handmade by someone we know and love,” Kelsey says. Kelsey’s in-laws had spent the last four years thrifting more than 500 colored glass goblets, plus vases and candleholders, and washed 65 canvas drop cloths until they were soft enough to use as tablecloths. Her dad and grandfather 

WEDDING DRESS Rose & Bliss ALTERATIONS Katelyn’s Alterations & Design FLOWERS Rexing’s Blumenhaus LLC FLORIST Donna VanWinkle BARTENDING Carriage Inn CATERING Schnitzelbank Catering CAKE Gayla Cake SIGNAGE Celery Signs RENTALS TRU Event Rental Inc. INVITATIONS Truly Engaging CUSTOM NEON SIGN Kings of Neon JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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contributed eight hand-built farmhouse tables, a mountain backdrop reminiscent of Colorado, and an entryway of antique doors with a subtle nod to “Harry Potter.” “I’m lucky to have a dad and grandpa with a wood shop, who are both extremely talented and can build anything your heart desires,” Kelsey says. Other special touches included an antique hutch used to display around 400 mini pies, custom signs including a “Stranger Things”-inspired LED sign developed by Kings of Neon, invitations, a cake topper featuring their dog, Whiskey, flowers grown by family friends, and a program designed like the “Daily Prophet” newspaper, another “Harry Potter” reference. Their Oct. 5, 2024 ceremony unfolded on an 80-degree day under a blue sky. Friends provided music, transportation, parking, and even a vintage airplane for photos. The reception featured smoked ribs, a campfire, and a hayride wagon that the wedding party used as transportation to Nisbet Inn for a round of beers. “Evansville is a pretty special place,” says Taylor, recollecting all the family and friends who made their wedding possible. “Southern Indiana has some pretty amazing people.”

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

SPONSORED CONTENT

Discover the Perfect Venue in Gibson County for Your Unforgettable Event! Elevate your celebrations with Gibson County, Indiana’s premier venues. Whether you're planning a dream wedding, a corporate gathering, or a milestone celebration, Gibson County offers a diverse range of venues to suit every occasion.

EL EGA NT W EDDING VENU ES Say 'I do' surrounded by the enchanting landscapes of Gibson County. From the lush outdoor backdrop of an arboretum and botanical garden to a beautifully restored historic theatre, Gibson County can offer versatile spaces for gatherings of all sizes.

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Contact the Gibson County Visitors and Tourism Bureau to book your perfect venue and start planning the celebration of a lifetime!

702 West Broadway, Princeton, IN 47670 • 812-385-0999 info@gibsoncountyin.org • gogibson.org

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SPONSORED CONTENT

GI BS ON COU NT Y FAI RGROU NDS When people gather, the Gibson County Fairgrounds is the perfect location! The fairgrounds offers ideal facilities for weddings, receptions and a wide range of social events of all sizes. FACILITIES INCLUDE: • 4-H Exhibit Hall with a seating capacity for 350 people • Two open-air pavilions, each with a seating capacity for 275 people • Pavilion, a 32,500 square foot multi-use indoor arena or exhibit space perfect for events where protection from the weather is desirable • Toyota Events Center offers a 12,204 square foot facility, with seating for up to 700, including tables and chairs, a sound system, a large catering kitchen, icemaker, refrigerators/freezers, a four tap beer keg cooler, and much more

709 North Embree Street, Princeton, IN • 812-385-3445 events@gibsoncountyfair.com • gibsoncountyfair.com

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AMENITIES: • Reception Accommodations for up to 300 Guests • Event Staff included assisting with day-of venue needs • Private caterer’s prep kitchen • ADA compliant restrooms • Private Bridal Suite and Private Groom's suite • Set up and tear down of tables and chairs included • Linens included (white/ivory/black) • Indoor or Outdoor ceremony setup options • Built-in TVs to play videos or slideshows • Climate-controlled indoor event space • Bench seating for outdoor wedding

4467 West 525 South, Owensville, IN 47665 812-677-0026 • shinnyvillehill@gmail.com shinnyvillehill.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

• The Wedding Book • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

VENUE Saint Benedict Cathedral and Evansville Country Club WEDDING PLANNER Haley Piatkowski, Kelley James Events PHOTOGRAPHER Patton Photo FLOWERS & DECOR Emerald Design CATERING Evansville Country Club HAIR & MAKEUP Shannon Aleksandr’s Salon and Spa and Skylar Austin Esthetics DJ 12 South Band WEDDING DRESS House of White Bridal Boutique SUITS The Men’s Warehouse DRESS ALTERATIONS Alterations by Olivia

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Jon & Kait

hile Kait Schopmeyer attended Reitz Memorial High School, Jon Maddox lived almost 200 miles away in Lafayette, Indiana. Fortunately, they were at the same 2018 date party held by their sorority and fraternity at Purdue University. The two were paired and have been together since. After Kait finished her master’s degree, they traveled to Italy, where Jon proposed during a surprise sunset boat ride in Cinque Terre. Leading up to their Sept. 13 wedding, details were worked out over coffee with Haley Piatkowski from Kelley James Events. Kait enjoyed visiting Alterations by Olivia to make sure her dress was perfect. “Olivia is a ray of sunshine!” Kait says. Two hundred friends and family members saw the couple wed at Saint Benedict Cathedral. The Evansville Philharmonic’s Eykamp String Quartet performed, and Jeremy Korba, Saint Benedict’s Director of Music, played the church’s new organ. Father Alex Zenthoefer officiated the Catholic ceremony. “He has been the priest to 

YOUR ALL-INCLUSIVE WEDDING VENUE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

• The Wedding Book • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

deliver the sacrament of matrimony to all the Schopmeyer girls,” says Kait, referring to her sisters Sarah and Joan. “It would not be a Schopmeyer wedding without him.” Kait grew up swimming at the Evansville Country Club every summer since childhood — nostalgia that made it the perfect setting for the reception, coordinated by event director Andrew Baker with their wedding planner. After a cocktail hour outside overlooking the golf course, guests were served dinner and danced to music by the 12 South Band from Nashville, Tennessee. Those who wished to relax could enjoy a cigar bar on the porch. The couple didn’t sit down once after cutting the cake and woke up the next morning with sore legs from hours of dancing. Kait had sung so loud that she’d lost her voice. But seeing the faces of all the people they love during the ceremony and dancing with them were their favorite recollections from the day. “I mean, how lucky are we to be so loved by some of the best people?” Kait says.

Find the

perfect accommodations for bridal parties or out of town wedding guests. both sleep up to 12

historic rooftop property deck

barn in the burgh

Downtown Evansville • near riverfront • lots of exposed brick • well-stocked kitchen • 100” TV Screen

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Providing clean and comfortable furnished short term and mid term rentals in Evansville and Newburgh • 812-508-6828

www.furnishedevansville.com

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Joshua & Abbie VENUE New Harmony Inn Resort & Conference Center

bbie Mattingly and Joshua Feil first met through the Chi Alpha Campus Ministry at the University of Southern Indiana. Josh — an F.J. Reitz High School graduate serving as student president — and Abbie — a Washington, Indiana, native who joined as secretary — quickly grew close while working side by side. After about a year of dating, Josh led Abbie to the Evansville riverfront and asked her to marry him on her birthday weekend. Wedding planning gave them the chance to turn their shared vision of a faithbased, deeply personal wedding into reality, with Josh prioritizing the food and cake and Abbie establishing vendors as early as possible. “Must-dos included involving the family in the wedding reception,” Abbie says. At their May 17 ceremony, the pair exchanged personalized vows in front of about 110 guests outdoors at Monet Bridge behind the New Harmony Inn Resort & Conference Center. Their pastor wove personal stories and laughter into the 

CATERING New Harmony Inn Resort & Conference Center PHOTOGRAPHER Straw Photography and Media FLOWERS & DECOR Golden Rose CAKE Gayla Cake HAIR & MAKEUP Posh International Hair Studio and ARHBeautyy, LLC DJ All About You DJ WEDDING BANDS Brinker’s Jewelers, Inc. WEDDING DRESS & BRIDESMAID DRESSES David’s Bridal SUITS The Men’s Warehouse JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

The O’Day Discovery Lodge is truly a one-of-a-kind facility in Evansville. Located on the city’s west side in Burdette Park, a large recreational park and cabin site, the 16,000 square foot venue with unique architectural features and wooded setting offers an interesting option for memorable weddings, as well as corporate banquets and conferences.

Call 812-435-5602 or visit burdettepark.org/discovery-lodge to book 5301 Nurrenbern Road, Evansville, IN 47712

The Perfect Place for Your Next Event! Burdette Park has a variety of attractive shelter houses throughout the wooded areas of the park. The rental houses range in size and will accommodate anywhere from twenty-five people up to two hundred fifty. Most buildings have central heat and air with cozy fireplaces and are available year-round.

Ideal for showers, rehearsal dinners, reception areas, and more! Call 812-435-5602 or visit burdettepark.org/day-shelters to learn more!

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service, which included communion and prayer. The reception inside the conference center was decorated with spring florals. A memorial table displayed photos of Josh and Abbie’s departed loved ones. “This was a great way that we were able to remember a few of our family members who had recently passed away in the last couple years,” Abbie says. During the reception, guests enjoyed a catered meal, cake from Gayla Cake, and a fun, dancingand game-filled evening led by All About You DJ. One of Abbie’s favorite moments was her and Josh’s private first touch and prayer before the ceremony. “The hectic part of the day, getting things set up and ready, came to a close during that moment, and then we were able to finally be together,” Abbie says. “It was where it all started and was a great memory.”

Reitz Home Museum Small, intimate weddings in a charming and timeless historic setting. Our Carriage House is also the perfect setting for bridal showers, baby showers, and rehearsal dinners! Book today at:

812-426-1871 info@reitzhome.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

812-423-6744 Please visit our website trueventrental.com • BY APPOINTMENT ONLY!

For all of your event needs SERVING THE TRI-STATE SINCE 1988

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Haley & Karoline F

or Haley Elpers and Karoline Chraponski, their college degrees also led them to their wife. Haley, who grew up in Evansville and graduated from Mater Dei High School, met Karoline at the University of Evansville during sorority recruitment in 2018. After one conversation, they felt drawn to each other and became best friends. “In January 2020, we decided to take the leap and explore our potential as a couple and have been together ever since,” Karoline says. After dating four-plus years, they arranged dual proposals at their home in summer 2024. Planning their May 31 wedding was a DIY-filled process. They prioritized choosing vendors they trusted to bring their vision to life and cherished being surrounded by their bridal party and officiant. An outdoor ceremony at The Bauerhaus fulfilled their dream of a floral paradise, complete with a serpentine aisle and a meadow of blooms surrounding them. One of their best friends officiated. 

VENUE, CATERING, DJ & CAKE The Bauerhaus and Bauerhaus Catering PHOTOGRAPHER Citrus Collective Co. FLORALS & DECOR Red Daisy Floral HAIR & MAKEUP Lauren Smith-Reed and Skylar Austin Esthetics WEDDING DRESS Wild Rose Bridal Effingham, designed by Maggie Sottero, styled by Derrick-Marie BRIDESMAID DRESSES Revelry SUITS Express JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Stephan G. Sanders

Fine Men’s Clothiers

There are plenty of big days in life, but none where you are the main attraction so much as on your wedding day. We understand this, and we have the clothing and the experience to get you looking as good as you want to look – not just on the big day, but every time you look at the wedding album in the years to come.

See us at our new location!

104 S.E. Fourth St. | Downtown Evansville 812-480-7422 | yoursuitman.com 74 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

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“We did personal vows at our main ceremony, but afterward, we went off during cocktail hour and said private vows to one another,” Haley says. The day was infused with meaningful details: Haley wore a vest sewn by Karoline’s grandmother from leftover dress fabric, and their favors were matchbooks featuring their wedding monogram, just like the favors at Karoline’s parents’ wedding. For the reception, the couple meticulously crafted a dance floor-ready playlist with input from guests. They personalized the space with flowers, photos, and neon lights. The full dance floor — complete with sunglasses, light sticks, and playful fat-head cutouts of their dogs — delivered the party atmosphere they were aiming for. When recalling their favorite moments, Karoline described surprising Haley’s grandparents — recently celebrating their 55th anniversary — by dancing with them to the songs they wished they had danced to at their wedding. Both Haley and Karoline savored being surrounded by their loved ones and dancing all night.

Whether you’re planning a small wedding or a celebration with 500 of your closest friends and family, our Convention Services Team is ready to work with you to create the wedding of your dreams, any way you dream it! Enjoy the convenience of our two attached hotels, 24-hour casino, 3 restaurants, and free attached parking. To schedule a site tour, request meeting space or plan your event, contact our Sales Office at (812) 433-4611.

EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE CENTER RE-OPENING SOON! BOOK YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION AT BALLY’S EVANSVILLE, AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY HOTEL ROOM FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM ON THEIR WEDDING NIGHT!

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

From southern cuisine to perfectly elevated chef-inspired pairings that will leave a lasting impression.

Chef Tim Flick and our team ensures that your intimate gatherings and large elegant events are seamlessly curated with perfectly appointed buffet lines, in stations or served plated. Meticulous planning and refined selections will leave your guests speechless.

Visit us at Superbride Sunday or call us at 812•630•4096 to schedule a tasting.

Burdoc Farms offers two standout wedding venues just a one-hour drive south from Evansville, IN: Tobacco Barn Venue and Keith Glen Venue. Ideal for ceremonies and receptions; both venues deliver a scenic countryside setting, flexible layouts, and unforgettable photo backdrops–perfect for weddings with a relaxed, unique, and private experience.

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Exquisitely Serving Casual to Elegant Events

CELEBRATE YOUR MARRIAGE WITH A WEDDING AS UNIQUE AS YOUR LOVE STORY

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• The Wedding Book •

John & Chelsea C

helsea Miles and John Rogers III first crossed paths online in January 2024. A little over a year later, John surprised Chelsea with a Saturday date of dinner and art at Painting with a Twist. They wrapped up their day by playing arcade games, just as they had during their first date. Chelsea noted the similarity while walking to their car. John responded, “You asked me if I was going to call you, and I’m sure glad I did.” At that moment, John said he had a question for her, dropping to one knee and proposing. Chelsea gave him her easiest-ever “yes.” Their wedding planner, Nancy Bennett, guided every detail of their big day, writing the ceremony, designing save-the-dates and invitations, assembling bouquets and gift bags, and beyond. It freed the couple to savor their engagement. “We knew Nancy had the how, when, and where’s covered,” Chelsea says. Chelsea says House of White Bridal Boutique went above and beyond in her dress search, and she found working with photographers Daniel and Shanti Knight a joy. Leading up to the wedding, she enjoyed a wonderful spa weekend with her mother and future mother-in-law at West Baden Springs Hotel, and a memorable bridal shower in a back room at Biaggi’s. 

WEDDING PLANNER Nancy Bennett VENUES Hilton Head Island; Saint Benedict Cathedral; City View at Sterling Square PHOTOGRAPHERS Daniel Knight, Studio B Photography; Shanti Knight FLOWERS & DECOR Emerald Design CATERING Just Rennie's Catering CAKE Piece of Cake HAIR & MAKEUP Bri Updike and Alanis Skye DJ Seniour Events WEDDING DRESS House of White Bridal Boutique, Anne Barge TUXEDO Stephan G. Sanders Fine Men’s Clothiers JEWELRY Brinker’s Jewelers Inc. JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Two ceremonies were held: one Aug. 3 at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa Grand Ocean Terrace in South Carolina and the other Aug. 9 at Evansville’s Saint Benedict Cathedral. Both were attended by 20 guests. The destination wedding included a fun night of dancing and dinner featuring Chilean sea bass, filet mignon, Dom Perignon, and Opus One. The ceremony at Saint Benedict was reverent and personal, with a full Catholic mass. An Aug. 16 City View reception welcomed two hundred guests for what Chelsea calls “the celebration and party of our lives,” deemed The Happily Ever After Party. “It was the perfect way to celebrate our destination and Catholic weddings with all our friends and family,” she says.

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Braden & Ellora VENUE Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cambridge Golf Course CATERING Cambridge Golf Course PHOTOGRAPHER Chosen Creations CAKE Piece of Cake HAIR & MAKEUP Hope Brown Cosmetics DJ All About You DJ, Chris Hancock WEDDING BANDS Camelot Jewelers WEDDING DRESS & SUITS Rose & Bliss BRIDESMAID DRESSES Birdy Grey PHOTO BOOTH Just Foto Booths

80 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

2022 job interview doubled as a matchmaking opportunity for Braden Taylor and Ellora Daily. When Ellora, an F.J. Reitz High School and University of Evansville graduate, ultimately turned down an offer from Braden’s employer, he turned that rejection into a green light and invited her to what became their first date, at Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar. In August 2023, Braden, a Haubstadt native, called Ellora with surprising news: a song he’d written inspired by her, “Dance, Drink, Sing, and Cruise,” was being recorded and released on Spotify. Soon after, they officially became a couple. Braden proposed in May 2024 at the Azalea Path Arboretum and Botanical Gardens in Hazleton, Indiana. Ellora once imagined eloping, but Braden preferred a traditional wedding. “I’m so thankful we ended up choosing the path we did,” Ellora says. She found the perfect dress and later learned it was named “Decadence,” which she viewed as a nod to her late grandmother Darla, who owned the former Daily’s Bakery and described the desserts there as “decadent.” The couple married May 24 on the 50th anniversary of Ellora’s maternal grandparents. Their union was witnessed by 325 guests at Immanuel Lutheran Church. During a powerful moment, attendees sang “How Great Thou Art” a capella. The

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bridal bouquet was wrapped in a piece of Braden’s mother’s wedding dress. After the ceremony, the pair departed in Ellora’s grandpa’s first car, a 1953 Ford Customline. The celebration continued at Cambridge Golf Course with Italian catering, a packed dance floor, and karaoke. Highlights included a garter removal where Braden sang “Some Kind of Wonderful” and a bridesmaid’s speech including an excited audio message she’d received from Ellora after her first date with Braden. “Marrying him will forever remain my favorite memory,” Ellora says, “not because a wedding — big or small, cheap or expensive — is important, but because choosing to become one with him has forever altered my life for the best.”

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

• The Wedding Book • SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

WEDDING CHECKLIST Use this helpful guide to plan your perfect celebration. 12-10 months prior to the ceremony, or right after getting engaged:  Create a big-picture budget for the wedding.  Choose a ceremony date and a backup date.  Compile your guest list.  Tour ceremony and reception venues and reserve the ones you love.  Book a caterer.  Pick a wedding theme or color, and book your florist.  Book an officiant, photographer, videographer, and DJ/entertainment.

 Create your gift registry and wedding website.  Book hotels for out-of-town guests.  Book honeymoon accommodations and transportation.  Book a rehearsal dinner venue and confirm your venue’s availability for the rehearsal.

6 months prior:  Purchase wedding rings.  Plan and take engagement photos.  Have your wedding attire altered.

 Shop for and order the bride’s and groom’s attire.

4-5 months prior:

 Shop for bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen suits.

 Order cake or desserts.

 Send out invitations.

 Hold an engagement party.

 Purchase bridal shoes, accessories, and veil.

 Select a seamstress or alterations company.

 Reserve any rental items like chairs, linens, and dinnerware.

9 months prior:

 Finalize the guest list and the dinner menu.

 Book or coordinate your wedding day transportation and hair and makeup artists.

 Book wedding night accommodations.

Save the Date!

February 22

Old National Events Plaza

 Review your wedding day playlists.  Get the groom and groomsmen fresh haircuts.  Get a final fitting of all bridal party attire.

2-3 months prior:  Do trial runs for hair and makeup.  Arrange extras like a guest book, toasting glasses, and a cake knife.  Print programs and menus.

1 week prior:

1 month prior:

 Have your rings cleaned.

 Apply for and pick up your marriage license. (Check with the clerk of the county you’re marrying in; some licenses expire if not filed in a certain number of days.)

 Pack your day-of emergency kit with items such as deodorant, hair pins, makeup, sewing kit, mints, and stain removal tools.  Pack for your honeymoon. (If traveling internationally, be sure your travel documents display the correct surname! See a travel agent for details.)

 Write your vows.  Create and finalize the reception seating chart and table numbers.  Finalize the wedding day schedule and confirm your vendor arrival times.

The day prior:  Pull together attire and accessories.

 Finalize florals, candles, and centerpieces.

 Give designated helpers items for which they’re responsible.

 Review must-have shots with the photographer.

 Steam the dresses.

 Review final RSVPs and communicate any reception changes to your venue and/or caterer.

 Relax and have fun at your rehearsal dinner!  Get plenty of sleep.

Wedding Day:

2 weeks prior:  Finalize vendor payments. Don’t forget to tip!

 Give your rings to the best man and maid of honor before the ceremony.

 Break in your wedding shoes.

 Get your hair and makeup done.

 Delegate day-of duties to trusted loved ones.

 Enjoy your wedding, and spend time with your loved ones!

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VENDOR LIST • AAA Travel............................................................................. 50, 51 ... travel.aaa.com • Alterations by Olivia................................................................. 49 ... alterationsbyolivia.com • Award World Trophies & Gifts................................................. 66 ... awardworldtrophies.com • Bally's Evansville.........................................................................75 ... casinos.ballys.com/evansville • Bar Louie...................................................................................... 78 ... barlouie.com • Bauerhaus/Bauerhaus Catering, The..............................63, 65 ... thebauerhaus.com • Biaggi's........................................................................................ 55 ... biaggis.com • Black Horse Barn, The............................................................. IFC ... theblackhorsebarn.com • Burdette Park.............................................................................. 68 ... burdettepark.org • Burdoc Farms...............................................................................76 ... burdocfarms.com • City View at Sterling Square Events Center..........................74 ... cityviewevv.com • Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science...................... 78 ... emuseum.org • French Lick Resort...................................................................... 58 ... frenchlick.com/weddings.htm • Friedman Park Event Center....................................................48 ... friedmanparkeventcenter.com • Furnished Evansville..................................................................64 ... furnishedevansville.com • Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau....................... 60, 61 ... gogibson.org • Hadi Shrine Banquet Hall......................................................... 54 ... hadishrine.org/facility-rental • Helms Hall - Evansville Goodwill Industries, The................. 78 ... thehelmshall.com • Indiana State Museums - Angel Mounds...............................81 ... indianamuseum.org/angelmounds • Just Foto Booths.........................................................................81 ... justfotobooths.com • Just Rennie's Catering.............................................................. 79 ... justrennies.com • Little Willows............................................................................... 78 ... littlewillowswed.com • Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden........................................ 59 ... meskerparkzoo.com • Midwest Communications........................................................ 82 ... midwesttel.com • Oink Inc. Smokehouse & Catering...........................................76 ... oinkincsmokehouse.com • Premiere Tan..........................................................................70, 71 ... premieretan.com • Reitz Home Museum.................................................................. 69 ... reitzhome.com • Stephan G. Sanders - Fine Men's Clothiers...........................74 ... yoursuitman.com • Sugarholic Body Sugaring Studio........................................... 79 ... sugarholicevv.glossgenius.com • T.R.U Event Rental...................................................................... 72 ... trueventrental.com • Vault, The.................................................................................... 56 ... thevaulthenderson.com • Visit Vincennes........................................................................... 52 ... visitvincennes.org

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Savor

LOCAL FOODIE

HOMEGROWN AND AT THE HELM Michael Hite was raised on local fare — the bean soup at Darmstadt Inn was a childhood favorite — and trained in the kitchens of well-known area restaurants, but his palate was refined by traveling the U.S. and around the world. As a result, diners can savor a French-inspired dining experience he’s curated at Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar. 

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Savor LOCAL FOODIE

Shaped by the Kitchen Michael Hite rose through the local food scene to executive restaurant chef By Maggie Valenti

hen ordering from the menu of upscale small plates at Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar, thank executive chef Michael Hite — a homegrown talent who built his career through local kitchens rather than formal training. He developed his palate by dining at Evansville Country Club, Angelo’s, House of Como, and Mattingly’s 23 before it closed in 1996, but his first experience inside a kitchen came at age 13 at the former Maxine’s Café and Bakery on North Green River Road. “I was 13 and in the back helping make pastas and salads, sweeping the floors. You got to eat when you worked … so that really helped solidify my love of food,” Hite explains. After being immersed in the restaurant atmosphere, the North High School graduate was hooked, and he sharpened his cooking skills at the Fresh Harvest Deli in the Old Post Office. Owner Scott Nickens threw him right in; Hite rose to the challenge. “He went to the school of hard knocks. I’m proud of him,” says Nickens, who now operates the deli at Old National Bank’s headquarters. “He was really the influence on what I like to do,” Hite says. Hite gained more experience in kitchens at the former Lone Star Steakhouse, Madeleine’s Fusion Restaurant, and Zaps Tavern in Mount Vernon. In 2013, he spent a year operating his own Posey County shop, Hite’s Pizza. A switch to selling insurance in 2020 didn’t suit him; he wanted back in the Cooking in a city that loves pizza, burgers, and catfish, kitchen. He went to work under Entwined’s Michael Hite wants to mix it up. “We love to eat, and I wanted to offer Evansville something that was a little bit then-executive chef Stephanie Hay and different,” he says. succeeded her in June 2021. With owner Morgan Lemond, Hite molded the menu from sandwiches and tacos into small-plate meal specifically to complement glasses filled tapas. “We were looking for more of an with samples from the evening’s host, be it upscale dining experience at night,” Hite Ridge Vineyards or Bardstown Bourbon. “His says. Lemond adds, “He gets our vision of creativity in developing dishes that complecreating a complete experience, not just a ment our wine and cocktail selections has Saffron and squash risotto meal, and that’s reflected in everything that really set us apart,” Lemond says. with charcuterie board comes out of his kitchen.” Hite credits travel for helping develop his Entwined’s menu is seasonally refreshed, love of and skill in cooking — traditional but the flatbreads and mix-and-match charcuterie are staples. French cuisine inspires Entwined’s plates and takes diners on a Bone-in short ribs are surrounded by cranberry chutney and culinary adventure. “One of the things ‌any chef should do is travel buttery potatoes. Creamy risotto is topped with saffron and squash for culture,” he explains. “If you want to feel like you’re somewhere — or tender seared scallops. Veal, beef, and sausage meatballs else while you’re dining, you need to know what it feels like dining are served with house-made marinara and mozzarella, the smell somewhere else.” He sees the result in happy diners, he says: “I enjoy wafting off a cast-iron skillet. Hite’s dishes are curated to pair well the gratification of seeing someone enjoy what I have made, to see with Entwined’s extensive list of wine, spirits, and craft gimlets, old the customers be intrigued and satisfied.” fashioneds, martinis, and more cocktails. For the restaurant’s wineand bourbon-pairing private events, Hite develops a three-course entwinedbar.com

86 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

CHEERS Justin Willett of Lofted Spirits and country music star Dierks Bentley

LET’S ROW

Dierks Bentley’s latest bourbon launches at Owensboro’s Green River Distilling Co. By Kristen K. Tucker

Country music star Dierks Bentley

returned to Owensboro, Kentucky, in September to unveil a bold new expression in his Row 94 whiskey line. At a launch event at Green River Distilling Co., Bentley performed an intimate set to celebrate Row 94 Full Proof, a 120-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon building on the success of last year’s launch. The Row 94 brand name was inspired by Nashville, Tennessee’s Music Row, where Arizona-born Bentley, who moved to Nashville in 1994, also owns a bar, Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row. Bentley says the idea for Full Proof came during the development of Row 94. “I tasted it at full proof — and I instantly knew we had something special,” he told the crowd. “There’s something raw and powerful about the uncut experience that really stuck with me.” Owensboro felt like the right place to anchor the partnership, Bentley

explained. “I love the grit, the history, and the people here. It all came together in such an organic way, and that turned into a business. It felt like home,” Bentley said, also noting Nashville’s 133-mile distance from Owensboro. Row 94 offers three expressions: its namesake, which debuted in September 2024; Full Proof, its latest release; and Broken Branches, a rare bourbon (only 1,500 bottles were made) bottled at 100 proof and aged five years that was introduced in June in honor of Bentley’s newest album of the same name. Row 94 Full Proof — aged a minimum of four years and crafted from a mash bill of 70 percent corn, 21 percent rye, and nine percent malted barley — comes straight from new American White Oak barrels with a Level 4 char. On the nose, drinkers will find vanilla, fresh tobacco, leather, and clove. The palate layers honey sweetness with

JUSTIN WILLET AND DIERKS BENTLEY PHOTO BY GREG EANS. ROW 94 BOTTLE PHOTO BY KRISTEN K. TUCKER. OTHER PHOTOS BY LAURA MATHIS

FREE AND EASY The singer of 18 No. 1 hits, Dierks Bentley, 50, also is a bourbon entrepreneur. He launched his Row 94 Full Proof brand in September at Owensboro, Kentucky’s Green River Distilling Co. with a private tasting, distillery tour, and intimate show.

raisin, black pepper, and smoky oak before finishing with toffee and dark chocolate. Justin Willett, vice president of operations for Lofted Spirits, the contract distilling arm of Bardstown Bourbon Co. and Green River Distilling, said the Green River team worked closely with Bentley to shape the brand and expand its reach. “We make a lot of great whiskey here, but what makes Row 94 stand out is the proof and the story behind it,” Willett said. “Dierks and the team spent about a year going back and forth on how to make this one unique, and we landed on the 94-proof flagship and now this Full Proof expression.” Already a gold medal winner at Fred Minnick’s 2025 Ascot Awards, Row 94 Full Proof is $59.99 a bottle and available at merchants nationwide and online. Bentley raised a glass with a favorite toast: “Keep flowing. Keep creating. Let’s Row.” greenriverwhiskey.com row94whiskey.com

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Savor

Olivia Parrella

Rob Lacer

IN THE KITCHEN

Rising to the Occasion

A couple finds flour power through their artisanal bakery By Shawn Rumsey

he enticing smells and tasty morsels of Parrella Petite’s baked goods are a familiar presence at festivals, vendor markets, and other area events — and that’s on purpose. Since 2022, co-founders Olivia Parrella and Rob Lacer have turned their mutual love of baking into personal and professional success. “Getting to talk with people face-to-face, hear their feedback, and watch them enjoy

our treats means everything to us,” Parrella says. “We’ve built such a sweet community of regular customers over the years, and getting to know them — and even their families — has been one of the best parts of what we do.” Customer response is strongest to Parrella Petite’s Best Damn Chocolate Chip Cookies, rosemary focaccia, coffee and cream cookies, and desserts, including bourbon bars, brownies, and seasonal-flavored bars. “Word-ofmouth has honestly been one of the biggest reasons our business has grown,” Parrella says. The couple has supported their wholesale business by utilizing commercial “ghost kitchens” at establishments like Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge and Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar. They prepare smaller batches for public events in their home kitchen. They make 700 bagels a week for Honey Moon Coffee Co.’s four local shops, as well as breakfast sandwiches, bagels, and some gluten-free items for Black Lodge Coffee Roasters in New Harmony, Indiana. Their ALL RISE Baking artisanal bagels, breads, cookies, and more has become Olivia Parrella’s and Rob Lacer’s full-time passion. A small enterprise that boosts other local businesses, the pair bakes Parrella Petite’s tasty goods in ghost kitchens like Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge.

88 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

longest relationship has been with River City Coffee + Goods in Downtown Evansville, providing cookies, bagels, scones, muffins, and fresh caramel that the coffee shop uses in its beverages. “We stick with other small businesses,” Parrella says. That local sentiment extends to their ingredients, Lacer adds: “We try to source all of our ingredients locally and in season.” Lacer has spent 17 years in the food industry — including five years baking — and has experience as a sous and head chef. Parrella’s grandfather successfully ran Ray Parrella’s Italian Restaurant for three decades in Jeffersonville, Indiana, where she was raised. The pair met years ago when they helped open 812 Pizza Company in Georgetown, Indiana, and then worked together in other restaurants such as Cosmos Bistro. The business and romantic partners have comfortably settled into Evansville, where Lacer grew up, attended Central High School, and still has family. “This has allowed us to quit our jobs and go into business by ourselves,” Lacer says. “It’s a no-brainer.” Adds Parrella, “We’re definitely calling Evansville home, in more than one way.” parrellapetite.com PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

NOW THAT’S SWEET

A TASTE OF YESTERDAY Charlie’s Candy Shop in Vincennes serves treats and sweet memories for 70 years It’s more than the sweet aromas of chocolate and freshly popped caramel corn swirling in the air that keep people returning to Charlie’s Caramel Corn and Candy Shop. It’s also the memories — 70 years worth. The popular Vincennes, Indiana, business celebrated its 70th anniversary October-December in the same spot where its story started, at a two-story house along Second Street. Customers stopped in and stepped back in time with 1950s music and employees wearing poodle skirts, Pink Lady jackets, and other period garb. Customers perusing the wide array of candies — bark, toffee, caramels, clusters, and pecan patties, among others — or a bag or tin of its popular caramel corn could fill out a form describing their memories of visiting the candy shop. “This place over the years was special to a lot of people, and truly we have people daily come in here just for the memories,” says co-owner

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE

By Shawn Rumsey

Original owners Lorethea and Charlie Hamke

Lorrinda Ellermann, who has her own childhood memories of walking into what seemed like a magical kingdom, and where she later worked part-time as a teenager. Ellermann and her husband, Bob, plus her brother Darrel Bobe and his wife, Emily, bought the candy shop in 2002 from original owners Charles

CLEAR. LOCAL. RELIABLE.

GRETCHEN ROSS

and Lorethea Hamke. All treats still are made on-site using the Hamkes’ original recipes. “A bad part of our business is when we have longtime customers pass away,” Lorrinda Ellerman says. “The good part is when the next generation comes in and carries on their family’s tradition.” charliescandy.com

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WEEKDAY MORNINGS ON EYEWITNESS NEWS.

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Savor CHAIN REACTION

Take a Dip Chuy’s packs Tex-Mex dishes into a good-times atmosphere By John Martin Chuy’s East Side Evansville

Chicka-Chicka Boom-Boom Enchiladas

he May opening of Chuy’s East Side location was highly anticipated — area residents had seen the chain while traveling to Indianapolis, Louisville, Kentucky, or Nashville, Tennessee, and were happy to have its well-known creamy jalapeño dip and other Chuy’s Mexican Martini Sizzling Combo Fajitas Tex-Mex dishes close to home. That early excitement “has only grown,” says David Daugherty, general manager of the Evansville restaurant. “Many guests have come thoughtful tweaks guided by what guests love — always true to our back several times, which is the best compliment we could ask for.” made‑from‑scratch standards,” Daugherty says. “We’re continually Founded in 1982 in Austin, Texas, Chuy’s has expanded to more developing new ideas in the kitchen and behind the bar.” than 100 restaurants across at least 15 states. Like all of its locations, Beyond margaritas, “we’re also known for the New Mexican ‘Tini, Evansville’s — in the former O’Charley’s on East Indiana Street — is which is our spicy take on the Texas ‘Tini,” Daugherty says. Made with full of energy, color, and eclectic decor. Check out the Mil Pescado Lunazul Silver tequila infused with green chiles and orange-flavored (English translation: “1,000 fish”) ceiling display. Cointreau liqueur, it’s shaken and served in a chilled The scenery is fun, but it’s the food that keeps martini glass. “We’re continually diners returning. Recipes are native to South Chuy’s offers meal bundle options serving four Texas, New Mexico, and Mexican border towns, developing new ideas people, plus catering. The Evansville-based team and Daugherty says freshness is a hallmark. The has about 70 people, “and we’re always looking for in the kitchen and aforementioned jalapeño dip has sparked numerous great folks who bring heart, hustle, and Chuy’s fun,” behind the bar.” copycat recipes. Chuy’s tortillas are made by hand Daugherty says. daily, and margaritas come with fresh-squeezed General Manager David Daugherty Daugherty is new in Evansville — he’s been with lime juice. Chuy’s for the last 14 years of a quarter-century Meal choices include Chicka-Chicka Boomrestaurant career, mostly spent in the Louisville, Boom Enchiladas and sizzling fajitas, plus the signature Big As ‘Yo Kentucky, area. He most recently was the kitchen manager of the Face burritos that require no further description — they are enormous Clarksville, Indiana, Chuy’s. He says his wife, four kids, and two dogs and stretch clear across the plate. are enjoying the River City, and “we’re excited to call this community Items like those are pillars of the Chuy’s menu, but “we keep our home.” the experience fresh with occasional seasonal features and small, chuys.com

FOOD AND BEVERAGE PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHUY’S. INTERIOR PHOTO BY CHANDA RAMSEY

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Savor HOT DISH

‘Every Bowl Has a Soul’ Raise a ladle to this popular noodle-broth dish By John Martin and Maggie Valenti

LOVE FROM THE KITCHEN At Hokkaido Ramen House, father and son Shankang and Liam Lin prepare the noodle-and-broth dish daily. Shankang owns the restaurant, while Liam is sushi chef. In the year since Hokkaido opened, diners’ enjoyment of ramen and its different varieties has “surprised us in the best way,” manager Selena Ye says.

Lanzhou beef ramen from 2nd Language

hen it comes to winter comfort foods, ramen fits the bill. “Hot soup on a cold day — it sells itself on that point,” says 2nd Language line chef Clint Pollack. More diners are discovering the goodness of a steaming mix of broth, meat, noodles, vegetables, and spices. Call it a hug in a bowl. No longer is ramen a stereotypical dorm room food. It’s a global phenomenon catching fire locally thanks to ambitious, skilled chefs and customers who are expanding their palates. Ramen’s roots are in China, but its popularity grew in Japan. An appetizing quality for diners is the many available choices, plus how any can be seasoned to taste. American-born diners, for example,

tend to want more salt than those who are native to other countries, says Selena Ye, manager of Hokkaido Ramen House on North Burkhardt Road. “Every bowl has a soul,” Ye says. “We offer more than 10 types of ramen, each crafted with hours of simmering and a lot of heart — from our deeply aromatic garlic tonkotsu to the bold heat of spicy beef and spicy miso. We have pork, chicken, beef, vegetarian, and even gluten-free options because we want every guest to find a bowl that feels like it was made for them.” The national chain restaurant’s Evansville location opened in December 2024. “People here have adventurous taste buds,” Ye says. “We love seeing guests’ eyes light up after that first sip of broth.”

92 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

“Even though our recipes come from traditional Japanese roots, we believe ramen is also about community,” Ye adds. “When we first opened, some guests told us that certain broths or our chashu tasted lighter than they expected. So we listened, adjusted, and improved … while keeping the original spirit of the recipe.” Domo Japanese Hibachi Grill, Sushi and Ramen sees diners of different nationalities, but American-born customers are becoming more familiar with ramen, Executive Chef Marvin Abadicio says. The restaurant, which moved out of China Bistro and into its own storefront on North Green River Road in 2021, has about a dozen ramen choices. Some are paitan style, with a creamy white broth and thick noodles, and “we serve it with seafood, like shrimp. We also have chicken, beef, and spicy pork,” Abadicio says. Though the dish is a simple mix of ingredients, there are endless varieties, and preparing a ramen recipe — especially authentically — takes hours. At Downtown’s 2nd Language, owner Randy Hobson invested in a pressure cooking system from Japan that reduces the broth’s cook time while improving its consistency and flavor. Since PHOTOS BY ZACH STRAW

“People here have adventurous taste buds. We love seeing guests’ eyes light up after that first sip of broth.” Selena Ye, manager of Hokkaido Ramen House on North Burkhardt Road

2021 (a year after opening), ramen has been a popular item on the seasonally updated menu at the Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant, which serves up to eight rotating variations. This season, the spicy tiger kimchi, cold-smoked pork belly tonkotsu, and savory Lanzhou beef are the most popular orders. Hobson samples the latest trends by traveling extensively (as is evidenced by the global flavors on the menus at his restaurants, including Pangea Kitchen, Sazón y Fuego, and Pangea Pizzeria). “Ramen consumption on a per capita basis in the U.S. is well behind other parts of the world, especially Southeast Asia. In Japan, you find a ramen spot on every corner,” he says. Hobson’s staff benchmarks their offerings against industry leaders and leverages the knowledge of staff at all four restaurants to develop unique offerings. Tantanmen ramen from Domo Japanese Hibachi Grill, Sushi and Ramen

Hobson attended a class in Los Angeles, California, to learn from Kenichi Ota, a Japanese ramen expert. Ota, who in 2023 opened KC Craft Ramen in Overland Park, Kansas, then visited Evansville at Hobson’s request to teach 2nd Language kitchen staff the art of ramen. “If you have a welltrained staff and proper prep, you can make ramen servings pretty quickly,” says General Manager Austin Cole. Pollack, 2nd Language’s line chef, fell in love with ramen while serving with the U.S. Air Force in Japan. He credits anime with driving ramen’s rise into the mainstream as well as its comfort food quality. Head chef Jeremy Gunn’s favorite ramens on 2nd Language’s menu are the tiger kimchi and umami-rich spicy miso, a secret ninth menu item. Gunn also praises ramen’s accessibility. “Going out to eat is becoming harder for people,” he says. “We work very hard to control our costs while keeping the product made in-house and authentically, so everyone can enjoy our products.”

ALL IN THE DETAILS Line chef Clint Pollack puts the final touches on one of 2nd Language’s most popular ramen dishes, a savory Lanzhou beef featuring slices of the dark meat slid into a vegetable broth with Tantan mushrooms, spinach, bean sprouts, green onion, and a chili crisp alongside a split soft-boiled egg. Spicy beef ramen from Hokkaido Ramen House

tastepangea.com/2nd-language domojapanese2021.wixsite.com/my-site hokkaidoramenhousein.com

THE ANATOMY OF RAMEN Origin: 19th century Chinese immigrants to Japan brought along soup-served noodles, which Japanese restaurants developed into a food staple. It’s since been adopted in many East Asian countries. Ingredients: egg noodles; a meat, vegetable, or miso broth; pieces of beef, chicken,

pork, or seafood; and toppings like corn, scallions, and a soft-boiled egg Traditional Broth Types: shio (salty); shoyu (soy sauce); miso (soybean); and tonkotsu (pork bone broth)

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Rediscover the Joy of Learning Be a part of a community that thrives on curiosity and conversation! Whether you’re passionate about history, literature, science, or the arts, Continued Learning @ UE (CLUE) offers a place to stay curious and connected. Taught by University of Evansville faculty and local experts, our five-week noncredit courses are designed for adults who believe learning is a lifelong adventure. Join us for the Spring 2026 CLUE sessions, featuring a lineup of thought-provoking topics, lively discussions, and new opportunities to engage with fellow learners in a welcoming university setting. There are no tests or grades, just great conversations, fresh ideas, and personal enrichment. SESSION I: February 18 - March 18 ● Reading Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn ● Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables: The Novel and the History ● Move Smarter. Feel Younger. Live Freer. (Intro to The Feldenkrais Method®) ● The Origins of the Modern World SESSION II: April 1 - April 29 Henry’s Children ● The Romantic Movement, Poetry, and Gender with Mary and Percy Bysse Shelley ● Biomechanics for Lifelong Wellness ● Personality Disorders ● STEM – It’s not just a part of a plant! ● Mahjong for Beginners: Learn and Play Together ●

Spring CLUE classes begin February 2026! Reserve your spot today at evansville.edu/CLUE or call 812-488-2981 for more information.

Continued Learning @ UE Inspiring Lifelong Learning

2881

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

Savor | DINING GUIDE DINING KEY

Dine

Fine Dining

Cavanaugh’s on the River

Located on the second floor of Bally’s Riverfront Event Center, this premier dining experience specializes in steak and seafood on its three-course menu, which includes prime rib, pork chop, blackened neptune, verlasso salmon, and king crab legs. Live entertainment Wednesday-Sunday at Cavanaugh’s Piano Bar. Reservations recommended. 421 N.W. Riverside Drive (inside Bally’s Evansville)

Upscale Dining Belly of the Wolf

This newer scratch restaurant inside Schymik’s Kitchen offers a wine-driven menu of smoked salmon, Iberico pork loin, shareplate ribeyes, steak frites, Curacao creme brulee, and more. 1112 Parrett St.

Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano

Monthly chef specials and homemade dishes fill out the lunch and dinner menus. Try bacon-wrapped dates, seafood scampi, french onion soup, braised short rib or butternut squash ravioli, eggplant parmesan, dijon salmon, and grilled mahi mahi. 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway Ste. 3

i Cap & Cork

Find a menu heavy on steak and seafood, with several handheld choices, a lengthy cocktail menu, and a cigar and bourbon bar. 104 N. Water St., Henderson, KY

The Collective

Entrees like seafood stuffed mushrooms, barbecue pork sliders, crispy skin salmon, chicken cordon bleu, and porterhouse steak are complemented by curated wines, original cocktails, and a whiskey selection. 21+. 230 Main St. (above COMFORT by the Cross-Eyed Cricket)

Copper House

Dishes range from white bean hummus and steak and grits to apricot salmon, plus cocktails and wine enjoyed from the restaurant, bar, and Garden Room overlooking the kitchen. 1430 W. Franklin St.

Cork ’N Cleaver

With its menu etched on literal cleavers, this longstanding restaurant is known for steaks, seafood, burgers, and sandwiches, an extensive salad bar (complete with anchovies), and mud pie for dessert. 650 S.

Hebron Ave.

Cosmos Bistro

This French-inspired menu, concise with a broad variety of options, offers a la carte dishes that change seasonally. 101 S.E. First St.

Entwined Wine & Cocktail Bar

The wine and cocktail bar has an intimate setting and offers a rotating selection of small plates including charcuterie and cheese plates, salads, flatbreads, and desserts. 303 Main St.

i Farmer and Frenchman Winery

French and Italian cuisines live in harmony on this menu offering seasonal small bites, focaccia, vol au vent, braised beef pasta, beet and burrata salad, beef bourguignon, and roasted butternut squash. An extensive wine menu is available. 12522 U.S. 41 S., Robards, KY

Juicy Seafood

ribeye, and burgers plus duck breast, gnocchi a la rosa, and french onion soup. 415 Main St.

Casual Bar Louie

The Midwest gastrobar chain offers bar bites like fried pickles and bone-in wings before entrees including Monterey chicken, citrus grilled salmon, beer-battered fish and chips, shrimp and grits, flatbreads, and craft burgers and scratch-built sandwiches. Catering available. 7700 Eagle Crest Blvd.

Bonefish Grill

A local favorite for seafood, find hand-cut and wood-grilled specialties like Chilean sea bass, parmesan-crusted rainbow trout, and bourbon-glazed salmon. For those who prefer land-based meats, try chicken, pork, steak, or linguine dishes. 6401 E. Lloyd Expressway

BRU Burger Bar

Inside the city’s historic former Greyhound bus terminal, dine on endless takes on the burger — dress it up with bourbon sauce, Provencal cheese, double bacon, chipotle barbecue sauce, a Mexicali spice mix, and mushrooms and Swiss cheese. A wide range of sandwiches, milkshakes, and signature cocktails also are served. 222

Sycamore St.

Bubba’s 33

101 E. Haub St., Haubstadt

This family restaurant/sports bar fusion was started by Kent “Bubba” Taylor, the founder of Texas Roadhouse, in 2013, and came to Evansville in 2022. Enjoy dishes like the Bacon Burger and Meaty Meat pizza, plus garlic knots, pastas, salads, and sandwiches. One N. Burkhardt Road

NANDO Wood-Fired Steak & Seafood

i Carriage Inn

i Haub Steakhouse

Housed in a 125-year-old former grain warehouse, find hand-cut meats, including trimmed steaks and fresh seafood, alongside desserts and signature cocktails.

A new menu of steaks and seafood, including oysters, sea bass, halibut, wagyu,

96 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Housed in what originally was a 19th-century livery renting horses and carriages,

Fine Dining..........................................96 Upscale Dining....................................96 Casual..................................................96 Cafés....................................................99 Diners..................................................99 Walk-ups and Drive-ins......................99 Pizzerias.............................................101 Barbecue...........................................103 Asian..................................................103 German..............................................103 Haitian...............................................103 Indian.................................................105 Irish....................................................105 Italian/Mediterranean......................105 Latin American..................................105 Sports Bars........................................106 Tavern and Pub Food.......................106 Delis...................................................106 Coffee, Tea, and Drinks.....................107 Ice Cream..........................................107 Bakeries.............................................107 Breweries and Craft Cocktails..........107 H = 2025 Best of Evansville winner = location is outside of Evansville or Newburgh

Evansville Living has made every attempt to present an accurate guide. Please notify us of any significant changes in a restaurant’s management, location, or menu. This directory is not comprehensive, not based on advertising, and is compiled by the editorial staff.

this Southern family-style restaurant serves hand-breaded fried chicken, chicken livers and gizzards, grilled salmon, and catfish filets, plus sandwiches and burgers. 103 E. Gibson St., Haubstadt

Catfish Willy’s Seafood & Comfort Cuisine

This eclectic menu includes a Grippos cheeseburger, meatloaf, coconut shrimp, crab stuffed whitefish, fried frog legs, a seafood ramen boil, loaded gator fries, freshshucked loaded or raw oysters, deep fried crab cakes, and a create-your-own seafood steampot, all served with the help of robots. 5720 E. Virginia St.

Chef Lo on the Go

Find a range of classic smashburgers — including pineapple bacon, surf and turf, and brunch variations — plus a shrimp po’boy, fajita tacos, ribeye cheesesteak sandwich, and a variety of loaded fries. 900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage)

COMFORT by the Cross-Eyed Cricket (Best Spot for Brunch)

Dine in a historic former hotel on one of the city’s most varied menus. Country entrees include meatloaf, roast beef, and chicken and dumplings, or select from loaded salads, thick sandwiches, fish and fowl dishes, and steaks. Belgian waffles, skillets, omelets, and more breakfast items are served all day. 230 Main St.

Cross-Eyed Cricket Family Restaurant

The precursor to COMFORT set the table for homestyle cooking available all day. Breakfast specials include bread pudding French PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

toast, deep fried fruit-covered funnel cake, and garlic butter ribeye steak ‘n eggs. For lunch or dinner, try the Cricket Melt — two beef patties with lettuce, tomato, sauteed onions, and bacon on Texas toast. 2101 W. Lloyd Expressway

Diamonds Diner

Juicy Seafood

Specials include boiled black and green mussels, squid, crayfish, and snow crab, plus New England clam chowder, hushpuppies, raw or steamed oysters, king crab legs, seafood fried rice, and pasta on the Cajun-inspired menu. 865 N. Green River Road

An American family restaurant attached to a silo serving farm omelets, French toast, waffles, pancakes, crepes, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and homestyle cooking.

Kate’s Cafe

315 E. Diamond Ave.

A place to gather — “where taste and flavor meet” — serving pancakes, crepes, French toast, omelets, sushi, pasta, steak, and more. 5625 Pearl Drive, Ste. G

Drake’s

i The Korner Inn

The Lexington, Kentucky-based chain specializes in burgers, steaks, sushi, and a good time. The bar has 20 craft beers on tap to wash down a variety of sushi rolls and burgers, plus chicken asada tacos, fried fish, salads, chili, smashburgers, steak, and sandwiches. 1222 Hirschland Road

The Frontier Restaurant and Bar

Feast on chicken wings, a “porterhouse” pork chop, and roasted prime rib, plus seafood, pasta, burgers, and sandwiches at the former cinder block saloon. 12945 IN-57

G.D. Ritzy’s

Exuding a diner feel with a 1950s playlist, on the menu are chili, “the world’s best” peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and the wellknown shoe string fries alongside burgers, hotdogs, salads, and soft-serve ice cream. Three locations in Evansville

i Hometown Roots

Explore cuisine with Southern roots by way of pork cakes, a classic Kentucky Hot Brown, Mississippi Cajun catfish, and sweet sorghum banana pudding served in a mason jar. Catering available. 136 Second St., Henderson, KY

HT’s Ice Cream & Grill

Inside the former 2nd Street Treats, this relaxed eatery specializes in smashburgers and ice cream and offers sandwiches, milkshakes and malts, banana splits, sundaes, and more. 221 Second St. Ste. A,

The northern Warrick County bar is open from breakfast to dinner, including nightly specials on fried chicken, catfish fiddlers, and smoked pork chops. 15 W. Main St., Elberfeld

i The Log Inn

The Elpers family’s definition of homestyle cooking includes fried chicken legs and wings, rolls, ham, roast beef, mashed potatoes, homemade coleslaw, corn, green beans, and freshly baked pies and cakes. Erected in 1825 as a stagecoach stop and trading post, this resting point is recognized as the oldest restaurant in Indiana. 12491 S. 200 E., Haubstadt

Major Munch

Order from a menu of savory burgers and patty melts, catfish sandwich, Philly cheesesteaks, po’boys, three types of crispy chicken sandwiches, and tenderloins. 101 N.W. First St.

Metro Diner

This chain offers comfort food like pancakes, burgers, ribs, fish and chips, and chicken pot pie in a retro setting. 945 N. Burkhardt Road

Mister B’s

Choose from fare like battered mushrooms, nacho baskets, seasoned and loaded waffle fries, loaded potato soup, reubens, strombolis, buffalo mac and cheese, baked ziti, and specialty pizzas. After your meal, stop at Club 18, an indoor golf simulator club next door to the Evansville location. 1340 Hirsch-

Henderson, KY

land Road; 2611 U.S. 41, Henderson, KY

The Hornet’s Nest Steakhouse (Best Brunch)

The New Old Mill

Formerly a tavern, hotel, and dance hall, now the restaurant offers everything from a hot brown and beef Manhattan to Cajun chicken tortellini, French dip and Philly sandwiches, lollipop pork chop, pecan bourbon chicken, and more in a relaxed setting. From the bar, enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine, beer, bourbon, and whiskey. 11845 Petersburg Road

FRESH TAKES

Family-style dinners have been made from scratch here since 1936. In a dining room sporting Old World decor, share plates of breaded cauliflower, shrimp egg rolls, Texas-cut prime rib, baby back ribs, shrimp Maui, filet of sole almandine, baked scrod, chicken ala Kiev, lasagna, weiner schnitzel, and Old Mill tenderloin and fish filet sandwiches.

Mi Valle Carnicería & Market

NOW OPEN

After a two-year closure, JW Hornville Tavern has reopened for lunch at 2607 W. Baseline Road and is serving fried chicken, German bologna, tenderloins, pulled pork, chili, burgers, and more. Guilou Lounge & Grill is open in the former Dishes by Dani location Metro Diner at 750 S. Kentucky Ave. and offers Haitian cuisine such as gratin (Haitian pasta), soup joumou (pumpkin), tassot cabrit (fried goat meat), and moru (salted codfish). Latin American food shoppers can find produce, menu staples, and cooking equipment at Mi Valle Carnicería & Market, 5614 E. Virginia St. National chain Dutch Bros Coffee is operating a new drive-thru location at 2421 Menards Drive for its protein coffee, energy drinks, matcha, lemonade, hot cocoa, and smoothies. Metro Diner opened a local spot at 945 N. Burkhardt Road. The Tampa, Florida-based chain is known for its retro interior and comfort-food menu of pancakes, burgers, ribs, fish and chips, chicken pot pie, and more. Mount Vernon, Indiana-based DiMaggio’s Italian Pizza has opened a shop at 3848 N. First Ave. for slices of pizza, breadsticks, pastas, calzones, strombolis, and more.

NIBBLES

Jacobs Pub

Pangea Kitchen

This East Side restaurant combines Thai and Italian dishes to create its eclectic menu of Neapolitan and Detroit-style pizzas, housemade pasta, pad ke moa, kao soi, pad ka poa and rice, torta milanesa, and a rotating taco special. Gelato and Italian pastries are available for dessert. 111 S. Green River Road

After a brief closure, Bowlify Superfoods’ 8390 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh location reopened Oct. 22 under new owners Timmy and Missy Dunn. Domo Japanese Hibachi Grill, 215 N. Green River Road, has unveiled daily Filipino lunch meals like silong and new weekend specials including pork adobo, pork caldereta, sinigang na salmon, and dinuguan. Fidel’s Bourbon Bar ceased operations Nov. 29 at 950 Parrett St. and will reopen as a similar concept, The Phoenix Room, above Madeleines Fusion Restaurant, 423 S.E. Second St. Madeleines is being renovated after a December 2024 fire closed its doors.

607 N. Main St.

Pip’s Pub

DEARLY DEPARTED

This new venture incorporates many original DiLegge’s Restaurant dishes. Start with a fungi ripieni granchio or insalata DiLegge, then dig into Gina’s fried chicken, DiLegge’s baked ziti, a chicken parmesan grinder, German bologna sandwich, double Chicago hot dog, bistecca e gamberetti, clams and linguine, scampi, or build-your-own pasta.

Journey Fish & Chicken

Food with a Chicago flare, try Windy City twists on honey barbecue wings, chicken tenders, catfish steak, and Italian beef. 825 S. Green River Road

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SOURCE

5031 New Harmony Road

Did the silvery diner exterior catch your eye as you exited Interstate 64? Weary travelers and local diners alike stop by for classic and creative twists on pub cuisine, including catfish bites, fried pickles, Bavarian pretzel sticks, and the mac and smash attack

Agape Graze owner Jessica Joy Machen announced Nov. 29 that she is closing her catering business. Bowlify Superfoods has shuttered its location at 250 N. Burkhardt Road.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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98 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

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Savor | DINING GUIDE burger, Philly cheesesteak, pork tenderloin sandwich, and a citrus chicken rice bowl. 19501 Elpers Road

GOOD EATS

Prime Time Bar & Grill

The prime rib is a house specialty, but there’s plenty more here: burgers, rice bowls, and crunchy potato chips to snack on while waiting for an order. Choose from about 45 bourbons and 25 beers on tap. 8177 Bell

The Little Bar with Big Plates Rick’s 718 offers hearty meals all day long

Oaks Drive, Newburgh; 12301 U.S. 41 N.

Rockin Chicken Indi

Sample a variety of marinated meats like grilled chicken, jumbo wings, skirt steak, pulled pork, and rack rib, plus street and soft tacos and burritos with housemade sauces and sides. 2519 N. First Ave.

The Rooster’s Den

Passed-down family recipes are the backbone of this menu, which offers biscuits and gravy, a loaded haystack, Rowdy Rooster, French toast, pancakes, breaded pork tenderloin, Hawaiian chicken salad, and chicken strip basket. A soup and salad bar is available at lunch. 38988 Haley Drive, Newburgh

Samuel’s

You’ll know this Downtown eatery by its red exterior. Inside, and on the outside patio, diners enjoy smashburgers, truffle fries, and cocktails. 21+. 113 S.E. Fourth St.

The Rooftop

Whether inside or with a view on the elevated outdoor patio, dine on an expansive menu with breakfast choices as well as a Rooftop smashburger, Richie’s Fried Chicken, build-your-own-pizza, buffalo chicken mac, chicken on the beach, and a brisket mac and cheese taco. 112 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

The Tin Fish

Fill up on calamari, crab cakes, mahi-mahi, swordfish, trout, and filets like orange roughy, catfish, tilapia, and walleye are offered alongside New England clam chowder, tacos, burritos, and sandwiches. The two-story, pink salt-walled seafood eatery includes an 18-seat bar. 707 State St., Newburgh

Cafés 10-8 Café Bar & Grill

The menu inside the North Side shooting range and entertainment center winks at the law enforcement life, offering live rounds (pizza), burglers (burgers), new recruits (kids’ menu), mutual aid (sides), and sandwiches like the dayshifter BLT and the billy club. 4209 U.S. 41 N. (inside Lawman Tactical

Guntry Club)

i GiGi’s

Family-style breakfast and dinner menus at this family-owned restaurant, serving sandwiches, plates of pulled pork, ribs, chicken, burgers, and desserts, including pies and cakes. 48 S. Holloway St., Henderson, KY

Kite & Key Café

Breakfast and lunch options include omelets, breakfast burritos, eggs benedict, French toast, crepes, avocado toast, skillets, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, quesadillas, soups, and salads. Try the cinnamon roll bread pudding, and stop in the coffee bar. 2301 W. Franklin St.

PHOTO BY CHANDA RAMSEY

Looking for an under-the-radar

spot with filling, made-from-scratch meals? Rick’s 718 at West Columbia Street and North Third Avenue is an atmospheric neighborhood tavern that punches above its weight class. Diners can choose from a big menu of all-day breakfast options — starting at 7 a.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday — plus daily lunch and dinner specials and regular items like burgers and pizza. Evansville Living staffers recommend the open-face roast beef sandwich (smothered with gravy and real mashed potatoes) available Mondays-Fridays, as well as Wednesday’s fried chicken platter special. Grab pork chops on Tuesdays and catfish filets on Fridays. Chef ’s choice specials on Mondays and Thursdays have included goulash, meatloaf, and stuffed peppers. Owned for 18 years by Rick Kennedy — who also owns Darmstadt Inn — Rick’s 718 has a dim bar setting, plus a brighter, family-friendly room with a billiard table. Sit on the patio when the winter weather breaks.

i Sidewalk Café

This local favorite lunch spot features sandwiches like grilled pimento cheese and hot ham and cheese, and daily specials, plus soups, salads, and desserts. Catering available. 228 Second St., Henderson, KY

Sunrise Café Family Restaurant

Select from several spins on pancakes, waffles, French toast, and omelettes, plus hearty lunches like catfish, chicken strips, and chopped sirloin. 8401 N. Kentucky Ave.;

2121 N. Green River Road, Ste. 8

That Place

This spot is all about homemade food, including pita pizzas, pickle pockets, paninis, burgers, and biscuits and gravy. 2630 U.S. 41, Ste. B Henderson, KY

Tina Williams has worked in the kitchen since 2014, alongside fellow chef Doug Easter, who also handles decorating. Kennedy’s sister, Tina Rae Byrns, is bar manager. Rick’s 718 has its share of regulars, but all are warmly welcomed. “We’re just a little hometown bar, but with home-cooked meals,” Williams says. — John Martin Find Rick’s 718 on Facebook

tacos, taquitos, fajitas, chicken on the beach, Mexican chicken, or cheesecake chimichanga. 550 N. Green River Road

Frankie’s Restaurant

Discover both Mexican and Midwestern comfort food, including chilaquiles, churro waffles, tres leches pancakes, cajeta French toast, fried catfish, and Wisconsin cheese curds and fried pickles. The bar serves cocktails, wines, and beer plus weekly drink specials. 6840 Logan Drive

Merry Go Round Restaurant

Open since June 1946, the menu at this octagon-shaped building includes a choice of steak, smoked porch chop, grilled pork tenderloin, pork cutlet, and chicken plus eggs as well as omelets. Sandwiches make up a huge chunk of the menu, plus salads, seafood, steaks, pasta, soups, and chili.

Diners

2101 N. Fares Ave.

The Diner by Mele’s

Nellie’s

Offering a wide mix of American and Mexican cuisine, order the funnel cake, chicken and waffles, tilapia mango, enchiladas,

Popular breakfast items include chicken and waffles, French toast, chicken fajita burrito, breakfast skillets, and omelets.

For dinner, try the liver and onions, ribeye sandwich, pot roast, shrimp creole or tacos, and smothered pork chops. A North Side sister restaurant offering bar seating joined the family in 2024. 6600 N. First Ave.; 8566 Ruffian Lane, Newburgh

Walk-ups & Drive-ins Big Top Drive-In

Since 1948, this is the spot for old-fashioned burgers, crinkle-cut fries, and soft serve ice cream and shakes. Also find tenderloin, Grippos chicken, and rib sandwiches, soup and grilled cheese, frozen hot chocolate, sundaes, Twinkle Kote cones, and more. 1213 W. Maryland St.

Burger Bank

The yellow, red, and white building is easy to spot. If you’re not into the sliced-thin patties served on fluffy buns with classic toppings, order the tenderloins, melts, Philly cheese steaks, burgers, soups, sandwiches, shakes, floats, and soft-serve ice cream. 1617 S. Weinbach Ave.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

LOCAL RESTAURANT CELEBRATION

support your favorite local spots and try never-before-offered dining options! Dine in

FEBRUARY 24 THROUGH MARCH 8

Check out the participating restaurants and menus at eatupevansville.com follow us on social media @eatupevansville

100 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Carry out

Savor | DINING GUIDE i The Dariette

This old-school burger joint offers lunch and dinner for a sit-down, drive-up, or drive-thru meal. Order tater kegs to start, then choose from cheeseburgers, pork tenderloin, Nashville hot chicken, fish, chili dogs, and buffalo chicken strips. For dessert, try extreme milkshakes and sundaes. 711 Atkinson St.,

TRENDING NOW

Henderson, KY

JD Caribbean Restaurant

This South Side eatery is known for Caribbean and Haitian fare such as fried goat, jute leaves, chayote, goat stew, plantains, and fried fish. 1010 S. Kentucky Ave.

i Taylor’s Grill on Wheels

Memphis-style smoked meats are the top attraction alongside brisket, rib tips, smoked loin chops, pulled pork, smoked or barbecue pulled chicken breast, mac and cheese, baked beans, nachos, potato salad, and baked potatoes. Catering available. 130 N. Water St,. Henderson, KY

Zesto Drive-In

The family-owned sites continue the 1950s tradition of pounded-thin burgers, crinkle fries, and soft-serve ice cream. The West Side menu expands with bacon, egg and cheeses, biscuits and sausage gravy, breakfast tacos, and sandwiches like breaded tenderloin and cheeseburgers. 102 W. Franklin

St.; 920 E. Riverside Drive

Pizzerias Archie & Clyde’s Restaurant & Bar

Grab a drink and appetizer before a meal of homemade chili, gyros, pulled pork barbecue sandwich, breaded or grilled tenderloin sandwich, and a variety of pizzas. 8309 Bell

Oaks Drive, Newburgh

Azzip Pizza

It’s “pizza” backward, but the mix-and-match style of pie is anything but. Personal-sized pizzas (8 or 11 inches) are prepared to order. Specialties include the West Sider (barbecue pork, Grippos, and Ski extract), the Italian Stallion, and Potato Head, as well as the seasonal March Crabness. Three locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh

Casey’s Dugout

The baseball-inspired restaurant serves cleverly monikered pies like The “Graham” Slam, Field of Greens, and “The Hitman” and Donnie MEATball, both named after Evansville native and former New York Yankees star Don Mattingly. Come for the pies, stay for the swath of sports memorabilia decorating every available surface. 2900

Lincoln Ave.

DiMaggio’s Italian Pizza

This local location of the Mount Vernon-based shop offers pizza, breadsticks, pastas, calzones, strombolis, and more. 3848 N. First Ave.

Dontae’s Highland Pizza Parlor

Breakfast Boon New Lic’s owner expands the menu to breakfast Jodi Ashby, the new owner of Lic’s Deli & Ice

Cream, is leaving her mark on the beloved 75-year-old brand by adding breakfast and coffee choices. “During COVID, I was passing by one of the Lic’s stores and it was closed in the morning, and I thought, ‘Man, that’s a lot of opportunity,’” says Ashby, a Kentucky native who has worked in real estate and industrial development. After purchasing the business and its seven shops in August from longtime owners Don and Jane Smith, she put her plan in action. New sunrise items include

Side establishment for more than 30 years. 2350 E. Division St.

Lombardi’s New York Pizza and Wings

New York City-style pizza carves its way into the Midwest with a variety of flavors and toppings, sold by the slice or whole. A meaty variety is the New Porker. 3311 N. Green

River Road

Lyle’s Sportszone Pizza & Pub

Part restaurant, part dive bar, you’ll find pizza, strombolis — including Lyle’s original loaded stromboli — burgers, and sandwiches, plus live entertainment. 1404 E. Morgan Ave.

Pangea Pizzeria

Offerings include Neo-Neapolitan pizza plus breadsticks, wings, cookies, and house made gelato and sorbet. Diners also can order from the menu of neighboring restaurant 2nd Language. 401 N.W. Second

Sink your teeth into hoagie-style sandwiches and specialties pizzas. For pies, try the Cow & Pig, Funky Chicken, or King Fajita, or The Farva, Hines’ own spin on Evansville’s favorite strombolis. 6669 Kratzville Road

St., Ste. A

Kipplee’s

Pizza King

Thin-crust pizzas, sandwiches, and strombolis have been the top draw at this East PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOURCE

The local version of this Hoosier chain has a variety of appetizers and thin-crust pizzas,

biscuits and gravy, croissant sandwiches, egg and hash brown bites, and savory and sweet pastries, plus hot and cold drinks such as “scooffees,” which blend coffee and Lic’s well-known ice cream. Since Lic’s locations open at 6:30 a.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. on weekends, Ashby wants to offer morning commuters grab-and-go items. She says she and her team are working hard to perfect the additions: “Our focus is on customer service and quality.” — John Martin licsdeliandicecream.com

but it’s best known for its strombolis. The original boasts sausage and onion, or order a strom with a twist, like Texas barbecue and ham and cheese. Two locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh

Roca Bar and Pizza

Serving pizza since 1953, Roca Bar lays claim to being “Evansville’s Original Pizza.” Try specialty pies like Round the World, bacon cheeseburger, quesadilla, Mega Meat, and Roca Fredo, or order flatbreads, sandwiches, and pasta. 4600 Washington Ave.

Rounders Pizza and Rounders Too

Specialty pizzas include the Nameless Special, a pie with the tomato sauce on top, and the Bavarian, served with mustard, plus strombolis and sandwiches. 510 W. Mill Road; 12731 N. Green River Road

The Slice

Steps away from the University of Evansville campus, this neighborhood gathering place sells pies by the slice in popular choices such as the potato, ranch, and spinach. 2011 Lincoln Ave.

Spankey’s Una Café

The brand expanded in 2023 with this eatery in Haynie’s Corner Arts District. Find una-style pizza alongside cheese bread, bread sticks, wings, pretzel bites, salads, strombolis, sandwiches, desserts, and more. 15 Jefferson Ave.

Spankey’s Una Pizza

This restaurant’s first iteration grew from its una-style origins and into a popular sit-down restaurant on the West Side offering specialty pizzas — on that trademark cracker-thin crust — and build-your-own pies, plus sandwiches and specialty salads. Try the Strom Pizza or the Westsider, two options with a nod to Evansvillians’ appetites. 440 W. Lloyd Expressway

The Sportsden Bar & Grill

Dress up una-style pizzas with an array of toppings or order the Grand Slam and other specialty pies. Brat burgers, ribeye, German fried bologna, strombolis, and other sandwiches round out the menu. 701 N. Weinbach Ave., Ste. 110

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101

Pat Coslett’s Simplicity Furniture Walk into Pat Coslett’s Simplicity Furniture store, and it’s clear that this place is more than just a furniture store. Instead, visitors often are greeted by the sound of a guitar being strummed. The scent of fresh-baked chess pies wafts around the store, as do endless peals of laughter. Pat likes to describe Simplicity Furniture as “the only furniture store in the world where it’s not about the furniture. It’s difficult to explain, really — please see for yourself!” This philosophy extends from the front door into the showrooms.

Dan Grady

Chuck Grady

At the heart of it all stand Dan and Chuck Grady: brothers, salesmen, and blind by inheritance, not by limitation. Born into a family of eight children, Chuck and Dan have been part of Simplicity for nearly 15 years. Hereditary blindness affects the men in their family and progresses with age. It’s part of their story, but it’s not what defines them. Upon entering Simplicity, customers notice how welcoming the pair are and feel right at home talking with them. “Building relationships with the people who walk in is the best part,” the Gradys say. “It’s hard to come in and mope around here.” Chuck and Dan are more than just salesmen. Music has always been part of their lives, and before joining Simplicity, the brothers performed together for years as the Grady Brothers. They still play instruments lingering throughout the store. That sense of connection permeates everything they do, from helping customers choose furniture, to creating a space that feels welcoming to everyone. There’s not much these two brothers can’t do!

Upcoming Events Pat Godwin

“Mr. Showtime”

Feb. 14 at 8 p.m.

March 14 at 8 p.m.

on “The Bob & Tom Show”

David Scott

Simplicity makes furniture shopping easy, but what keeps people coming back is the feeling that they belong!

309 N. Green River Road |

102 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Free Delivery! Free Take-away! Free Chess Pie!

Customers who purchase furniture receive lifetime tickets to every show! Veterans, Healthcare Workers, Teachers, Firefighters, and Law Enforcement also get in FREE! Follow Pat Coslett’s Simiplicity Furniture on Facebook for more information.

Pat Coslett’s Simplicity Furniture | 812-909-3970

Savor | DINING GUIDE Steve’s Una Pizza

Have a classic una-style experience at this 50–plus-year-old walk-up favorite. Choose from thin-crust pies, wings, strombolis, and sandwiches. 1005 S. St. James Blvd.

Turoni’s Pizzery and Brewery (Best Pizza)

Famed for its cracker-thin crusts since 1963, this restaurant also launched Evansville’s first microbrewery in 1996. Pizza, strombolis, and sandwiches, paired with a frosty pint of Honey Blonde Ale, await. Two locations in

Evansville and one in Newburgh

Twisted Tomato Pizza Co.

Serving pizza on made-from-scratch pizza dough, pizza dippers, popper toast, pepperonicinis, oven-baked sandwiches including chicken alfredo carbonara and sloppy joe, and a variety of pastas. 2333 St. George Road

Barbecue Bad Randy’s Hot Chicken & BBQ Lounge

Test your spice tolerance with eight different levels of heat for fried chicken, plus crab linguine, baby back ribs, steak frites, hog fries, smoked chicken wings, tacos, and more. 1418 W. Franklin St.

i ChefWhat BBQ & More

bologna sandwich or double cheeseburger. Buffet-style catering available. 1521 N. Main St.

i Homer’s Barbecue

Find trademarks like smoked wings, brisket, and St. Louis-style ribs as well as specialties like chicken lollipops, briskitos, and barbecue nachos, and cheddar jalapeño sausage. Catering available. 128 Second St.,

Henderson, KY

Mission BBQ (Best Barbecue)

Readers named this national chain their favorite barbecue joint in the 2017, 2022, and 2023 Best of Evansville awards for its barbecue meats — and for deploying its armored catering vehicle to feed first responders during emergencies. Large Pick-Up Packs and catering available. 1530 N. Green River Road

i Thomason’s Barbecue

Since the 1960s, the family-owned business has used hickory wood to smoke barbecue pork, mutton, ribs, chicken, ham, beef, baby back ribs, and turkey. Classic sides include potato salad, slaw, and barbecue beans. Catering available. 701 Atkinson St., Henderson, KY

Asian

Fresh lunch specials are made to order daily, including burritos, pulled pork sandwich and quesadilla, smoked mac and cheese, and a smoked bologna and cheese sandwich. Catering available. 422 Seventh St., Henderson, KY

2nd Language

Hickory Pit Stop

Second St.

This local staple since 1957 cooks its meats over a hickory wood fire. Dinners include half-chicken, pork, mutton, ham, and baby back ribs with potato salad, baked beans, slaw, and fries. From the grill, try a fried

Take your taste buds on a global adventure via Japanese karaage, Asian Buffalo Bao Bun, lumpia Shanghai, chimichurri steak, Korean cucumber salad, donburi rice bowls, and at least nine choices of ramen. 401 N.W.

Big Bang Mongolian Grill

Bowls piled high with custom combinations of vegetable, meat, and noodle stir fry are the signature here. 2013 N. Green River Road

Canton Inn

The North Park Shopping Center is home to this well-known spot offering Cantonese- and American-style appetizers, soups, poultry, beef, pork, seafood dishes, and daily lunch and dinner buffets. 947 North Park Drive

Chopstick House Restaurant

The longtime eatery in Village Commons serves Cantonese meals, including specialties such as Treasure Duck, a boneless delicacy steamed for hours in spicy sauce and topped with vegetables. 5412 E. Indiana St.

Crazy Buffet

Find fresh Chinese fare like seafood, sushi, and nigiri for a dine-in experience or order from the to-go buffet. 701 N. Burkhardt Road

Domo Japanese Hibachi Grill, Sushi, and Ramen

Get ready to roll with a lengthy list of sushi choices, plus Japanese dishes, ramen, bento boxes and more. 215 N. Green River Road

Poke River

This Hawaiian fusion restaurant serves up poke and sushi in dishes like bowls, burritos, and salads. 6240 E. Virginia St.

Roppongi Japanese Steak & Sushi

Follow up one of the lively hibachi shows with entrees like the Roppongi special, featuring lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, and New York strip. 7221 E. Indiana St.

Sakura

Find Japanese cuisine such as sashimi, fried rice, tempura, as well as Chinese dishes. Sushi choices include a trio of specialty rolls: the Rainbow, Volcano, and Mango Tuna. 4833 Highway 261, Newburgh

Szechwan Restaurant

The extensive Sichuan menu offers Szechuan dumplings, Kung Pao Chicken, Ma Po Tofu, and crispy Peking Duck. 669 N. Green River Road (in Eastland Place)

Thai Bistro and Bar

Fuji Yama

For 20 years, this North Side sushi and hibachi spot has served soups, salads, noodles, rice, sushi, hand rolls, chicken, beef, and shrimp dishes. 915 North Park Drive

Spice up your life with the bistro’s authentic Thai cuisine including Pad Thai, curry, papaya salad, crab rangoons, satay, and more. 5416 E. Indiana St.

Vietnamese Cuisine

Gangnam Korean

Named for the Gangnam District in Seoul, South Korea, select from rice dishes like bibimbap and dupbap, noodle options such as Korean Ramyun, and entrees including chicken and beef bulgogi, all served as K-Pop music plays in the background. 518 Main St.

Jaya’s Authentic Foods

Authentic Korean cuisine and sushi from the namesake chef have delighted diners since 1980. Select from several rolls, soups, and traditional entrees like kimchi bok um, jaeyuk dupbop, and pul ko kee. 119 S.E. Fourth St.

Jumak

Order from traditional Korean dishes such as bibimbap, yachae twigim, and bulgogi. 5720 E. Virginia St.

Kanpai

This East Side eatery has a long list of sushi choices — such as the Zig Zag, filled with cucumber and avocado and, topped with soft shell crab, scallion, and spicy mayonnaise — lunch bento boxes, and more. 4593

This staple of Southeastern Asian cuisine offers ribeye noodle soup, a chargrilled pork sandwich, grape leaf-wrapped meats, hot pots, rice noodle dishes, and more. 4602 Vogel Road

Yang’s Shabu Shabu

The Japanese style of quickly cooking thinsliced meat in a simmering broth is applied to lo mein, chow udon, chow mei, and more. Complete your meal with one of a dozen bubble tea flavors. 4700 Vogel Road

Yen Ching (Best Asian Restaurant - tie)

A longtime East Side favorite, this establishment is known for Mandarin, Szechwan, and Peking cuisine, served among classic Asian decor sporting red and gold touches reminiscent of Old Beijing’s summer palace. Catering available. 406 S. Green River Road

Zuki Japanese Hibachi Grill & Sushi Lounge

Both locations offer a high-end hibachi grill, gourmet sushi, and Japanese dishes in an upscale setting. 1448 N. Green River Road;

Washington Ave.

222 Main St.

Ma.T.888 China Bistro (Best Asian Restaurant - tie)

German

Pick from high-quality modern Cantonese and Chinese fusion cuisine choices, including house specialties such as lemongrass fish, Peking duck, and chicken lettuce wraps. 5636 Vogel Road

Noodle House

This family-owned spot has made fans with its Wok fried rice, lo mein, mei fun, ramen, pho, and more. Bao buns are made in-house.

Gerst Haus

This West Side staple nods to the surrounding neighborhood’s heritage with authentic dishes from schnitzels to stroganoff, as well as several American favorites, served in a Bavarian beer hall-style environment. As Evansville Living readers have noted, Gerst also offers some of the city’s best draft beer choices. 2100 W. Franklin St.

8922 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh

Osaka Japanese Hibachi and Sushi

Haitian

5435 Pearl Drive; 4222 Bell Road, Ste. 7, Newburgh

Authentic Haitian cuisine including gratin (Haitian pasta), soup joumou (pumpkin), tassot cabrit (fried goat meat), and moru (salted codfish). 750 S. Kentucky Ave.

Hibachi-style and Indonesian cuisine is the main attraction, plus a sushi bar, poke bowls, hot plates, bento boxes, and Japanese curry. Zuki Japanese Hibachi Grill & Sushi Lounge

PHOTO BY ZACH STRAW

Guilou Lounge & Grill

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Inspiring with Nature, for Lives with Insight

Through a wide array of services including design and installation, water features, consultation, maintenance, seasonal displays, and more,

Design • Install • Maintain (800) 659-0719

www.dallasfoster.com

Landscapes by Dallas Foster brings each client’s dream space to life with beautiful, harmonious, natural works of art — inside or out.

Vincennes

3729 N. Camp Arthur Road

104 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

(812) 882-0719

Evansville

2150 Commercial Ct. (812) 423-7098

Savor | DINING GUIDE Indian Bites of India

Select Indian and Indo-Chinese entrees such as garlic naan, butter chicken, galouti kebab, tawa fish, okra masala, goat rezala, goat sukka, andhra fish fry, malabar fish curry, and a variety of briyanis and traditional soups. 1434 Tutor Lane

Little Italy (Best Italian Restuarant)

Mix Italian and Mediterranean with fried zucchini, parmesan fried green tomato, minestrone soup, cream of potato soup, spinach ravioli, rigatoni carbonara, chicken kebab, shrimp bisque, pizzas, and Italian cream lemon cake. 4430 N. First Ave.

Manna Mediterranean Grill

Inside Swagat Indian Market is this restaurant cooking up egg biryani, naan, fried papad, and more. 105 N. Green River Road

Specialties include stuffed grape leaves, gyros, kebabs, beef and lamp gyros, chicken shawarma and creamy garlic sauce, baba gannoug, tabbouleh salad, harissa, and baklava. 2913 Lincoln Ave.

Taj Mahal

Marida Mediterranean Restaurant

Flavors of India

Order buffet style or from a menu of tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, panjabi curry, kadai paneer, and more. 900 Tutor Lane

Yak & Yeti

Himalayan and Indian family recipes converge in tandoori lamb chops, momo dumplings, and several kinds of curry — choose from 10 spice levels. 815 S. Green

River Road

Irish Patsy Hartigan’s Irish Pub

Taste cuisine of the Emerald Isle, including fish and chips, Reuben sandwiches, bangers and mash, and shepherd’s pie, plus a weekend Irish breakfast. Chase them with a pint of Guinness or a new house brew. 203

Enjoy Turkish and Kurdish cuisine like kebabs, gyro wraps, kuzu pirzola, alinazik, sac tava, and haydari, plus steak, seafood, pasta, and vegetarian specialties, plus brunch. 1 E. Water St., Newburgh

Milano’s Italian Cuisine

File through the line for the lunch salad bar, to-go pasta, and slices of pizza, or sit for a meal of lasagna bolognese, spinach cannelloni, chicken pizzaiola, scampi alla lino, and veal di milano. 500 Main St.

Shah’s Halal Food

This national chain restaurant serves Mediterranean-influenced platters over rice with a choice of meat, a variety of salads, chicken sandwiches, gyros, and sides like pita and pakora chips, plus baklava for dessert. 222 S.

Patsy Hartigan’s Irish Pub

El Charro Mexican Restaurant

Mariachi band performances occasionally punctuate the dining experience at this West Side eatery, where the menu includes chicken on the beach, fiesta California, papa grande loaded baked potatoes, and Pollo Indiana, a top seller sporting chicken breast and chorizo doused in cheese sauce. 720 N.

Main St.

Red Bank Road, Unit L

Sonntag Ave.

Italian/Mediterranean

Smitty’s Italian Steakhouse (Best Outdoor Dining)

i El Sabor de la Abuela

Angelo’s

The lunch crowd stands in line for pizza by the slice. A full complement of Italian starters, entrees, and desserts (including silk pie) is offered. 305 Main St.

Bastoni

Little Angelo’s has transformed — named after the Ace of Batoni from traditional Italian card games or footballer Alessandro Batoni — with a menu of baked ziti, penne ala vodka, lasagna, and pizza, plus chicken, steak, and seafood dishes. 8000 Bell Oaks Drive, Newburgh

Café Arazu

A worldly mix of meals awaits, such as gyros, Tuscan grilled beef sala, Moroccan red lentil soup, and hummus and falafel platters. 17 W. Jennings St., Newburgh

House of Como (Place with the Best Steak)

The South Side staple offers a menu of Arabian dishes like shish kabobs, yebra malfoof, seneya betiajia, and kibi seneya, plus seafood, steaks, and Italian specialties. Reservations required. Payment is in cash or check. 2700 S. Kentucky Ave.

Kabob Xpress

A go-to spot for a quick meal with a Middle Eastern flare, select from stuffed grape leaves, shawarma, falafel, fresh salads, sandwiches, gyro plates, and many kabob plate options. 3305 N. Green River Road

Lily’s Mediterranean Express

Choose from salads, falafel, bruschetta, hummus, rice bowls, wings, sandwiches, wraps, beef kabob, chicken dinger, and pizzas. 4120 N. First Ave. PHOTO BY ADIN PARKS

Filling choices abound, from New York strip, bone-in filet, and porterhouse steaks to pasta like baked lasagna, manicotti, and fettucini alfredo, and seafood such as garlic shrimp, whitefish piccata, and pan fried grouper. Seasonal patio dining available. 2109 W. Franklin St.

Latin American i Burrito Express Mexican Grill

Drive through, pick up, or eat in at this Mexican-inspired restaurant serving quesabirria tacos, asada fries, burrito chicken, street tacos, pollo playa, burrito steak, and more. 2539 U.S. 41 N. Ste. A, Henderson, KY

Casa Armonia

A menu from south of the border in this former Utopian town, serving quesadillas, fajitas, burritos, enchiladas, chimichangas, and street tacos, nachos, and more. 500 Church St., New Harmony

Casa Fiesta Mexican Restaurant

Traditional Mexican entrees, family specials, and more are served among a menu of shrimp on the beach, huevos rancheros, burrito Evansville, quesadilla Indiana, fajita on the beach, huevos con chorizo, flautas Mexicanas, and nachos al pastor. For those who come hungry (or don’t mind sharing), try the two-foot Monster Burrito. 1003 E. Diamond Ave.

Chuy’s Tex-Mex

Looking for “big as yo’ face” burritos? Find them here, alongside tacos, tortilla soup, enchiladas, and entrees like green chile relleno and fried chicken, chuychanga, chicken flautas, and more. 7301 E. Indiana St.

Recipes from grandma’s kitchen to the menu include mojarra frita, coctel de camaron, soups and stews, taco salad, chicken fajitas, carne asada, chimichangas, chicken on the beach, fajita Texans, and street tacos. 108 Second St., Henderson, KY

Fiesta Acapulco

One of many Mexican specialties here is the Burritos Acapulco – chicken and beef burritos topped with cheese sauce, lettuce, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. 8480 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh

Gollita Peruvian Cuisine

Feast on minestrone, tamales, papa a la huancaína, arroz con pollo, and more — all featuring sauces and marinades made in-house. 4313 E. Morgan Ave.

Hacienda

Mexicana, tortas, birrias, carnitas, flautas, enchiladas, alambres, and more. 724 N. Bur-

khardt Road; 900 Main St. (inside Main Street Food & Beverage)

La Mexicana Restaurant

The family-owned establishment offers chori-pollo, jalapeño chicken, molacajette a la mexicana, burrito gagante, carne asada, fillet tilapia lemon pepper, enchiladas paisano, and pollo vallarta plus street tacos tostadas, and tortas, plus aguas frescas. 920 Main St.

La Plaza

This food truck also has a sit-in restaurant that serves street tacos, tortas, quesadillas, mulitas, burritos, street corn (on a stick or in a cup), birria, and more. 420 S. Green River Road

Los Bravos

Traditional Mexican dishes and drinks are served, including quesadilla Bravo with grilled shrimp and chorizo, Baja tacos with cod or shrimp, and chipotle pasta. Three Evansville

locations

Mikey’s Caribbean Restaurant

Enjoy island dishes like Haitian spaghetti, lalo with spinach, fried turkey, and oxtail, plus traditional Caribbean soft drinks. 900 Main St.

(inside Main Street Food & Beverage)

This Tex-Mex chain is known for its wet burrito, fajitas like garlic mushroom, chicken, steak, or shrimp, plus chimichangas, Mexican pizza, chicken strip dinner, quesabirria, and ranch dressing, which some diners buy by the tub to take home. Four Evansville locations

Noche Cantina & Cocina

Helados Ice Cream, Snacks & Antojitos

Playa Azul Mariscos Estilo Sinaloa

Order Latin American-fused papas, conchas, tortas, ceviche, tostadas, elotes, ramen, and more, plus an extensive dessert menu featuring loaded milkshakes, crepes, banana splits, flan, ice cream dishes, iced drinks, and Mexican shaved ice. 779 S. Green River Road

La Campirana (Best Latin American Restaurant)

Freshness and authenticity are hallmarks of “La Camp,” which serves Mexican and Latin American staples like tacos, gorditas, quesadillas, burritos, sopes orden, ensalada

Authentic Mexican flavors permeate this menu of fried truffle yuka fries, grilled elote salad, deep-fried tres leches, tacos, and more. Dine on the second-level patio on nice days. 2215 W. Franklin St.

Sinaloan-style (from the Mexican state Sinaloa) seafood such as camarones a la diabla, filete ranchero, mojarrra frita, and camarones ranchero mix with specialty cocktails, karaoke, and live music. 270 N. Green

River Road

Sazón y Fuego

This high-end menu is inspired by cuisine from Central and South Americas, with dishes cooked on a charcoal grill. Select from pollo con mole, ropa vieja, picanha, and more, plus craft cocktails. 8666 Ruffian Lane, Newburgh

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Savor | DINING GUIDE Señor Burrito Mex/Grill

Operating out of a small building, formerly Waylon’s Diner on Main, diners can order everything from cheesecake and cheese dip to Chicken on the Beach and the Señor Burrito with grilled chicken, steak, chorizo, shrimp, onions, and bell peppers with cheese sauce. 606 N. Main St.

Newburgh Tavern

Munch on nachos, chip bags, 10-inch pizzas, a wagyu hot dog, quesadillas, chicken strips and nuggets, and more while enjoying karaoke, music, and sports viewing. 707 State St. Ste. E, Newburgh

O’Brian’s Sports Bar & Grill

Mexican food lovers can discover a filling mix of fajitas, chimichangas, and plenty of tacos. 122 First St., Henderson, KY

Come for billiards, darts, and 22 big TVs, and stay for the Irish brews, full bar, and menu of potato skins, and bacon barbecue cheddar burger, breaded tenderloin sandwich, and more. 1801 N. Green River Road

Taqueria y Pupuseria Miranda

Prime Sports

i Tacoholics

This spot specializes in authentic Salvadorian pupusas and street tacos with a variety of fillings, Plus, create-your-own burritos and quesadillas. 2008 Washington Ave.

Sports Bars Bally Bet Sportsbook & Bar

Dig into smash burgers, fish and chips, Asian glazed shrimp, braised short ribs, and a wide selection of beer and cocktails. Catch sports action on several big screens and an LED video wall, and bet on games at the Sportsbook’s counter and kiosks. 421 N.W.

Riverside Drive (inside Bally’s Evansville)

Birdies

Feast on smash burgers, pizzas, catfish, tacos, nachos, sandwiches, and more from The Rooftop next door while playing simulated golf, dodgeball, basketball, hockey, and more sports or throwing an axe down the lane. 120 N.W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

Bullseyes Sports Bar

Inside the former Sidetrack Bar location, find dart tournaments alongside a diverse beer selection and nightly dinner plates like pulled pork and sloppy joe sandwiches, beef hot dogs, and more. 664 E. Illinois St.

Franklin Street Tavern

Pub grub like basco sticks, pretzels, nachos, bratwurst, popcorn, 14-inch pizzas, and more are available while you relax on the patio or catch a game on the TVs indoors. 2126 Franklin St.

Marina Pointe and Nightclub

This seasonal hotspot along the Ohio River is open May-October and is defined by live music and its open air bar and grill. Try beer battered onion rings, fried shrimp, crispy marina chicken wings, pointe burger, fried fish sandwich, wagyu dog, and smoked chicken salad. 1801 Waterworks Road

Mojo’s BoneYard Sports Bar & Grille

Bar food including chicken wings doused with housemade sauces, square steam burgers, thin-crust pizzas, the Sloppy Mo sandwich, Philly cheesesteak, chili, salads, and strombolis, plus drinks and a robust live music schedule await. Only those aged 21 and over are allowed. 4920 Bellemeade Ave.

Neighbors

Build-your-own smashburgers are a main attraction here, as well as barbecue pork nachos, fried okra, brussel sprouts, pizza burger, breakfast burger, peanut butter bacon burger, chicken parmesan sandwich, fish sandwich, bratwurst sandwich, German fried bologna, and the smashburger wrap. 4222 Bell Road, Ste. 1, Newburgh

Feel at home with billiard tables, lots of TVs, and drinks. Culinary offerings come via a greaseless kitchen offering smoked wings, pretzel bites, pizza bombs, pigs in a blanket, strombolis, pizza, salad, cactus chili, chicken parmesan sandwich, toasted hot dog, baked penne with beef, and a variety of pizzas.4944 Old State Route 261, Newburgh

i Rookies

This family-owned business serves a sportsthemed menu. “Pre-game” with Fred’s fried green tomatoes and chicken buffalo eggrolls and greens like the Arabian salad before the “main event” steaks and “knockouts” like honey glazed pork chop, chicken stir fry, tortellini diablo, and chicken teriyaki. 117 S. Second St., Henderson, KY

Tiki on Main

American and Mexican fare are popular at this dive bar before and after Ford Center events. Pick from pork rinds, blackened shrimp, fried pickle chips, patty melts, rock’n shrimp tacos, street tacos, hot dogs, and sandwiches like hot dogs, battered swai sandwich, and grilled cheese and chili. Also find steak kabobs, tiki nachos, stuffed burritos, pollo playa, and a fajita plate. 524 Main St.

Tavern and Pub Food Bokeh Lounge

Stuffed with as much food as live entertainment, the Haynie’s Corner Arts District restaurant offers Bokeh Nachos, churros, the Bokeh Burger, pepper jack cheese balls, pot stickers served hot honey, a candied bacon burger, tacos, fish and chips, personal pizzas, and Sunday brunch, as well as signature cocktails. 1007 Parrett St.

Bud’s Rockin’ Country Bar and Grill

This lively West Side country music hotspot and restaurant honors the Bud’s Harley Davidson dealership that used to be under roof and specializes in four-cheese macaroni, Saint Louis-style ribs, country fried steak, jerk chicken bowl, barbecue sundae, and cedarroasted atlantic salmon. 2124 W. Franklin St.

Crickets

Curb your hunger with wings by the pound, “mile-high” taco fries, Cricket’s roll ups, breaded cauliflower, breaded corn nuggets, chili, thin-crust pizza, sandwiches, and ovenbaked hoagies. 518 W. Main St., Newburgh

Darmstadt Inn

This small municipality in northern Vanderburgh County is known for serving sandwiches, plate lunches, steaks, fried chicken, seafood, and more in a cozy setting. 13130 Darmstadt Road

106 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Deerhead Sidewalk Cafe & Bar

Ostensibly the first place in Evansville to offer “double-decker pizza,” menu offerings include boneless wings, strombolis, Texas red chili, vegetable beef soup, and sandwiches like souvlakia, Polish sausage, and a black bean veggie burger. Enjoy your meal indoors or on the patios. 222 E. Columbia St.

Highland Inn

With daily specials and a big menu, this North Side spot has something for all appetites. Entrees include fried chicken, beef brisket, grilled pork steaks, and fried catfish filets. 6620 N. First Ave.

The Hilltop Inn

Fried pork brains, big ol’ tenderloins, and fried bologna are among the sandwich choices at this historic dining room on the West Side with a rustic facade and seasonal outdoor seating. Patrons also love the salad bar and seafood entrees. 1100 Harmony Way

Horstketter’s Tavern

This traditional tavern has seven decades of history under its belt. Enjoy wings, sandwiches, and food-themed nights like the annual Meatball Challenge. 5809 Stringtown Road

J.W. Hornville Tavern

Fried chicken, German bologna, tenderloins, pulled pork, chili, sandwiches, burgers, appetizers, and more. Open for lunch only. 2607 W. Baseline Road

K.C.’S Time Out Lounge & Grill

The long-established spot in Washington Square Mall has a robust live entertainment calendar, billiards, and a bar menu of salads, sandwiches, and pizza. 1121

Washington Square

Knob Hill Tavern

fries, and the splitter (a fried hot dog). Don’t miss Beck’s chili, named for the late Harold Beck — proprietor of the former East Side tavern Harold’s Bar. 201 Main St.

Sportsman’s Grille & Billiards

This spot on the busy West Franklin corridor features bar food choices to go with a relaxed atmosphere of billiards, sports on TV, and good times. Try the 16-ounce porterhouse, available on weekends, or the two-fisted bacon burger. 2315 W. Franklin St.

St. Joe Inn

Historic charm and modern comfort await at this tavern, whose history stretches back to 1836. Pick from soups, salads, sandwiches, plate lunch specials, fiddlers, steaks, and fried chicken dinners. 9515 Saint Wendel Road

St. Phillip’s Inn

Enjoy karaoke and tavern-style offerings out of an 1890s-era building. Choose from plate lunch specials, nightly specials, or a simple ham and cheese sandwich plus burgers, pizza, strombolis, fiddlers, and fried chicken. 11200 Upper Mount Vernon Road

Stockwell Inn

Stockwell Inn offers plate lunches, homemade soup, salads, sandwiches, steak, pork chops, and brain sandwiches. Check out the homestyle daily specials and themed menus for holidays like Fat Tuesday. 4001

E. Eichel Ave.

Zaps Tavern

Home of what is claimed as the original tavern burger, you’ll find a menu laden with catfish, fried chicken, sweet corn nuggets, build-your-own pizza, strombolis, zing shrimp wrap, breakfast burger, patty melt, and a half-pound burger. 3725 St. Philip Road

Best-known for its fried catfish fiddler (proudly displayed on its neon sign), The Knob offers other fish dishes plus fried chicken and an array of sandwiches. There’s plenty of history between these walls: The Knob has been around since 1943. 1016

Delis

Highway 662 W., Newburgh

1414 Hirschland Road

Leroy’s Tavern

The Deli at Bally’s Evansville

Feast on pizza, sandwiches, and Free Soup Saturdays during colder months of the year, plus karaoke and theme-night activities. 2659 Mount Vernon Ave.

i Metzger’s Tavern

This Henderson tradition opened in 1869, with today’s version offering traditional tavern pretzel bites with beer cheese, deep fried mushrooms and pickles, soups (try the bean soup or chili), and sandwiches like shaved steak, fried bologna, spicy pork sausage, and pimento cheese. Also open for breakfast. 1000 Powell St., Henderson, KY

i Nisbet Inn

Established in 1912, Nisbet Inn holds Indiana’s second-oldest liquor license. Visit for the sandwiches, soups, desserts, and barbecue, as well as the “World’s Coldest Beer.” 6701 Nisbet Station Road, Haubstadt

Peephole Bar & Grill

This neighborhood-style bar in the heart of Downtown has plenty of local devotees. It’s known for its cheeseburgers, onion rings,

Chicken Salad Chick

There’s more than just chicken salad here. Also find salad, soups, and sweet treats made from scratch with fresh ingredients.

Grab-and-go menus of breakfast items and coffee, sandwiches, soups, pizza, and burgers, plus a late-night menu until 2:30 a.m. on weekends. 421 N.W. Riverside Drive

(inside Bally’s Evansville)

The Deli at Old National Bank

Downtown workers — including Evansville Living employees — line up to grab fried fish, homemade soups, paninis, and daily specials. One Main St. (inside Old National

Bank headquarters)

Fly By Faith Café

Stop in this eatery on Ascension St. Vincent’s East Side campus for breakfast items like biscuits and gravy, egg casseroles, smoothies, and lattes, or dine on a California wrap, chicken-loaded baked potato, or smoked pulled pork for lunch. 801 St. Mary’s Drive

The Granola Jar Café & Bakery

What started with a breakfast menu has grown to include sandwiches and deli-style salads, including house-made balsamic chicken salad. Basil pesto tortellini, jalapeño

Coffee flavors include Caramelicious, Candy Bar, Mocha, and Turtle. Also try iced teas, smoothies, and breakfast items. 535 E. Dia-

Arcademie

mond Ave.; 1940 N. Green River Road; 1101 E. Fourth St., Mount Vernon

Ice Cream

with locations across the nation. 204 Main

St.; 301 N. Green River Road

Piece of Cake

Snag your stomach’s attention with whiffs of specialty cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and even dog treats. This bakery is known for its array of frosting options. 210 Main St.

Lic’s Deli & Ice Cream

Try a scoop of the brand’s old-fashioned milkshakes, floats, chocolate-covered Choco Cremes, sundaes, dessert pies, and soft-serve ice cream in 20+ flavors. Breakfast, coffee, and deli items also are available. Four locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh

Milk & Sugar Scoop Shoppe

Take a bite of edible cookie dough, add a scoop of custom-flavored ice cream on a warm Belgian waffle, or sip on a gourmet soda. 2027 W. Franklin St.

Rivertown Ice Cream and Grill

macaroni, curried bulgur, broccoli slaw, soups, and desserts round out the menu. Catering available. 1022 E. Mount Pleasant Road

Just Rennie’s Cafe & Cookie Co. (Best Caterer)

Mission Grounds Coffee

The Evansville Rescue Mission runs this coffeehouse next to its thrift store offering signature espresso-based drinks, teas, and bakery items. 1107 Washington Square

Run by Marla and Doug Rennie, who started in the catering business with a Tuscan-inspired event space. They quickly expanded to a storefront offering fresh deli salads, sandwiches, pasta, coffee, and baked goods, including their beloved mound-ofdough cookies. 100 S.E. Fourth St.

Mr. Bubble Tea

North Main Annex Gourmet Catering & Deli

A Riverside Historic District staple for more than 20 years with a McCutchanville location opened in 2024, specialty lattes include Instant Karma, White Rabbit, Voodoo Child, Raspberry Beret, Tiny Dancer, White Wedding, and Purple Haze. There are also teas, smoothies, and sandwiches for breakfast and lunch. 600 S.E. Second St.; 601

Chef Narda Feather operates this catering business and deli that changes its menu items daily based on the freshest ingredients. Try breakfast food, salads, soups, entrees, and fresh-baked desserts until 2 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays. 701 N. Main St.

Old Tyme Deli & Meat Shop

Daily hot plate lunches like lasagna, beef and noodles, and spaghetti are available on weekdays. 307 N. First Ave.

Coffee, Tea, and Drinks Agape Boba Tea & Sweet Heaven

Need a place to study on the West Side? Find fruit smoothies, bowls, teas, ice cream, BingSu (Korean snow ice), and milkshakes at this cozy spot. 5301 Pearl Drive

Dove & Twig Cafe

Operating out of Bethel Church, find coffee and sweet treats like apple bread, biscottis, Danishes, muffins, cookies, pies, and more. 4400 Lincoln Ave.

Honey Moon Coffee Co. (Best Local Coffee Shop)

The original shop near the University of Evansville campus has expanded into four locations plus a roastery. Offerings include its signature latte with honey and lavender, Hong Kong-style bubble waffles, fruit smoothies, and breakfast sandwiches. Three locations in Evansville and one in Newburgh

PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOURCE

Sip on bubble milk teas in strawberry, matcha green tea, chocolate, pineapple and taro (fruity) flavors. Also on the menu also are yogurts, smoothies, shaved ice, and fruit teas. 503 N. Green River Road

Penny Lane Coffeehouse

E. Boonville New Harmony Road

River City Coffee and Goods

Shop for local, handmade gifts and Evansville-inspired items while drinking brews, espressos, teas, or a hot chocolate. Specialties include a Fruity Pebbles Latte, Horchata Latte, and, in a nod to the Evansville are code, the 812 Latte. There also are seasonal muffins, cookies, blondies, and ham and cheese scones. 223 Main St.

River Kitty Cat Café

Play with adoptable cats and kittens while you enjoy espresso-based coffee drinks, specialty teas, and wine. This outreach of the Vanderburgh Humane Society also features desserts from Julie’s Just Desserts. 226 Main St.

i Roast Coffee Bar

Find craft espresso drinks and bagels from Frothy Monkey. Summer sips include Kentucky Summer, Strawberry Shortcake Matcha, and the Anna Banana. 136 Second

To its fans, its annual opening in March signals the arrival of warmer weather. Choose from dipped cones, banana splits, sundaes, shakes, malts, ice cream nachos, and food from the grill, including cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot and corn dogs, tenderloins, tenders, and more through October. 521 State St., Newburgh

Arcademie

Choose from craft cocktails, regional beer, and rotating food options at this Downtown spot boasting a mini-arcade stocked with vintage games. Sober bar on second floor. 22 N.W. Sixth St.

Barker Brewhouse

Human and canine visitors are welcome at this West Side watering hole with an extensive selection of beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages. 96 N. Barker Ave.

Damsel Brew Pub

This family-friendly microbrewery offers cleverly named craft beers and cocktails with a menu of scotch eggs, chili, vegetable spring rolls, tacos, a peanut butter burger, sweet onion teriyaki wrap, beer cheese steak, and po’boys. 209 N. Wabash Avenue

of Flags

Bakeries Be Happy Pie Company

These made-from-scratch sweet pies come in 26 flavors, including the signature “Be Happy” cherry. Add to your order with scones, cookies, brownies, muffins, and cheesecakes. Food truck available. 2818

Mount Vernon Ave., Ste. B; 6635 E. Virginia St., Ste. C

Bea Sweet Treats

The mother-daughter venture has drawn fans with its custom cakes, breakfast cinnamon rolls, cookies, cupcakes, and more. 4111 Merchant Drive, Newburgh

Haven’s Bar

Regional craft beer, wine, domestics, scratch cocktails, and spirits, plus a small food menu await along with trivia, karaoke, and sports viewing. 300 W. Jennings St.,

Newburgh

Haynie’s Corner Brewing Co.

Sip from a long list of craft beers, including nonalcoholic varieties, at this popular gathering spot with quirky charm in the trendy Haynie’s Corner Arts District. Visit with friends and whip out a favorite board game. 56 Adams Ave.

i Henderson Brewing Company

Cleo’s Bakery & Brown Bag Lunches

Henderson’s first craft brewery, founded by five local entrepreneurs, concocts and serves IPAs, porters, farmhouse ales, and more. 737 Second St., Henderson, KY

Jennings St., Newburgh

Industry Bar

This homestyle bakery is a favorite stop when strolling in Downtown Newburgh. Family recipes are offered alongside soups and sandwiches. Catering available. 9 W.

Cookies by Design

Find fresh-baked cookies and cupcakes for a variety of occasions, all handmade and delivered from this locally owned and operated shop. 419 Metro Ave.

Donut Bank (Best Doughnuts)

Sip fresh coffee while selecting from racks of doughnuts and other baked goods at this longtime business owned by the Kempf family. 11 locations in Evansville, Newburgh, and Henderson, KY

Panaderia San Miguel

St., Suite 100, Henderson, KY

Try not to be slack-jawed surveying Mexican and El Salvadorian puff pastries like orejas, conchas, panaderos, banderillas, cerillos, cornos, and empanadas. Breakfast and lunch menus also are offered. 2004 Washington Ave.

Scooter’s Coffee

Parlor Doughnuts

The national drive-thru chain has expanded to three locations in the Evansville area.

Breweries & Craft Cocktails

Layered doughnuts in an array of flavors are the specialty at this Evansville-based bakery

New on the Downtown scene is this dogfriendly bar with cocktails and rotating draft beers, plus billiards and bar games. Enjoy cocktails alfresco on the patio. 101

S.E. First St.

Mo’s House (Place with the Best Cocktails)

A chic lounge at Haynie’s Corner Arts District, this is a favorite place for Evansville Living readers to unwind with friends or someone special. Sample the craft cocktails while listening to the musicians who frequently book sets. On a pleasant night, the deck here is a great place to be. 1114

Parrett St.

Myriad Brewing Company

Tip your glass to house-brewed and guest beers, as well as wine and spirits. Food trucks visit regularly, or you can also have a delicacy delivered. Come for Tuesday trivia and other special events. 8245 High Pointe Drive, Newburgh

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108 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

Be Well EVANSVILLE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION Embark on a journey benefiting your entire well-being by putting good habits into practice with advice from these Tri-State professionals. American Heart Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117 Ascension St. Vincent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110, 111 Bertram Chiropractic & Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123 Bodyworks Massage Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 BoldAge PACE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Cady Wellness Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114, 115 Center for Pediatric Therapy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112, 113 Club Pilates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130 Comfort Compression . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 Deaconess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128 Energy 4 Serenity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125 Evansville Protestant Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132, 133 Evansville Surgical Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116 Gill Wedding Orthodontics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Hayden Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Heart to Heart Hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Heritage Woods of Newburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Let Go & Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Life in Motion Family Wellness Center . . . . . . . . . . . . 121 North Park Family Practice Center/ Beauty by Blume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 RiverValley Behavioral Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119 Senior Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136 Synova Wellness - Cryotherapy Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Trialmed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131 Walnut Creek Memory Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134 YMCA of Southwestern Indiana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

SHOW OFF YOUR FEATURE WITH A

CUSTOM KEEPSAKE FA 202 C 5 EV A N ES S

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

VIL LE

Bellemeade Avenue LOCATION: East Side DESIGNER: H.G. McCullough Designers, Inc.

O F

BUILDER: Weinzapfel Custom Homes, Inc. YEAR BUILT: 2023 STYLE: Contemporary Italianate SIGNIFICANT STATS: 4,647 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 half bathrooms

WHY IT STANDS OUT: To build a home for herself and her husband, John, Cynthia

Several frame styles and color options available!

Fehrenbacher had to twist the arms of her brother, Anthony Funke, and his wife, Bonnie, to purchase part of their property located behind their notable Lincoln Avenue home. The Mater Dei High School sweethearts broke ground on their new abode in August 2023 and were moved in by November 2024. “We knew we wanted something contemporary but still traditional,” Cindy says. Maple wood flooring throughout came from the family’s farm in Posey County and was cut down by John, who helped to finish the flooring alongside Wood Specialties by Fehrenbacher, Inc. Cindy’s favorite elements are Fehrenbacher cabinets and a Wood Specialties-supplied custom rod iron staircase. Outside, the landscaping still is young; hydrangeas, azaleas, junipers, boxwoods, and cypress trees are illuminated by outdoor lighting, which Cindy says makes the house “show nicely at night.” Though recently moved in, “we hope to do a lot of entertaining,” Cindy says.

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u Front row: Christina Brown, Kristy Belt, Eric Brinker, Emily Hoover, Alexis Snow, Abby Stone, Stacey Glisson, Danny Garrett, and Ede Stanley. Middle Row: Savannah Clem, Brandon Sittig, Cameron Belt, Kimberly Rose, Kamerin Mercer, Tish McDaniel, Melody Scearce, Leda Ruppel, Ashley Cosby, Jeannie Johnson, Brittney Carter, Mike Hardaway, and Brandon Strange. Back Row: Kevin Murdock, Clayton Bean, Cru McDaniel, Alena Kiefer, Dean Brinker, Kyle Brinker, Dirk Brinker, Scott Ellison, Ethan Bollivar, Kelli Carter, Colleen Meuth, Trey Brinker, Lance Embrey, and Shawn McClure. Not pictured: Ben Stahl, Dean Powell, Haley Clowdus, Jerry Golday, Rodrick Meeks, Tim Hoehn, Eliana Pancake, and Madhuri Thota

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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2025 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Welcome your baby in a space designed for comfort and care Refreshed labor and delivery care in Evansville Every delivery is a special delivery. Experience trusted maternity care, from routine to high-risk pregnancies, with modern comforts and new technology in the newly refreshed Birthing Center at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville. Supported by our maternal-fetal medicine team and Level III NICU, our OB-GYN specialists are here for you and your baby every step of the way.

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Scan to experience redesigned care for moms and babies in Evansville.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be Well EVANSVILLE

Ascension St. Vincent 3700 Washington Ave. • 812-485-4000 • healthcare.ascension.org

When a woman is going through pregnancy, how important is the quality of care for their health and the health of their baby? As obstetricians, we simultaneously care for the mother and baby. Early, consistent, and high-quality prenatal care is crucial for optimal outcomes, helping to identify risks, prevent complications, and support healthy development. Monitoring includes tracking the mother’s vital signs, weight, lab tests, and managing chronic conditions, plus assessing nutritional and mental health. We monitor the baby’s growth to detect concerns like restriction or congenital issues and educate patients on preterm labor signs, nutrition, activity, and lifestyle choices. How does Ascension St. Vincent’s Maternal Fetal Medicine team care for needs that are both physical and emotional? Our Maternal Fetal Medicine team recognizes that we meet patients during an especially vulnerable time in their lives, often marked by increased anxiety, stress, and uncertainty. We are committed to supporting both the physical and emotional well-being essential for a healthy pregnancy. In partnership with patients and their families, we develop a comprehensive plan of care that may include invasive and noninvasive testing options, advanced fetal monitoring, patient education, emotional support, and access to mental health resources. Our goal is to ensure every patient receives thorough, compassionate, and individualized care. Every pregnancy is different. What sets Ascension St. Vincent Evansville apart from providers based on the level of care offered from conception to postpartum? Ascension St. Vincent Evansville provides comprehensive, seamless maternal and newborn care from preconception through

Mureena A. Turnquest Wells, M.D., FACOG, Medical Director of Maternal-Fetal Medicine; and Jasmine Porter, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, Maternal-Fetal Nurse Practitioner

postpartum, blending advanced medicine with patient-centered service. Key differentiators include: • Integrated, centralized care: All services — from prenatal visits to labor, delivery, postpartum, and intensive care — are in one building, ensuring continuity and faster response. • Advanced maternal-fetal medicine: Specialized monitoring and individualized care plans for high-risk pregnancies, collaborating with a full range of specialists. • Family-centered approach: Prioritizing education, emotional support, and family involvement for informed and empowered mothers.

• Comprehensive postpartum support: Ongoing care for physical and emotional well-being, including lactation and counseling, plus the Healthy Beginnings Program for the transition home. • Commitment to quality: Utilizing evidence-based practices, technology, and multidisciplinary teams to optimize outcomes. • Compassion: Genuine care from all staff for mother and baby health. In essence, we offer a seamless, high-quality experience addressing medical, emotional, and family needs at every stage of the maternal journey.

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CHOOSE EXPERIENCE

4900 SHAMROCK DRIVE | SUITES 100-102 | EVANSVILLE, IN 47715 812-479-7337 | CPTEVANSVILLE.COM 112 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be Well EVANSVILLE

Center for Pediatric Therapy 4900 Shamrock Drive • 812-479-7337 • cptevansville.com

What sets the Center for Pediatric Therapy apart when it comes to supporting children with developmental, sensory, or behavioral needs? • CPT is dedicated exclusively to children ages 0–18, ensuring specialized care for every stage of childhood. • As a free-standing, kid-friendly facility, the environment is cheerful, welcoming, and designed to make therapy fun. • CPT is a proud provider of Indiana’s First Steps Program, offering comprehensive services in occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech therapy, and developmental therapy. • Therapists are highly trained in Sensory Integration techniques, helping children with sensory processing challenges thrive. • Behavioral concerns are addressed in partnership with parents, ensuring continuity of care across home and clinic. • Every treatment plan is individualized and guided by collaboration between parents, physicians, and therapists.

• CPT maintains close communication with physicians and parents, ensuring medical and family perspectives are integrated. • When needed, CPT coordinates with schools and other healthcare providers chosen by families, creating a seamless, unified care plan.

How do your therapists collaborate with families, schools, and healthcare providers to create a unified care plan? • Each child begins with an evaluation tailored to their needs.

What does a child’s first visit look like, and how do you ease both kids and parents into the therapy process? • Most children are excited to explore the clinic, though some may feel anxious at first.

What signs should parents look for that indicate their child might benefit from speech, occupational, or physical therapy? • Feeding concerns: difficulty with bottles, picky eating, or limited food preferences. • Play and social interaction: struggles with toys or engaging with peers. • Speech delays: missing milestones or poor articulation. • Gross motor delays: not crawling, cruising, or walking on time. • General concerns: difficulty coping, transitioning, or keeping up with age-level skills.

• Parents are always welcome to participate in sessions. • The first visit is laid-back and childdriven, designed to help kids feel comfortable while gently introducing them to therapy. How has your team embraced new technologies or evidencebased techniques? • CPT integrates new evaluations, electronic medical systems, AAC (augmentative and alternative communication) devices, and evolving therapy equipment. • Therapists stay current with evidence-based practices and approved tools to ensure the best outcomes. • Families are encouraged to focus on real-life skill-building rather than screen time, promoting growth through daily experiences. • Accurate, up-to-date records help track each child’s goals and progress effectively.

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Holistic, WholePerson Wellness At Cady Wellness Institute, our founder and CEO, Louis B. Cady, MD, LFAPA, leads a dedicated team of nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and front-ofhouse staff. Together, we ensure that each visit brings you closer to your wellness goals.

We are thrilled to welcome Jessica Prifogle, PMHNP-BC, and Evansville native, to the Cady Wellness Institute team! Jessica brings a wealth of specialized experience, having previously worked at River Valley Behavioral Health Children’s Hospital in Owensboro, Kentucky. There, she provided care to high-acuity pediatric and adolescent patients aged 4 to 17 in the inpatient setting. Jessica is excited to transition to a more holistic approach in managing psychiatric symptoms at Cady Wellness Institute. Her passion lies in getting to the root cause of mental health issues, rather than focusing solely on medicating symptoms. She is dedicated to advancing her knowledge in trauma-related therapy modalities and plans to incorporate cutting-edge treatments like ketamine therapy and SPRAVATO into her practice.

Ready to see patients, Jessica is working closely with Dr. Cady as her collaborating physician.

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812-429-0772

cadywellness.com 4727 Rosebud Lane, Ste. F, Newburgh, IN

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Cady Wellness Institute 4727 Rosebud Lane, Ste. F, Newburgh, IN • 812-429-0772 • cadywellness.com

Dr. Cady and the Exomind TMS device

A New Paradigm of Functional Wellness by Louis B. Cady, MD, LFAPA At Cady Wellness Institute, the “Wellness” in our name is not an accident. Our idea behind mental, physical, and now aesthetic health is that the “inside” reflects the “outside,” and that the “outside” reflects the “inside.” Years ago, the noted French philosopher René Descartes published an idea that is fundamentally flawed and continues to mislead to this day: that there was a “mind/body duality,” and one had nothing to do with the other. I repeatedly saw this error carried over into my professional practice here in Evansville and Newburgh over the past three decades, where it became obvious that mental health — not to mention physical health — was being incompletely addressed. Biological abnormalities and hormone deficiencies were either not identified, not addressed, or not treated precisely and definitively. And frequently, the drug treatment was imprecise and not grounded in the patient’s biology. There are many unfortunate reasons for this state of affairs, including insurance-

Dr. Cady and Office Manager Farrah Smith, MA with trocars used for pellet therapy

dominated “payor” schemes — where there is a limit to the amount of time that your health care professional can spend with you and actually obtain a complete database and health history — as well as a failure of many medical practitioners to practice to the level of the current peer-reviewed medical literature. In other words, many practitioners are trapped in the way “things have always been done” instead of stepping up to the plate and integrating all aspects of a patient’s mental, physical, and hormonal state. The results of this are a mindless explosion of people who are looking for the quick fix of an SSRI for their “depression” (which could be based on a hormone or nutrient deficiency), a GLP-1 shot so that they can lose weight, or a jab of the needle with Botox or filler because the underlying biology of the face, including hormonal state, is not being addressed. Joined by our newest clinician, Jessica Prifogle, RN, MSN, PMHNP-BC, we are poised to offer even more diagnostic and therapeutic services to our Tri-State friends and neighbors. In addition to focused

and precise mental health diagnosis and treatment, we are also using bio-identical hormones when indicated because, truly, your hormonal state and adequacy directly reflect on your mental health, your physical vitality, and your longevity — not to mention your face. Accordingly, our aesthetic services are based on adequate hormones and the use of state-of-the-art energy devices to naturally stimulate collagen growth, hyaluronic acid production, and muscle growth in a precisely targeted fashion. These devices can also literally kill fat cells painlessly and permanently with high-intensity radiofrequency energy. In all domains of our services, we are focused on identifying and dealing with the underlying problem rather than slapping a Band-Aid “quick fix” on it. To that end, we examine your genetics (if indicated), carefully review labs, and offer amazing 21st-century technology, which includes transcranial magnetic stimulation. Come see us and let’s put some of this “wellness” concept back to work in your life!

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Evansville Surgical Associates evansvillesurgical.com

Evansville Surgical Associates has seen a lot of growth over the past year. What locations and specialties has the organization added, and what does the future look like? Evansville Surgical Associates has seen and experienced the need for high-quality surgical care throughout Indiana and our neighboring states. With that need, we have focused our reach into Kentucky and Illinois. We offer emergency room calls, satellite clinics, and/or full-time surgeons in Henderson, Kentucky, Jasper, Indiana, and Mount Carmel, Illinois. In 2026, we look to add several new subspecialists and continue to collaborate with hospitals to keep care at patients’ local hospitals. How does Evansville Surgical Associates attract top talent? ESA is a unique health care organization, being 100 percent physician-owned. We

believe that through the leadership of our surgeons, we can bring a unique style of health care that you cannot get elsewhere. Prospective surgeons are intrigued by the opportunity to be a potential partner and make decisions with their surgical colleagues to continue bringing high-quality care to the Tri-State. As we continue to meet the needs of our communities, we always will be on the lookout for the right surgeons to join our team. What does the timeframe typically look like for a patient referred to Evansville Surgical? We are fortunate to have strong relationships with both Ascension St. Vincent and Deaconess Health System. With 11 clinic locations across Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois, there are many opportunities for patients to make an appointment. Once we receive a referral, we strive to get back to the patient within a week.

Call 812-424-8231 today to speak with one of our team members! Evansville Surgical Associates welcomed two new surgeons in 2025 and will welcome two more in 2026. What areas of surgery do they specialize in? In 2025, Evansville Surgical Associates welcomed Drs. Esther Kim and Katherine Allen to Evansville Surgical Associates in Jasper, Indiana, proudly serving Dubois County and the surrounding areas. We will welcome Dr. Jess Wise, who specializes in general and bariatric surgery, in January 2026, and Dr. Ian Frink, specializing in general/trauma surgery, in August 2026.

About Us

Evansville Surgical Associates (ESA) was founded in 1969 when three surgeons combined their practices to form one surgical group. Today, the 100 percent physician-owned organization has expanded into a multi-specialty surgical group, including 24 surgeons with offices in 11 locations across three states. It is the largest general surgery practice in the Tri-State region. Vascular Surgical Associates, the vascular division within ESA, is also the largest vascular group in the region. ESA surgeons are all board-eligible or boardcertified by the American Board of Surgery, with subspecialties in vascular, trauma/critical care, minimally invasive, bariatrics, breast, and robotics surgery.

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American Heart Association 8720 Castle Creek Parkway East Drive, Ste. 100, Indianapolis, IN 46250 • heart.org/en/affiliates/Indiana

The American Heart Association is committed to building a world of longer, healthier lives. While being a global force for health and wellness, the Association impacts millions of lives every year by working directly in local communities. In the Tri-State, the Association provides CPR training kits to area schools; works with community organizations to help people monitor and control blood pressure; advocates for smoke-free workplaces and entertainment venues; supports “complete streets” ordinances to increase the number of sidewalks and bike lanes; and works with hospitals to ensure heart and stroke patients receive the latest, science-based care. You can support the mission of the American Heart Association and celebrate with heart and stroke survivors at the annual Evansville Tri-State Heart Walk on Saturday, June 6. Chaired by Brad Scheu, the Heart Walk will take place at Friedman Park. Register for the Heart Walk at evansvilletristateheartwalk.org. “Walking is the easiest way to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine,” says Shaunda Reed, Heart Walk director for the American Heart Association. “Getting about 150 minutes of movement every week can improve your health and is a key component of eight factors for ideal heart health, which also includes eating healthy, getting the right amount of sleep, monitoring weight, blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar, and not using tobacco products.”

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YMCA of Southwestern Indiana 516 Court St. • 812-423-9622 | 6846 Oak Grove Road • 812-401-9622 | ymcaswin.org

Turn Resolutions Into Results Making resolutions is a tradition, but keeping resolutions can be tough. While there is no “right way” to keep a resolution, you can boost your success with these simple strategies: 1. Start Small Break those big resolutions into small, achievable goals. “Getting healthy” is too broad, so reframe that big resolution into smaller, more manageable goals. Instead of cutting chocolate out of your diet for good, vow only to have it a few times a week. Or try the “Steps to a Healthy You” class, nutritional counseling, or personal training at the Y. 2. One Step At A Time Changing too many habits at once can easily lead to frustration and failure. Focus on that one change for the month and add another (small) change when the new month rolls around.

3. Keep The Faith Don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Even though you may experience some missteps throughout the day — the week — that doesn’t mean you have to give up. Bad habits aren’t created in a week, and you can’t change them in a week either. 4. Shift Your Mindset It’s important to think about what you’re gaining from a resolution rather than what you’re missing. This can make a resolution feel more positive and more achievable. For example, you may want to limit your screen time, but that can be more manageable if you replace it with something positive like volunteering (at the Y) or setting a special time aside for family. Disconnecting can lead to connecting.

5. Find A Teammate It’s easier to stick to your resolutions with a support system. Team up with someone (or the Y) to set your goals, establish a game plan, and set specific check-ins to help each other out.

Look to the YMCA as your support system and help you toward your goals. With classes, community, and camaraderie — there’s nothing we can’t do together. There’s no place like the Y. Make this place your place for new beginnings.

Something For Everyone

Start the new year with the Y, where you’ll find fitness, friendship, and opportunities to strengthen community. Whatever you’re working on, whatever you’re working with, there’s no place like the Y for working together. From group classes to personal training to family and youth programs, there’s no place like this place—and it’s all waiting for you to get started.

YMCA of Southwestern Indiana 812-423-9622

ymcaswin.org

Six branches serving Southwestern Indiana

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RiverValley Behavioral Health 270-689-6879 • rvbh.com

How does RiverValley Behavioral Health define “wellness,” and how is that reflected in your care? At RiverValley, wellness means whole-person well-being, including their emotional, mental, physical, and social states. It’s more than the absence of illness; it includes resilience, healthy habits, supportive relationships, and access to resources. This approach guides our trauma-informed, strengths-based, and culturally responsive care delivered in homes, schools, clinics, community settings, and crisis environments to help individuals and families maintain long-term stability. What key services promote preventive care? We offer mobile crisis response, outpatient therapy, school-based services, peer support, targeted case management, substance use prevention and recovery programs, and support systems for individuals with developmental disabilities. These programs identify needs early, reduce the likelihood of crises, and help people stay proactive about their health. We also provide comprehensive aftercare for those transitioning from inpatient or crisis services.

teams, and strong partnerships with hospitals, law enforcement, and EMS further strengthen regional access. What emerging needs are influencing your approach to wellness? Key trends include rising youth mental health needs, increased substance use challenges, the widespread impact of trauma, and the importance of whole-family care. We also consider social determinants of health, such as housing, transportation, and poverty, to shape how we support patients. How do you collaborate with community partners? We work closely with schools, healthcare providers, first responders, nonprofits, housing and social service agencies, faith communities, and local governments to promote healthier lifestyles and address the broader factors that influence wellness.

Explain steps that are being taken to improve access to quality care. RiverValley is expanding mobile and home-based services, integrating behavioral health into primary care, increasing telehealth access for rural and underserved communities, and providing walk-in appointments to reduce wait times. Enhanced crisis staffing, rapid response

Your Community Mental Health Center RiverValley Behavioral Health is proud to be the first thought, first choice for behavioral healthcare in our communities, serving the Green River area since 1967. We offer a full range of mental health services and supports, in addition to substance use treatment, and services for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Make an Appointment Today: 270-689-6879 l Crisis Lifeline: 988 l Visit Us Online: www.rvbh.com

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Hayden Vision 3801 Bellemeade Ave., Ste. 320 • 812-422-3937 • haydenvision.com

Gregory Hayden, MD

Envision a Brighter, Clearer Future At Hayden Vision, we’re proud to bring today’s most advanced technologies to our community, helping patients see more clearly and confidently — often better than they have in years.

Cataract Surgery: Restore Clarity with Advanced Lens Implants A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, causing vision to appear blurry, dim, or hazy. Most people develop cataracts naturally as they age, though they can also result from medical conditions, injury, or certain medications. Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy lens with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Thanks to major advancements, today’s IOLs can do far more than restore clarity — they can also reduce or eliminate your dependence on glasses. At Hayden Vision, we offer a full range of state-of-the-art lens options, including: • Multifocal lenses for improved near and distance vision • Toric lenses to correct astigmatism • Enhanced-range lenses for crisp, natural vision at multiple distances

Hayden Vision See Clearly. Live Fully.

Your vision, perfected by experience. Gregory Hayden, MD A nationally recognized ophthalmologist specializing in custom LASIK and advanced cataract surgery. Named one of America’s Top Ophthalmologists and a Top 10 Doctor in Indiana, Dr. Hayden ranks among the top ten percent of doctors nationwide for excellence in vision care. At Hayden Vision, the Tri-State’s premier cataract and laser vision correction center since 2003, Dr. Hayden combines advanced technology with trusted expertise to help you experience your best vision. Whether freeing you from glasses and contacts through custom LASIK, or restoring clarity with advanced lens implants, Dr. Hayden delivers results that help you see — and live — life more clearly. 3801 Bellemeade Ave. Ste. 320 812-422-3937 haydenvision.com

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Gregory Hayden, MD

LASIK: Freedom from Glasses and Contacts LASIK is one of the most trusted and effective ways to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This quick, comfortable laser procedure reshapes the cornea with remarkable precision to deliver sharper, more natural vision. At Hayden Vision, LASIK is performed using our in-office Alcon WaveLight® Refractive Technology Suite, one of the most advanced LASIK platforms available today. Most patients notice dramatically clearer vision within 24-48 hours, with full stabilization occurring over the next few weeks. Is Clearer Vision Possible for You? If you’re interested in LASIK or want to know whether advanced cataract surgery could improve your quality of life, we invite you to schedule a consultation. A brighter, sharper future may be closer than you think.

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Life in Motion Family Wellness Center 220 E. Virginia St. • 812-777-0127 • lifeinmotionfwc.com

Comprehensive Care with Comfort and Convenience In today’s fast-paced health care environment, Life in Motion Family Wellness Center offers a refreshing return to patient-centered care. Serving families across the Tri-State, this comprehensive medical practice combines accessibility, innovation, and compassion to create a seamless health care experience for patients of all ages. At its core, Life in Motion is a full-service family practice dedicated to caring for individuals through every stage of life. The clinic emphasizes short wait times, cost-effective care, and personalized service and accepts Medicare, Medicaid, and most major insurance plans to ensure care remains accessible. Preventive and routine services are a major focus, including annual physicals, immunizations, wellness screenings, and school or sports exams. Same-day appointments are often available for urgent needs, and minor injuries or acute illnesses are treated efficiently so families can return to daily life quickly. Life in Motion also offers integrated mental health services. Patients receive personalized psychiatric evaluations and ongoing management for conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD — all within a familiar, supportive setting. Beyond primary care, the center provides a range of specialized services. On-site dermatology addresses common skin concerns, biopsies, and skin cancer removal. DOT physicals are available for drivers and regulated professionals who need timely certification. The IV Hydration Bar offers

Family Wellness Center

Katie Keller Riney, NP-C

customizable vitamin and mineral infusions designed to support energy, recovery, immune health, and hydration. More than a medical office, Life in Motion Family Wellness Center is a trusted community partner. With comprehensive services, compassionate care, and a welcoming environment, it continues to redefine modern family medicine — keeping the Tri-State community healthy and truly in motion.

Where Wellness Meets Family Care

Megan Mayes, NP-C

Patient Focused Family Practice • Mental Health and Therapy/Counseling

Same-day Appointments • Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm 220 E. Virginia St., Evansville, IN • 812-777-0127 • lifeinmotionfwc.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Gill Wedding Orthodontics 7244 E. Virginia St. • 812-476-1377 • gillweddingorthodontics.com

How does orthodontic care contribute to long-term wellness and overall oral health for children, teens, and adults? Orthodontic care can benefit long-term wellness for our patients at any age. By aligning the teeth and correcting the bite, our patients’ oral function and ease in cleaning their teeth greatly improve. Gill Wedding Orthodontics also loves seeing the confidence grow in our patients as they progress through treatment. A beautiful smile helps build self confidence. What orthodontic services or technologies do you specialize in that help make treatment more comfortable, effective, or efficient? Gill Wedding Orthodontics provides digital scans and digital bonding systems that make getting braces or Invisalign seamless. By digitally preparing our cases, it makes our appointment time shorter and improves patient comfort.

can help guide permanent teeth eruption and prevent trauma to permanent teeth that could have lasting effects.

When should families consider an orthodontic evaluation, and what early signs can help them make informed decisions about their child’s health? Gill Wedding Orthodontics follows the American Association of Orthodontics guidelines and recommends seeing patients at age 7. No referral is needed to be seen by an orthodontist. We

What sets Gill Wedding Orthodontics apart in supporting the community’s wellness and confidence through healthier smiles? Gill Wedding Orthodontics prides itself on creating beautiful smiles for the community and getting to know our patients during their smile journey. It means a lot to the doctors and staff that our patients feel at home while in our office!

Let us make your smile

PICTURE PERFECT

7244 E. Virginia Street, Evansville • 812-476-1377 • Scan the QR code to visit our website! 122 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

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Bertram Chiropractic & Wellness 111 S. Green River Road, Ste. H • 812-464-4470 • bertramchiropractic.com

Dr. Matthew Bertram, Chiropractor

Dr. Matthew J. Bertram is the owner of Bertram Chiropractic & Wellness, one of Evansville’s fastestgrowing chiropractic clinics. A Southern Indiana native, Dr. Bertram opened his practice with a clear goal: to bring the Gonstead system of chiropractic to Evansville while delivering high-quality care in an environment where every patient feels valued. That approach has resonated throughout the community, with the clinic now serving hundreds of patients each week and earning the Courier & Press’ 2025 Evansville Community’s Choice Platinum Award for Chiropractor. Dr. Bertram uses the Gonstead system, a precise, hands-on approach that focuses on restoring proper spinal alignment and helping the nervous system function the way it was designed. He treats a wide range of conditions, including neck and low back pain, sciatica, headaches and migraines, sports injuries, posture issues, and chronic joint problems. The clinic also offers

massage therapy, therapeutic exercise, and neuromuscular re-education, allowing patients to receive well-rounded care under one roof. Patients often mention the upbeat, welcoming atmosphere at Bertram Chiropractic & Wellness and the level of attention they receive from the staff. Dr. Bertram believes chiropractic care goes beyond short-term pain relief — it’s about improving how people move, work, and live over the long run. Care plans are tailored to each individual rather than following a one-size-fits-all model. Outside of the office, Dr. Bertram is a husband and father who takes pride in being part of the Evansville community. He has a strong interest in entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation and is committed to building services that make a real difference locally. Through Bertram Chiropractic & Wellness, he continues to focus on doing right by his patients and helping the Tri-State stay active and healthy.

Our team of highly trained professionals will use the Gonstead method to provide you and your loved ones with the most precise care you can receive.

The Gonstead Method • X-Rays • Palpation • Instrumentation • Visualization • Symptomatology

Patient-Centric Community Resident Individualized Care Collaborative Treatment

111 S. Green River Rd. Ste., H 812-464-4470 bertramchiropractic.com JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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North Park Family Practice • Beauty by Blume 4501 N. Fourth Ave. • 812-422-7212 • drblume.me • beautybyblume.com

As aesthetic treatments advance, more people are seeking natural-looking, regenerative results with little to no downtime. Two standout options meeting that demand are PRX by WiQo and Salmon DNA Mesoneedling — both designed to boost skin health from within while fitting easily into busy schedules. PRX by WiQo: Collagen Stimulation Without Downtime PRX offers a new generation of biostim-ulatory treatment. Unlike chemical peels, it penetrates the dermis without surface peeling or sensitivity, delivering improvements in firmness, brightness, fine lines, and texture with no recovery time. Results build gradually as collagen production strengthens, making PRX ideal for patients who want natural yet noticeable rejuvenation. It also integrates well with injectables and lasers, serving as a foundational treatment for long-term skin vitality.

“These treatments aren’t meant to mask aging – they improve the health of the skin at its foundation, so results look natural and last longer.” – KRISTEN BLUME, M.D.

Salmon DNA Mesoneedling: Hydration, Repair, and Radiance Salmon DNA mesoneedling uses regenerative polynucleotides to support hydration, reduce inflammation, and improve pigmentation and fine lines. Especially beneficial for melanin-rich skin, it reinforces skin strength without irritation. The mesoneedling technique delivers these ingredients directly to the layers responsible for repair, making it a go-to for dullness,

Now accepting new patients with same-day appointments!

uneven tone, and seasonal dryness. It can also enhance Botox results and promote more resilient skin over time. Every aesthetic journey is unique, and both PRX and Salmon DNA mesoneedling can be used alone or combined within a personalized plan. These science-backed treatments offer effective ways to invest in long-term skin health — whether you’re new to aesthetics or ready for your next level of rejuvenation.

From injectables to skin rejuvenation, Dr. Blume brings high-quality, personalized aesthetic services to Evansville on a regular schedule. Beautiful results delivered with a gentle, natural approach.

TOP Amy Burkett, FNP-C, William Blume, MD, Misty Arnett, FNP-C

2025

PEDIATRIC CARE • WOMEN’S HEALTH • ADULT MEDICINE GENERAL ORTHOPEDIC CARE • GERIATRIC MEDICINE 4501 N. Fourth Ave., Evansville, IN • 812-422-7212 • drblume.me

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Dr. Kristen Blume

@beautybyblume www.beautybyblume.com

317-732-7227

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Energy 4 Serenity 101 Plaza E. Blvd. • 812-480-8750 • energy4serenity.com

“Healing Energy Work Can Be Life-Changing”

What is the healing energy work you do? I help people who are trapped by painful trauma, extreme emotions, negative habits, and stressful experiences. Using three kinds of energy healing, I guide them through physically and emotionally expelling the negativity of old wounds, from deep in their brains and bodies, so they can move forward feeling positive and in control of their lives. This empowers people to reset themselves, reclaim a healthy perspective on life, and regain an optimistic outlook on the future. How can energy work be life-changing? All that old resentment, anger, fear, and grief we hold in our subconscious brain and physical and energetic bodies can be damaging. I developed my exclusive release technique to Eliminate Long-lived, Intense, Traumatic Energy (ELITE Release) to help people powerfully expel painful energy that negatively affects their experiences with loved ones, themselves, and the world around them. After seeing the results with hundreds of people, I can honestly say that healing energy work can be life-changing. It is such a joy and honor to hear, “You helped me find my light again.”

Nina Bambina, Ph.D. Energy Healer/Owner

How did you get into this work? During yoga teacher training, Dr. Kay Corpus performed energy work, and I immediately knew I had to learn it. When I left a decade-long position as the honors program director and assistant professor of sociology at the University of Southern Indiana, I didn’t know what I would do next. Using energy to help people heal their bodies, minds, and spirits aligned beautifully with my background, first in the medical field, then earning a Ph.D. in medical sociology from Columbia University and practicing yoga and breathwork for 20 years. I am now a Reiki master, trained in Healing Touch and Quantum Touch, and I LOVE what I do!

Do you feel TRAPPED by painful trauma, extreme emotions, negative habits, or stressful experiences? You CAN find freedom from fear and pain. I can help you. Hundreds of people have benefited from my Healing Energy Sessions, Reiki parties, and chakra workshops!

If you are ready to: Release fear and pain

Reclaim a healthy perspective

“Life changing” “Reawakening of the spirit” “Transformative” “You need this!”

Regain positive energy

… then Nina Bambina’s Energy 4 Serenity is for you!

You support your family. You support your community. Support yourself and book a FREE Serenity Solution Consult today!

energy4serenity.com or 812-480-8750 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Comfort Compression 4918 Temple Ave. • 812-303-3831 • comfortcompression.com

What differentiates your selection of post-breast surgery bras and forms from other options available? Our mastectomy bras combine expert fitting with premium quality. We offer a curated selection of products from trusted brands like ABC, AnaOno, and Amoena, designed to restore comfort, confidence, and self-expression. What truly sets us apart is our certified mastectomy fitter, Dusty Fiester, who provides personalized, one-on-one consultations so each patient receives a perfect fit. How does your approach to fitting mastectomy bras differ from a traditional bra fitting? Every mastectomy bra we offer is selected and fitted with a deep understanding of post-surgical bodies. With each fitting, we consider healing stages, scar sensitivity, prosthetic support, and long-term comfort to ensure each client receives medically appropriate, supportive care in a respectful, reassuring environment. What distinguishes your new mastectomy bra service from other options available to breast surgery patients? We specialize in blending clinical expertise with compassionate care. Our products are uniquely versatile, serving women at every stage of breast surgery recovery. With Dusty’s professional background and our commitment to one-on-one consultations, we provide a holistic approach that addresses both physical recovery and

emotional well-being. Our partnerships with leading brands secure access to innovative, reliable solutions. What can patients expect during a fitting or product consultation? Patients receive undivided attention during a private session with Dusty. She takes time to understand their medical history, lifestyle, and personal goals before guiding them through tailored options. The process includes trying different mastectomy forms (if needed) and bras to find the ideal match. When a bra fits properly, supports healing, and reflects personal style, confidence follows. Our goal is to help women feel comfortable in their bodies again — empowered, supported, and beautifully themselves at every stage of recovery.

Now Offering Professional Mastectomy Bra Fitting in Evansville, IN!

After three years of serving the Tri-State Area with medical compression garments, Comfort Compression & More is proud to announce an expansion of services: professional mastectomy bra fitting.

Expanding our commitment to care for the Tri-State area

Local owners Dusty Fiester and Lorien Appman recognized the need for mastectomy products and expert fitting in our community. Dusty began her journey to become a certified mastectomy bra fitter early in 2025 and completed her training in October 2025. Inspired by her mother’s breast cancer journey, she is passionate about helping individuals with cancer-related swelling and breast changes feel their best and live life to the fullest.

Dusty Fiester, PT, CLT

Schedule Your Fitting Today!

Our boutique provides a private, comfortable fitting experience and is located at:

4918 Temple Ave 812-303-3831 comfortcompression.com 126 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

By appointment only Comfort Compression & More works with most major insurance companies

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Heart to Heart Hospice 610 E. Walnut St. • 812-549-0373 • hearttohearthospice.com

Heart to Heart Hospice provides a patient-centered approach to medical care and supportive services for patients at the end-oflife, as well as for their family members. Heart to Heart partners with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living communities to deliver the care patients and families deserve. What sets Heart to Heart Hospice apart from other businesses offering hospice care? What are the full breadth of services you offer? Heart to Heart Hospice offers a variety of services beyond the Medicare mandate for hospice providers. We provide the four levels of hospice care wherever a patient calls home. For times when symptoms cannot be feasibly managed in the home environment, we offer respite care or general inpatient care in our freestanding home-like Hospice House. Our robust Heart Paws Pet Therapy program has over 19 therapy dogs that visit patients wherever they get their care. We have a large group of volunteers and the BEST nursing care in Evansville.

above average paid time off for our employees. At a time when many employers are cutting back on health insurance benefits, we are expanding ours! What are some misconceptions people have about hospice? Hospice is not as much “about dying well” as it is about living as well as possible, for as long as possible. We not only provide excellent medical care but serve the whole person and their family. Only about half of those who qualify for hospice receive services at the end-of-life. Of those who do get care, 50% are on services for less than 17 days. We hope to change this – come see what we offer.

What is the environment like at Heart to Heart Hospice? FAMILY, that’s what our staff say about their work world. As a part of our 12 Hearts Desires, “we take care of each other” as demonstrated by family-style meals together, company cars, and

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Deaconess 600 Mary St. • 812-450-5000 • deaconess.com

Where to Go for Care: Quality Care for Every Need, at Every Stage of Life From everyday checkups to life-saving emergency care, Deaconess provides a full continuum of services — close to home and designed to meet the needs of every age and stage. Start with Primary Care Your primary care provider is your first stop for preventive care, chronic condition management, and routine concerns.

Same-day and next-day appointments are available across the region. When You Need Care Now Deaconess offers multiple convenient options for urgent, non-life-threatening needs: • Urgent Care and Pediatric Urgent Care for minor illnesses and injuries • Ortho Urgent Care for bone, joint, and sports injuries • GI Quick Care for fast evaluation of digestive symptoms • Video Visits for care from anywhere in the U.S. • Behavioral Health Urgent Care for immediate mental health support Expert Emergency Care For emergency situations, Deaconess provides advanced, specialty-trained teams: • Pediatric Advanced Emergency Departments certified by Indiana

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EMS for Children, with trained staff, specialized equipment, and readiness for complex pediatric cases • Obstetric Emergency Departments for pregnancy-related emergencies • Level II Trauma Center, nationally verified by the American College of Surgeons and state-designated for adult and pediatric trauma • The region’s only Comprehensive Stroke Center offering the highest level of stroke care with 24/7 neurology and neurosur gery coverage, advanced imaging, and rapid treatment protocols Whether it’s preventive care, a weekend injury, a specialized emergency, or a critical situation, Deaconess delivers trusted, high-quality care for your whole family close to home. All the care you need. Always close to home.

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be Well EVANSVILLE

Bodyworks Massage Therapy 2809 Lincoln Ave., Ste. 110 • 812-490-9009 • bwmassage.com

Massage Therapy is Healing Bodyworks has provided therapeutic massage and spa services for more than 25 years, and awareness of massage therapy as a method of health maintenance has grown immensely during that time. Research shows that stress has an adverse effect on our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, and because our lifestyles are stressful, many people seek the services of a professional massage therapist. Your massage therapist provides skillful touch therapy to relieve muscles of tension and overuse, restoring balance and removing causative agents of stress. Scheduling time on a massage table is like taking a minivacation where you can relax and be at ease. Therapeutic massage is our most requested service, though couples massage, spa treatments, and specialized sessions in oncology, craniosacral, kinetic chain release, pregnancy, and The Feldenkrais Method also are popular. You can deepen your massage experience by adding essential oils, cupping, CBD, exfoliating scrub, and hot stones to your session. These add-ons are a simple and cost-effective way to ease physical, mental, and emotional distress.

bwmassage.com 812-490-9009

Massage therapists at Bodyworks are trained to give you a personalized session based on the information you share with them. Whether you experience chronic tension in the neck and shoulder area, or ruminating thoughts about a particular situation in your life, massage therapy can benefit you. Call us or book your appointment online. We look forward to seeing you soon!

MASSAGE THERAPY & INSTITUTE

2809 Lincoln Ave. Evansville, IN 47714

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Be Well EVANSVILLE

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Club Pilates 111 S. Green River Road, Ste. I • 812-618-2499 • clubpilates.com/evansville

Strength Starts from the Core At Club Pilates, we believe that strength comes from the core. Club Pilates Evansville is a diverse community united by a common goal: to get stronger, move better, feel better, and live healthier. Whether you’re a runner looking to enhance your endurance, a weightlifter striving for better form, a golfer seeking improved swing mechanics, or someone simply aiming to move freely without pain, a strong core is the foundation of your strength and mobility. We offer classes tailored to meet the needs of EveryBODY — from our foundational beginner level sessions to more advanced programs designed to challenge even the most seasoned Pilates enthusiast. Join us today to experience the transformative power of building a Club Pilates core!

111 S. Green River Rd., Ste. I (812) 618-2499 clubpilates.com/evansville

FREE INTRO CLASS “I have never experienced a workout like Club Pilates, thanks to unique equipment and extensively trained instructors. We learn how to move functionally for daily tasks to avoid injury and pain. Every workout is different so there is no monotony. The hour flies by! I have learned that you don’t have to sweat or leave the gym exhausted to get a good workout.”

– Monica Fuquay

“Honestly, the way Pilates has improved my core strength and overall muscle strength, along with the mind-body connection, has been amazing. The intentional and purposeful movements make me focus on individual muscle groups and give me such an amazing overall workout.”

– Deavron Farmer

“I like the variety and inclusivity, and I am challenged in every class. I’m glad I didn’t know more about Pilates before I began because I had zero expectations. I was out to learn something new, do something good for my body and mind, and hopefully have fun. I found all of that. I would say one of the biggest impacts is the overall wellness from doing Pilates. I am physically stronger, and I have renewed endurance to get through my day.”

– Jackie Monroe

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Your Fitness Journey Begins Here! 110 N. Main St. 812-454-7000 | letgoandlift.com

Personal Training • Virtual Training Group Fitness • Nutrition Planning

FOR LOCALS,

BY LOCALS SUBSCRIBE TODAY

FOR AS LITTLE AS $18 A YEAR AND EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE!

evansvilleliving.com | 812-426-2115 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

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Rehabilitation to Home

We Provide the Following Therapy Care

• Home assessments with recommendations to improve safety at home post-therapy • Orthopedic rehab following joint replacement surgery • Dementia management • Walker and wheelchair training • Fall prevention and balance training, including state of the art equipment such as Omnistand • Transfer training • Gait training • Speech therapy for treatment of dysphagia including Vital-Stim therapy • Accelerated Care Plus Program: E-stim and ultrasound to assist with pain management and strengthening

Our in-house therapy staff provides a full range of services to meet the individual needs of our patients, including one-on-one physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. We work with residents and family members to create individualized treatment plans to help each resident attain their highest level of function to return to their prior level of living. These treatment approaches may include therapeutic exercises, assistive device training, cognitive therapy, endurance training, range of motion exercises, and self-care retraining. Are you having a hip replacement or knee surgery? Our therapy department is proud to offer a rehab-to-home program. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy programs are developed so the person can return to independence as soon as possible. Medicare and private insurance may cover most of these charges.

Ensure the heart of your community stays strong by supporting our local, nonprofit, faith-based nursing home. Your contributions fuel our mission of compassion, care, and sustainability. Together, we can continue providing essential services to our beloved seniors and enriching lives within our community. Our Rehabilitation Unit is seeking community support to purchase an Arjo Walker, an advanced mobility device that helps residents safely regain strength, balance, and independence after illness or injury. Your donation will directly enhance therapy outcomes, reduce fall risk, and empower our residents to walk with confidence during their recovery journey.

Help our residents take their next step forward!

Washington Ave , Evansville, IN • 812-476-3360 • evansvilleprotestanthome.org 1323701 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

SENIOR LIVING

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be Well EVANSVILLE

Evansville Protestant Home 3701 Washington Ave. • 812-476-3360 •evansvilleprotestanthome.org

Evansville Protestant Home offers a Functional Recovery Assisted Living Program for people who have just had surgery. What does that program consist of? The Functional Recovery Assisted Living Program at EPH is designed to support individuals recovering from surgery in a home-like environment. It provides residents with essential services to ensure a smooth and safe recovery. Key features of the program include: • 24/7 nursing care for medical support. • In-house therapy services (physical, occupational, and speech therapy). • Call bells in every room for emergency assistance. • Three daily homemade meals to meet nutritional needs. We can provide altered diets per a physician’s order. • Housekeeping and laundry services to maintain cleanliness and order. • Transportation to medical appointments if needed. • Daily activities and social opportunities • Access to exercise equipment to aid in rehabilitation • Therapy provided in-room or going to the gym with the licensed therapist • Available to ages 50+ What updates and remodeling have been done to the private apartments where the Functional Recovery Assisted Living Program takes place? EPH has recently remodeled the private apartments used in the Functional Recovery Program. Updates include: • Private walk-in showers in each apartment to enhance privacy and hygiene. • Modern design improvements to create a home-like, comforting environment. What nursing assistance is provided to people recovering from surgery in the Functional Recovery Program? The program offers 24/7 nursing care for post-surgical residents. This includes: • Medication management and administration. Specific pain assessment for post-surgical residents.

• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, and mobility support. • Health monitoring to detect any signs of post-surgical complications. What types of therapy services are made available to people in the Functional Recovery Program? Residents have access to on-site therapy services, which can be tailored to their specific recovery needs. Available therapies include: • Physical therapy to restore mobility, strength, and balance. • Occupational therapy to assist with daily living tasks. • Speech therapy, if necessary, for cognitive or speech-related rehabilitation. • Respiratory Therapy • Pet Therapy • We accept most insurance for therapy services and are happy to review options with you before your stay.

• Access to parlor rooms for special occasions or visits with family. • Extended basic cable TV for inroom entertainment • Access to exercise equipment to support rehabilitation exercises.

As people recover from their surgery, what amenities can they expect from Evansville Protestant Home? Residents recovering from surgery can enjoy the following amenities: • Two on-site beauty salons for grooming and self-care.

How will each patient’s progress be monitored and evaluated? Each resident’s progress is monitored by nursing and therapy staff. Physicians/case managers are updated to ensure recovery milestones are met. Residents and their families are kept informed throughout the recovery process.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

SENIOR LIVING

Walnut Creek Memory Care 525 Bentee Wes Court • 812-471-3100 • sinceriseniorliving.com/walnut-creek

OPEN SINCE FALL 2015, Walnut Creek has served residents across the Tri-State as a licensed assisted living community specializing in care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia. As the only exclusive memory care facility in our region, our East Side facility offers long-term memory care and respite care for those who may need additional support or assistance. Our staff receives continued training and education on dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, resulting in personalized care and engagement for our residents. This focus of memory care allows us to have nurses available 24/7, plus an exclusive license to age in place. With this unique license, we can keep residents in the assisted living setting in more advanced stages and provide a higher level of care when needed. Here at Walnut Creek, family is more than just a word. It is a defining value woven into our very fabric. Our team truly values getting to know residents on a deeper level so we can honor them with dignified care that celebrates their lives and accomplishments,

just as a family would. Our philosophy of care focuses on discovering the life stories of our residents, honoring their existing daily routines and preferences, encouraging their independence in a secure environment, and supporting them as the disease progresses and their needs increase with continuity of care.

Our approach, as well as our many years of experience, gives us a sense of pride and motivates us to be a valued resource for you and your family. We are always happy to provide support, education, and tools to help families navigate the long-term memory care options that are available.

Walnut Creek Memory Care is a senior living provider that fosters deep bonds between those that live and work in our communities, just like family.

CARE SERVICES: Looking for a place for a loved one? Let's get in touch!

• Memory Care • Respite Care • Companion Living

sinceriseniorliving.com/walnut-creek • 812-471-3100 • 525 Bentee Wes Court, Evansville, IN 134 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

SENIOR LIVING

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be Well EVANSVILLE

Heritage Woods of Newburgh 4211 Grimm Road, Newburgh, IN • 812-853-9810 • hw-newburgh.com

FIVE YEARS OF PURPOSE, PRIDE, AND AWARD-WINNING CARE As Heritage Woods of Newburgh marks its fifth anniversary, the community reflects on a journey built on compassion, steady growth, and the residents who make the building feel like home. For five years, Heritage Woods has welcomed older adults into an environment centered on dignity, independence, and genuine connection. Each resident contributes to the character of the community, creating a warm and purposeful place to live. This anniversary year includes meaningful achievements. Heritage Woods received the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living’s National Silver Quality Award, making it the only assisted living community in Indiana to earn this honor. It was also recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Assisted Living Community. These awards reflect the mission, but they also speak to the day-today experiences of the people who live here.

“These awards tell the story of who we are,” says LaToya Johnson, Director of Sales and Marketing. “Our residents are the heartbeat of Heritage Woods. They lead, they give, and they inspire us every day.” Residents stay connected to the TriState area through year-round outreach, including a backpack drive for students, an ongoing canned food drive, the annual Gobble Gathering during Thanksgiving, and a partnership with the Junior League Mobile Food Bus. These programs allow residents to continue serving with pride and purpose. One resident, 105-year-old Betty, captures the spirit of the community. “These

past two and a half years have been some of the best of my life,” she shares. “I’ve made wonderful friends, I stay active, and I feel at home.” As Heritage Woods celebrates five years of outstanding care, its commitment to exceptional and affordable assisted living remains strong — honoring every resident who chooses to call the community home.

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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Senior Connection 951 S. Hebron Ave., Ste. D • 812-473-7271 •seniorconnectionbenefits.com

Medicare is confusing — but it doesn’t have to be For more than 30 years, Senior Connection has remained one of the area’s most trusted senior focused insurance agencies in the TriState area. We educate and provide unbiased information regarding your Medicare needs. We pride ourselves on our friendly commitment to the community, which extends throughout our entire staff. Our licensed agents review your options in a relaxed, no pressure environment. We ensure our clients’ needs are always put first and you receive the Medicare coverage or life insurance that best meets your needs. Senior Connection offers many products and services to help prepare you for retirement. We are here to take the stress and confusion of Medicare off your plate and continue to assist as your life evolves. As always, appointments are free with no obligation to enroll. Let us help with your Medicare decisions as your trusted “partner in retirement.”

Are you happy with your current Medicare coverage? When it comes to Medicare,

YOU HAVE CHOICES! Our professionals at Senior Connection maintain accurate, up to date information regarding Medicare’s changes.

Stop by for a NO Obligation review of your complete health portfolio. And let Senior Connection be...

“YOUR PARTNER IN RETIREMENT”!

951 S. Hebron Ave., Suite D, Evansville, IN 47714 812-473-7271 • Seniorconnectionbenefits.com

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SENIOR LIVING

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Be Well EVANSVILLE

BoldAge PACE 700 E. Walnut St. • 812-990-5800 • boldagepace.com

Are you caring for your aging parents? Are you aging at home and looking for help? When everyday tasks become harder to manage and medical needs become more complex, many families wonder how to keep loved ones safe at home without giving up quality care. BoldAge PACE helps make that possible. BoldAge PACE is designed for older adults who want to continue living at home while receiving coordinated medical care, therapy, transportation, socialization, meals, and daily support through a trusted care team. Enrollment begins with a simple application and an in-home visit. Once approved, the care team comes together right away. This includes a doctor, nurse, social worker, therapist, dietitian, home care staff, and transportation team. From the first day, prescriptions are transferred, in-home services are set up, and the BoldAge PACE center welcomes participants into a new community of friends.

Transportation is provided for medical appointments and center visits, helping remove one of the biggest barriers to care. At the center, participants enjoy meals, social activities, wellness programs, and meaningful connections. PACE covers nearly all medical and supportive services, including primary care, hospital care, medications, therapies, and home care. Services are covered by Medicare and Medicaid for those who qualify, helping reduce financial stress for families. Families stay connected through regular communication with the care team, ensuring confidence, clarity, and continuity. BoldAge PACE delivers care that is personal, coordinated, and built around what matters

Healthcare made easy

E Lloyd Expy

E Walnut St

River

S Kentucky Ave

Lincoln Ave S Garvin St

S Governor St

Ohio

700 E. Walnut Street Evansville, IN 47713

Complete Care Coordination

For older adults 55+, BoldAge PACE provides full medical, dental, vision, free rides, and help at home.

Come visit our center and spend a day with us!

most. Staying home. Staying independent. Staying connected. If you are caring for an aging parent or exploring support for yourself, BoldAge PACE is here to help you stay safe, confident, and connected at home. Our team is ready to guide you through every step. Your Health. Your Home. Your PACE.

MEDICAL

ACTIVITIES CENTER

RIDES TO THE DOCTOR

HELP AT HOME

812.990.5800 | TTY: 711

BoldAgePACE.com

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SPONSORED CONTENT

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2026

President’s Message Happy New Year!

I hope 2026 is off to a strong start for you. WNIN continues to face funding headwinds, but if there is a bright spot, it is that we enter this year without all the questions that plagued us at this time last year. We continue to face a difficult way ahead, but we know the way ahead. Since losing Indiana state funding at about this time last year and eventually having all our federal funding cut, we have worked hard to deliver messaging across all our platforms to keep you informed and to solicit additional financial support. WNIN also made contact with a select group of major donors to request assistance. Those conversations and meetings are ongoing, but have produced generous and significant help. WNIN made significant expense cuts of more than $600,000 — about 25 percent — in our fiscal 2026 budget. The cuts included five members of our staff, which eliminated 19 percent of our manpower.

WNIN BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2026 Susan Hardwick Immediate Past Chair

Elijah Hamilton

Richard Kuhn Chair

A.J. Manion, Past Chair

Nancy Hodge Vice Chair

Tara Overton

Lawrence Taylor Secretary

Stacey Shourd

Steve Bridges Treasurer

Lindsay Snyder

Tim Black President

Gene Warren

Noah Alatza

Jordan Whitledge

J. Beau Dial

Matthew Wright

Stephanie Koch Whitney Lubbers Kim McWilliams Amy Porter Thomas Silliman Daniela Vidal Hope White

The cuts, while unfortunate, provided the opportunity for a reorganization of management and key positions within the employee structure at the station that had been in place for decades. We were successful in negotiating reduced and/or level program costs for several pieces of content across our various platforms. We also successfully negotiated a significant reduction in cost for our master control/ traffic structure, which will begin providing us with about $50,000 in annual savings in January. WNIN has been focusing staff time and marketing resources on local content — specifically pursuing opportunities to produce content that can be reorganized and re-cut to allow for distribution across all platforms. We are placing much more emphasis on supplying local content to digital platforms in an ongoing effort to reach new audiences and connect with existing audiences who are watching and listening to WNIN in new places. We are in the process of conducting a deep examination of where we need to go over the next few years. Within the next three years, we anticipate additional reduced budgets while expecting to see a continued strong trend of local financial support from individual donors, corporations, and grants. We received more than a half-million dollars in Bridge Fund assistance from the newly formed Public Media Company to help with immediate needs. The Bridge Fund grant will be particularly helpful in the current fiscal year, but it is important for us — and for you — to remember that these dollars are exactly what the title suggests: a bridge of support to get us beyond immediate hurdles. WNIN cannot expect this level of support in future fiscal years, and we must look for ways to move forward without government or national foundation support. We will continue our focus on local content and programming — specifically the digital and social distribution of that content in various forms and lengths. We are placing a particular focus on securing local and state grants that will allow us to support local long-form programming and local journalism. WNIN will be looking to add significant dollars to its restricted investment account to provide an additional financial safety net as we move beyond the next three years.

TWO MAIN STREET • EVANSVILLE, IN 47708 812-423-2973 • WNIN.ORG • EMAIL: INFO@WNIN.ORG 138 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

We are beginning the process of forming a local task force to assist WNIN in charting a path forward. The task force will be made up of business leaders, media representatives, marketing and sales leaders, foundation experts, former board members, and other appropriate community representatives. The task force will look at a variety of topics, including additional cuts to staff and programming, new ways and sources of fundraising, major local corporate and/or educational institution support, possible partnerships, and shared services among Indiana public media stations. We also will be specific in creating a detailed business plan that will guide our way forward beyond three years, toward sustainability as we approach a five-year threshold. Overall, this task force will focus on a major remodel of WNIN — including its services and content, and how we continue to offer those things to the community. Speaking of community, I must offer my gratitude to YOU, our local supporters. We have made it through these last few months only with the assistance many of you have so graciously and generously offered to WNIN. While the financial assistance has certainly been necessary and much appreciated, I don’t have the words to describe the feelings I’ve experienced upon reading your notes included with donations and hearing the so, so kind words of encouragement I’ve received from you at meetings, events, and even in the grocery store. You have made it very clear that WNIN is important and that you accept a large part of the responsibility of keeping us as a member of the local media. THANK YOU! It is with purpose and intent that I’ve used the word “local” in this column so often. PBS and NPR programs are certainly popular among many of our donors, but by and large, our donors support WNIN’s local content mission. If that is to continue, we must continue to receive your financial support. Not only is it always a good time to include WNIN TV and/or FM on your giving list, it is also critical and necessary for WNIN to continue providing the local news and content you’ve come to expect. Look for the donation banner at wnin. org and show your support for the good work we continue to do every day. You also may make a gift by calling 812-423-2973. Please consider an additional gift and/or an increased annual gift. You also might consider becoming a sustaining supporter of the station or increasing your monthly gift. Thank you when you do! Sincerely,

Tim Black, President and CEO

CHANNEL 9.1 CHANNEL 9.2

88.3 FM

Spring Into Action As the first blooms of spring begin to emerge,

Step Into the Mystery: Murder Mystery Dinner Returns! WNIN is excited to announce the return of the WNIN Murder Mystery Dinner, in partnership with the University of Evansville Theatre Department and Evansville Wartime Museum. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of excitement, intrigue, and some good ol’ detective work. On April 11, WNIN invites you and your fellow true crime enthusiasts to the Murder Mystery Dinner, a thrilling event held 5-8 p.m. at the historic Evansville Wartime Museum. Expect to immerse yourself in a captivating World War II storyline with characters and secrets to unravel. You’ll interact with other guests, gather clues, and work together to solve the mystery. Oh, and costumes are a must — it makes the event that much more fun! Prepare to laugh, think on your feet, and enjoy an unforgettable experience with your fellow sleuths. Tickets go on sale Feb. 9 and are $60 per person. Tickets include a reception with the characters from the UE Theatre and dinner. Beverages can be purchased at the event. Sponsorship opportunities are also available, offering options for groups or organizations to support this exciting event. “We are so excited for this event to be returning! In partnership with the University of Evansville Theatre Department and the Evansville Wartime Museum, we look forward to engaging our guests in a fun, interactive

experience,” says WNIN’s Director of Events & Theatre Karen Robinson. So, mark your calendars and join us April 11 for an evening of mystery, fun, and camaraderie. With delicious food, interactive storytelling, and engaging performances with actors provided by the University of Evansville’s Theatre Department, this is an event you truly won’t want to miss. Check out wnin.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more information and to purchase tickets. This event sold out in just a few weeks last year. Be sure to get your tickets early — we can’t wait to see you there! RSVP to: WNIN Tri-State Public Media, Inc. Karen Robinson Director of Events & Theatre krobinson@wnin.org

there’s a fresh sense of renewal and purpose in the air — a perfect time to celebrate our community and WNIN. With your unwavering support, WNIN continues to be a trusted source of news, thoughtful storytelling, and enriching programming that connects, informs, and inspires. In a world of constant noise and fleeting headlines, WNIN TV and radio stand as your reliable sources of in-depth, nuanced reporting. We don’t just scratch the surface — we dig deep into the stories that matter to our community, providing context and clarity in our increasingly complex world. We are cultivating a space where respectful and productive conversations about the issues facing our community can flourish. Why does your support matter? In an era of increasing polarization and misinformation, spaces for respectful dialogue and fact-based reporting are more crucial. Your support ensures that WNIN remains strong in an era where quality journalism and educational programming are more important than ever. Funding from listeners like you directly fuels our ability to provide commercial-free, unbiased news and engaging content. Every pledge helps maintain the integrity and accessibility of this vital public service. This spring, we invite you to grow with us. Your donation is not just a gift; it’s an investment in a stronger, more informed community. Together, we can ensure that WNIN continues to stay rooted in the Tri-State for generations to come. Your gift helps safeguard this essential community resource.

Your Support for Public Media Matters Now More Than Ever Making a difference is easy. Whether it’s a one-time donation, a monthly contribution, or a legacy gift, every bit counts. By donating today, you’re helping WNIN stay on the air and in the hearts of our audiences across the region. Let’s make this pledge drive a celebration of community, connection, and the collective power of public media. Together, with your support, WNIN will continue to blossom as a trusted partner in news, culture, and storytelling. Spring into action today, and let’s plant a brighter tomorrow — together. Support your local public media station by making your gift early. Visit us online at wnin.org, or find us on PayPal and Venmo Charities to make your gift today. Thank you for being a part of the journey.

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February Highlights

Spotlight January Highlights THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Airs at 8 p.m. Fridays through Feb. 13

Enjoy an encore presentation of Ken Burns’ latest historical documentary. KEN BURNS: THE NATIONAL PARKS Airs at 7 p.m. Jan. 22

Discover the story of the unforgettable Americans who made national parks possible. People from every conceivable background were willing to devote themselves to saving some precious portion of the land they loved, and in doing so, they reminded their fellow citizens of the full meaning of democracy.

SECRETS OF THE DEAD: QUEENS OF COMBAT Airs at 9 p.m. Jan. 28

An international team uncovers evidence that restores the female gladiators who fought in the great amphitheaters of ancient Rome to their rightful place in history. HARRIET TUBMAN: VISIONS OF FREEDOM Airs at 7 p.m. Jan. 29

This rich, nuanced portrait examines the woman known as a conductor of the Underground Railroad, who repeatedly risked her own life and freedom to liberate others from slavery.

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TWO MAIN STREET WITH DAVID JAMES Airs at 8 p.m. Thursdays

New episodes feature lively one-on-one interviews conducted by one of the area’s most well-known journalists. BLACK AND JEWISH AMERICA: AN INTERWOVEN HISTORY Airs at 8 p.m. Feb. 3

This four-part series from Henry Louis Gates Jr. explores the historic relationship between Black and Jewish American communities. NATURE: PARENTHOOD Airs at 7 p.m. Feb. 4

This five-part natural history series, narrated by David Attenborough, explores the extraordinary strategies and ingenious tricks that animal parents employ to give their young a head start in life.

SPONSORED CONTENT

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2026

NOVA: CAN DOGS TALK? Airs at 8 p.m. Feb. 4

Imagine a world where your furry best friend could tell you exactly what they’re thinking. A growing number of dog owners claim this is already happening, thanks to innovative word buttons that seem to unlock a new realm of canine communication. But do these dogs truly understand what we’re saying?

March Highlights CALL THE MIDWIFE Airs at 7 p.m. March 22

Don’t miss the season premiere of this popular series! MASTERPIECE: THE FORSYTES Airs at 8 p.m. March 22

Catch the series premiere of a major new reimagining of John Galsworthy’s “Forsyte” novels. Follow the lives of the wealthy Forsyte family in 1880s London.

INDEPENDENT LENS: THE LIBRARIANS Airs at 9 p.m. Feb. 9

When Texas lawmakers seek to review a list of books, librarians find themselves on the frontlines of a national battle. AARP MOVIES FOR GROWNUPS AWARDS Airs at 7 p.m. Feb. 22

Hosted by actor Alan Cumming, this awards show has spent two decades championing movies for grownups, by grownups, by advocating for the 50-plus audience.

MASTERPIECE: THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO Airs at 9 p.m. March 22

Series premiere! Edmond Dantès, a 19-year-old sailor falsely accused of treason, is imprisoned without trial in the Château d’If, a grim island fortress off the coast of Marseille, France. After many years of captivity, he escapes and discovers treasure, making him one of the richest men in the world. Under the identity of the Count of Monte Cristo, he plans to take revenge on those who wrongly accused him.

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88.3 FM SCHEDULE TODAY, EXPLAINED Airs at 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday on WNIN 88.3 FM

February/March TV Channel 9.1 and FM 88.3 Guides DAYTIME TV SCHEDULE

11:30 a.m. Alma’s Way

MONDAY - FRIDAY

Noon

5 a.m.

Arthur

5:30 a.m. Odd Squad 6 a.m.

Wild Kratts

Molly of Denali

12:30 p.m. Xavier Riddle 1 p.m.

Baking with Julia

1:30 p.m. This Old House

6:30 a.m. Weather Hunters

2 p.m.

Specials (3 hours)

Lyla in the Loop

5 p.m.

BBC News The Context

7 a.m.

7:30 a.m. Carl the Collector 8 a.m.

Daniel Tiger

8:30 a.m. Rosie’s Rules 9 a.m.

Sesame Street

9:30 a.m. Work It Out Wombats 10 a.m.

Donkey Hodie

10:30 a.m. Pinkalicious & Peterrific 11 a.m.

Elinor Wonders Why

5:30 p.m. BBC News America

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 5 a.m.

Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

5:30 a.m. Arthur 6 a.m.

Wild Kratts

6:30 a.m. Weather Hunters 7 a.m.

Lyla In The Loop

7:30 a.m. Call the Collector

11:30 a.m. Nature Cat

88.3 FM SCHEDULE MONDAY - FRIDAY 4 a.m.

Morning Edition

9 a.m.

Morning Edition

10 a.m.

Think

11 a.m.

Fresh Air

Noon

Mon. - Radiolab Tues. - New Yorker Radio Hour Wed. - Hidden Brain Thurs. - Two Main Street Fri. - The Middle with Jeremy Hobson

1 p.m.

Mon.- Wed. - Here and Now Thurs. - Here and Now Fri. - Science Friday

“Today, Explained” is Vox’s award-winning daily news explainer show. Every weekday, hosts Noel King and Sean Rameswaram take on one essential news story that defines our moment and bring listeners the context they need to understand it. Through on-the-ground reporting and discussions with journalists, academics, policymakers and more, the “Today, Explained” team helps us understand every story and why it matters. “Today, Explained” looks beyond its own newsroom to find the best sources and guests to tell each story. Sometimes that’s a Vox journalist with expertise on the topic, but often it’s a journalist from another news organization, a local public radio reporter, or people on the ground living the story themselves. The show won the 2021 Webby Award for Best News & Politics Podcast and the Podcast Academy’s Ambies Award for Best News Podcast. The show has been featured in The Atlantic, Vulture, Reader’s Digest and more. “Today, Explained” is distributed by WNYC. Find more information about the show online at distribution.wnyc.org/ today-explained.

MOMENT OF SCIENCE Airs at 5:18 p.m. Monday-Friday on WNIN 88.3 FM We‘ve all hit our “funny bone” – why does it feel like that? What do bicycles, footballs, and space shuttles have in common? Can you really learn while you are asleep? Why do some birds hop, and others walk? These and literally thousands of other questions about the world we live in are answered in “A Moment of Science.” If you are even a little bit interested in the world around you, these two-minute radio programs are just for you — and you don‘t need to know anything about science! These vignettes remove some of the mystery from science, but not the wonder. “A Moment of Science” makes you think “Wow, that‘s neat!” and go tell somebody else about it. Since 1988, WFIU has produced “A Moment of Science” at Indiana University, Bloomington, in cooperation with IU‘s scientific community and scientists around the world. Read more online at ipm.org/show/amomentofscience.

Mon.- Wed. - Here and Now Noon Thurs. - Here and Now 1 p.m. Fri. - Science Friday 2 p.m. 3 p.m. All ThingsConsidered 3 p.m. 6:30 p.m. Today Explained 4 p.m. 7 p.m. Fresh Air 5 p.m. 8 p.m. Mon. - Wed. - Classical 6 p.m. Noyes Thurs. - The Middle 7 p.m. with Jeremy Hobson 8 p.m. Fri. - Classical Noyes 10 p.m. SATURDAY 2 p.m.

7 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m.

Weekend Edition Saturday Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me! A Way With Words Two Main Street

11 p.m.

This American Life Milk Street Radio Latino USA Freakonomics Radio Weekend All Things Considered On the Media New Yorker Radio Hour The Song Show American Routes Night Lights Jazz Afterglow

SUNDAY 7 a.m. 9 a.m.

Weekend Edition Sunday The Song Show

All Times Central. Check WNIN.org for up-to-date program dates and times.

142 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

10 a.m. 11 a.m. Noon 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m. 9 p.m. 10 p.m.

Hidden Brain This American Life Wait Wait ... Don’t Tell Me Live Wire A Way With Words Radiolab Weekend All Things Considered Snap Judgment New Yorker Radio Hour On the Media Travel with Rick Steves Beat Latino American Routes

ADVERTISING INDEX

AAA Travel............................................50, 51

Deaconess............................................... 128

Acros...........................................................98

Eat Up Evansville.................................... 100

Indiana State Museums – Angel Mounds................................. 81

Alterations by Olivia..................................49

Energy 4 Serenity.................................... 125

Just Foto Booths....................................... 81

American Heart Association..................117

ERA First Advantage/ Miller, Janice....................................1, 90

Just Rennie’s.............................................. 79

Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science.............................. 78

Knob Hill Tavern........................................90

Sugarholic Body Sugaring Studio.................................. 79

Landscapes by Dallas Foster, Inc.........104

Synova Wellness - Cryotherapy Spa.....131

Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra........ 25

Let Go & Lift..............................................131

T.R.U Event Rental..................................... 72

Evansville Protestant Home.......... 132, 133

Liberty Federal Credity Union................. 16

Team McClintock...................................... 12

Evansville Surgical Associates................................. IBC, 116

Life in Motion Family Wellness Center....................121

Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation..............................7

The Bauerhaus/ Bauerhaus Catering.....................63, 65

Little Bird Picture Framing Studio..................................... 8

The Helms Hall Evansville Goodwill Industries............................ 78

Ascension St. Vincent.....................110, 111 Award World Trophies & Gifts.................66 Bally’s Evansville Casino & Hotel............ 75 Bar Louie..................................................... 78 Bertram Chiropractic & Wellness......... 123 Biaggi’s.......................................................55 Black Horse Barn.............................. WBIFC Bodyworks Massage Therapy.............. 129

Kenny Kent Lexus......................................11

Senior Connection.................................. 136 Simplicity Furniture.................................102 Stephan G. Sanders – Fine Men’s Clothiers........................74

BoldAge PACE..........................................137

Eyewitness News WEHT/WTVW...........89

Brinker’s Jewelers.....................................IFC

Little Willows.............................................. 78

F.C. Tucker Emge...................................OBC

The Vault.....................................................56

Budget Blinds............................................43

French Lick Resort....................................58

Mesker Park Zoo & Botanic Garden..............................59

Tourcy, LLC................................................. 14

Burdette Park.............................................68 Burdoc Farms............................................ 76

Friedman Park Event Center....................48

Midwest Communications...................... 82

Furnished Evansville.................................64

Midwest Facial Plastic Surgery.............108

Cabinets & Counters.................................. 8

German American Bank............................. 4

Mister Sparky.............................................43

Cady Wellness Institute...................114, 115

Gibson County Visitors & Tourism Bureau.........................60, 61

North Park Family Practice Center................................. 124

Gill Wedding Orthodontics................... 122 Give A Dog A Bone................................... 24

Oink Inc. Smokehouse & Catering........................................... 76

University of Southern Indiana................ 18

Cambridge Golf Club & Banquet Facility..............................84 Center for Pediatric Therapy..........112, 113

Townsquare Media................................ 100 Trialmed.....................................................131 Tucker Publishing Group, Inc....83, 90, 131 Turoni’s........................................................90 University of Evansville.............................95 Visit Vincennes.......................................... 52

City View at Sterling Square Events Center.......................................74

H.G. McCullough Designers, Inc............ 38

Pella Windows of Evansville...................... 9

Walnut Creek Memory Care.................. 134

Hadi Shrine Banquet Hall.........................54

Popham Construction...............................17

WAY FM...................................................... 38

Club Pilates..............................................130

Hayden Vision.........................................120

Premiere Tan.........................................70, 71

We Simply Clean....................................... 24

Comfort Compression............................ 126

Heart to Heart Hospice...........................127

Reitz Home Museum................................69

WNIN..................................................138-142

D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln.............................94

Henderson Area Arts Alliance................... 9

RiverValley Behavioral Health ...............119

WTSN-WYYW.......................................... 143

D-Patrick Motoplex..................................... 2

Heritage Woods of Newburgh.............. 135

Saxe Pinkston Financial Group................. 3

YMCA of Southwestern Indiana.............118

Antenna TV • Over the air 20.1 WTSN • Astound Channel 105 • Spectrum Channel 186 FOR THE LATEST STATION LINEUP SCAN THE QR CODE

Telemundo • Over the Air 15.1 WYYW • Astound Channel 107 • Spectrum Channel 358 FOR THE LATEST STATION LINEUP SCAN THE QR CODE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026 | EVANSVILLE LIVING

143

Final Detail

Forward Focused

Setting goals can start with creativity, elbow grease, and a little glue By Elayna Zausch

out on the poster board — I glue all very new year offers the chance the larger pictures and cut-outs, then to set and realign goals. How find places to add a little flair or final do you inspire yourself? It can be as simple as a few pictures and touches. I also keep any material from impactful quotes hung together on your previous years to bring back into this fridge. Vision boards can give direction, year’s creative process. There is no right something I know firsthand — I’ve or wrong way to make a vision board; created my own for three years now. the most important part is being able to My journey with vision boards step back and reflect. I choose to spend began in fall 2022, while returning days on the project, staying intentional home to Evansville for winter break throughout the process. from my junior year at Louisiana This annual creative process provides me with a lot of clarity and State University in Baton Rouge. The helps me close out the year and look weeks that follow Christmas are the dreadful cold days that I seek posiforward to the next. My vision board tive reinforcements to cope with, and serves as a north star during times of hesitation, uncertainty, or when creating a vision board seemed like a I need to laugh, at least enough for good idea. My original goal shifted from winter craft to intentional reassurance. It’s meant to be an underrealignment in the young woman I lying theme of my year, helping me stay focused on what I set out to do wanted to become during my upperand achieve. Being able to look back classmen years as an undergraduate. The vision boards I’ve created since and identify positive changes or goals then display a sharper focus. met fuels my excitement in continuFirst things first: Mentally map ing this project. A change I sensed in out what you want in the coming myself was letting go of relationships year. Stay realistic and uplifting. and habits that did not spark personal Think about milestones you aim to growth. All of my vision boards hang hit that ultimately push you toward your together on my bedroom walls, and they’re overall life goals. View it as taking time likely to stay there for years to come. Someday, I would love to display them to focus on yourself, your goals, and your passions as you grow. together, like a huge collage. There are cerPinterest certainly plays a large part in tainly things that recur on my vision board my process; I search for “pins” that reflect year after year, like traveling to new places. my ideas. I also flip through magazines I always beam with pride when discernand cut out certain words or images that ing the ways I have grown or surpassed previous goals. I hope that for the next stand out. I gather printed pictures, cutouts, colored tape, themed stickers, poster board few years, into my mid and late 20s, I still letters, and gems — really, anything! Collect will want to create vision boards. When Elayna in Paris it starts to feel like a task or burden, I’ll colors you love, quotes you relate to, comfort characters, places you want to go, things explore new ways to find that enjoyment PARIS AND BEYOND Elayna Zausch is living the goals craft- again. For now, crafting the large, colorful you want to do, and things you want to ed on her annual vision boards. One example: Inspired by the keep doing. There is no need to limit the vision boards has become a sacred project Dr. Seuss book “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” she visited Paris, materials used; the variety of textures can that I am eager for every winter. France, in 2024. be fun. After gathering the materials I plan to use, I categorize my piles. My After a gap year spent traveling the world, Reitz Memorial High School canvas of choice is a classic poster board, but anyone can easily make and Louisiana State University graduate Elayna Zausch is using her 2026 a meaningful vision board on a simple piece of paper if they choose. vision board to prepare for a big move: taking up residence and starting When the moment comes — I fall in love with how the materials are laid her business career in Austin, Texas.

144 EVANSVILLE LIVING | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ELAYNA ZAUSCH

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