Hand-dyed yarns, natural fibers and community... a creative destination for makers and fiber lovers alike. Located in the heart of Broad Ripple.
6503 Ferguson St. Indianapolis 317.840.2345 • @oma_knits_textileco omaknitstextileco.com
PUBLISHERS MICHAEL & LINDSAY DURR michael@townepost.com (463) 583-1382
FOUNDER,
TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (463) 842-1488
JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
11 THE INDIANAPOLIS ALLEYCATS - INDY’S PRO ULTIMATE FRISBEE TEAM 1502 W 16th St Indianapolis, IN 6 p.m.
18, 19
INDY DANCE FESTIVAL 2026
4000 Michigan Rd. Indianapolis, IN
7 p.m. , 6 p.m.
The Indy Dance Festival showcases some of the best dance organizations across Indiana. This mix of local and visiting performers highlights the diverse talent within the city while positioning Indianapolis as an artistic hub for dance professionals and organizations from across the country.
18
NEW YORK LIBERTY AT INDIANA FEVER
125 S Pennsylvania St Indianapolis, IN 8 p.m.
26 BRICKYARD 400 PRES. BY PPG RACE DAY 4790 W 16th St Indianapolis, IN 8 a.m.
Schedule is subject to change
30 BLACKTOP MOJO
6281 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 8 p.m.
Owner / Mike Schott
THE PIT STOP
NEW GATHERING SPOT BRINGS
ART, SNACKS & FUN TO MIDTOWN
Writer / Braden Ochs Photographer / Michael Durr
If you’ve ever driven down 38th Street and College Avenue and wondered what’s going on with all the colorful character murals coming to life on both sides of the road, now is the chance to check it out.
Across the street from The Toy Pit, the premier toy store made famous by the huge murals of pop-culture characters on its exterior walls, stands its new little sister, The Pit Stop, a bright pink snack and collectible shop with more colorful art and spaces for the community to hang out.
Mike Schott, the owner of The Toy Pit, always wanted to operate a candy and snack shop for the community, so when the building across
the street from his store became available, he decided to seize the opportunity.
“The toy shop’s the vehicle that allows all this to happen,” Schott says. “It’s kind of like a community space disguised as a toy shop.”
The Pit Stop officially opened its doors the weekend of April 25, 2026, with plenty of candy, snacks and collectibles. As you walk in, you are greeted by a warm and colorful atmosphere with your pick of treats like popcorn or shaved ice, and a cozy hangout area decked out with a bright orange couch and décor matching the pink mural across the wall showcasing many fan-favorite cartoon characters.
Outside, around the back of The Pit Stop, rides popular graphic novel character Ramona Flowers on her rollerblades. Below are outdoor
tables and chairs next to a basketball court open for anyone and everyone to enjoy. A new wooden stage complements the hangout spot, ready for local artists to perform at a moment’s notice.
“I love what we were able to do with it in the transformation, and I love that it is going to really be cool,” Schott says. “We can use that space as a community space to bring more life and positive energy to the corner and to make it a fun and lively place for the community and for our neighborhood. It’s a really cool business because it’s such a diverse business too. You get such a mix of anybody you can think of. That building is another place where it represents that diversity. Even the characters on the mural and the art on the walls have something representing everybody.”
Much like its big brother, The Toy Pit, Schott has worked with many local artists to produce the murals that give The Pit Stop its character. The pink character mural inside was painted by local artist Fitz, while Ramona Flowers in the back was designed by store manager Kathryn Schomer and painted by local artist Kwazar Martin, who painted many of the murals around The Toy Pit. Other local artists contributed to the store as well, including the front window clings designed by KNags and the Tom and Jerry mural inside designed by Nitty.
“The neighborhood has been super great, and honestly, it’s probably the best neighborhood I could think to be in for how much they’ve embraced what we do here,” Schott says. “If there are local vendors or anybody that we can work with in any way, we will.”
Schott has many events he plans to host at The Pit Stop this summer, including Pokémon card trade events, a Sofar Sounds live music show, live comedy and art shows, video game nights with a big screen outside, drag shows, food trucks and an event where kids get to paint the new fence that surrounds the property.
“You can chill in the summer, have a shaved ice, hang out back. I hope to get some food trucks out throughout the summer. Then we’ll have food trucks, events, shaved ice, gaming night on the huge screen like Smash Bros., Toy Pit and pinball. You can go to the food truck out front and make it a party,” Schott says. “Have someone DJ while it’s happening. You could just go crazy with the corner.”
The Pit Stop is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12:30 to 6 p.m.
The shop is located at 3840 N. College Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46205. For more information, visit pitstopindy.com. To stay updated on everything going on there, follow its Instagram page @thepitstopindy.
HARRISON CENTER ARTIST PROFILE: COURTLAND BLADE
Writer / Ashley Watters
Photographer / Michael Durr
A native Hoosier, Courtland Blade has always felt drawn to the arts. Born in Terre Haute, Indiana, Blade spent his early years in Evanston, Illinois, before returning to Terre Haute for high school. His journey eventually brought him to Indianapolis,
where he currently resides and works as a fine oil painter.
Blade was formally trained at Vincennes University, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting. He later studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University in Boston, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts. Currently, he works primarily in oil paint and has built a steady studio practice, sharing his work through exhibitions, commissions and community-based art experiences.
“I’ve always been drawn to visual storytelling — capturing mood, memory and place. Over time, painting became the clearest way for me to translate what I notice and feel into something other people can step into. A lot of my inspiration comes from familiar spaces around Indianapolis — scenes that people pass every day, but might not fully see until they’re slowed down and framed,” he says.
Blade will be showcasing his work in an upcoming First Friday event titled “Observed.” This collection of original oil paintings demonstrates Blade’s signature style and depicts scenes from around Indianapolis. Other pieces reflect Blade’s current artistic trajectory and are more indicative of where his studio practice is headed.
Scan to learn more about Blade’s art.
ADVANCED EYE EXAMS FOR INDY
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1011 MASS AVE SUITE 121 INDIANAPOLIS IN 46202 FACTORY ARTS DISTRICT 317-759-0317
@RAOPTICIANS
Scott A. Oden
“FLYING OVER THE TRACK AT THE INDY 500 WAS TRULY AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE. I WAS BEAMING WITH PRIDE THAT THE 38TH COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADE COULD EXECUTE THIS MISSION AND REPRESENT THE INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD AND THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON SUCH A PUBLIC STAGE. HEARING THE SOUND OF THE CROWD FROM THE COCKPIT AS WE FLEW AROUND THE TRACK IS A MEMORY NONE OF US WILL EVER FORGET.”
“MY FAITH, MY FAMILY AND THE INCREDIBLE PEOPLE I GET TO WORK WITH TRULY INSPIRE ME. I LOVE WEARING THE UNIFORM EVERY DAY, AND BEING PART OF SOMETHING SO MUCH BIGGER THAN MYSELF IS TRULY AN HONOR.”
SCOTT A. ODEN COLONEL, AVIATION COMMANDER, 38TH COMBAT AVIATION BRIGADE DIRECTOR, AVIATION & SAFETY (SAAO) INDIANA NATIONAL GUARD INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
Honestly, it’s those moments right before the sun goes down and the place is full of people. You look around and see friends, families, neighbors, and then the artist takes the stage and everyone comes together. That’s when it really hits me how special Rock the Ruins has become.
STICK & HACK BROAD RIPPLE
SAY HELLO TO THE VILLAGE’S NEW SPORTS CLUB
A new elevated bar and sports experience on 46th Street and Winthrop Avenue is now open to the public. This is no ordinary sports club. Stick & Hack Broad Ripple combines the service of a sports bar with the atmosphere and entertainment of a social club. As the staff will tell you, it’s one of those places for people who want to dive right in, not just watch from the sidelines.
Located at 4560 Ocean St. on the first floor of the Monon 46 residential building, Stick & Hack Broad Ripple occupies a prime location along the Monon Trail. Open since July 6, Stick & Hack Broad Ripple is the second location of the sports and social club to open in the Indianapolis area, with its flagship location set to open soon in Westfield.
A Sports Hub Along the Monon Trail Broad Ripple’s section of the Monon Trail is one of the most beloved stretches in the city, connecting locals south to Mass Ave and north to the city’s northern neighborhoods. Beyond its natural beauty and well-maintained pathway, the Monon serves as a hub for sports and recreation throughout the area. Morning cyclists and runners frequent the trail, while
recreational leagues and weekend games remain a major part of the Broad Ripple community.
Stick & Hack Broad Ripple hopes to extend that culture throughout the year while offering a hospitality experience beyond the traditional bars found in the Village. Stick & Hack founder and partner Adam Grubb recognized the appeal of a community interested in both sports entertainment and a clubhouse atmosphere.
The Broad Ripple location features a fullservice bar complete with craft cocktails, beer and wine, along with an expansive entertainment lineup. Two social dart lanes provide opportunities for friendly competition, while pizza, snacks and a full menu are available through a partnership with Half Liter. Golf and racing simulators can be reserved by the hour, with food and beverages delivered directly to each bay. “We’re changing the Broad Ripple bar
scene in ways most other brands couldn’t, with a community, entertainment offering and vibe that is unmatched,” said Grubb.
Stick & Hack Entertainment is a Fishersbased entertainment and hospitality company centered at the intersection of sports and leisure. Across all locations, Stick & Hack offers seasonal league play and competitions. While Stick & Hack Fishers primarily offers golf leagues, the new Broad Ripple location is launching leagues for golf, racing and darts. These leagues offer cash prizes and, in golf, divisions based on skill level. The venue also supports year-round practice opportunities and partners with golf professionals to provide private lessons using the simulator bays.
Of course, the entertainment and hospitality concept is also ideal for private events and group bookings. Whether it’s a company retreat or a bachelor party, Stick & Hack Broad Ripple has the capacity to accommodate nearly any occasion. Locally Owned. Locally Built.
The team behind Stick & Hack Broad Ripple is locally based, with deep roots in Indianapolis and Hamilton County. Partners Adam Grubb, Matt Schlueter, Matt Whitlow of Parks Place Pub and Ryan Geltz each lead different aspects of the sports and social club. Together, the group brings a proven track record of building concepts the community embraces for the long term.
This summer, Stick & Hack Broad Ripple is open at 4560 Ocean St. for nights out, a round of golf, private events, corporate bookings and league play. For more information, visit stickandhack.com/ locations/broad-ripple.
Unknown Wonder of Indy
THE SHRINE ROOM REOPENS TO THE PUBLIC
Writer / Braden Ochs
Photographer / Michael Durr
As you reflect on 250 years of American history this Independence Day, the Indiana War Memorial’s Shrine Room in downtown Indianapolis is a breathtaking destination to add to your summer bucket list. After years of extensive roof and ceiling renovations, the Shrine Room finally reopened to the public on July 10, 2026.
“When people come in off the street and have never been in the Indiana War Memorial before and have no idea what’s in here, the Shrine Room is where you send them, and it is probably the most powerful place to send them,” says Jason Edwardson, the museum’s tour manager.
Dedicated on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1933, the Shrine Room was built to serve as the
centerpiece of the Indiana War Memorial — a shrine to the American flag and a tribute to the Allied Powers of World War I.
As visitors look up at the large flag hanging from the 110-foot ceiling, surrounded by 40foot marble columns, their eyes are naturally drawn down to the marble altar below. Around the altar are inscriptions intended to instill a sense of civic pride. According to Edwardson, those messages continue to resonate today by inspiring optimism, hope and a foundation for how people should treat one another.
“To sum it up in one word, what people say is ‘wow,’” Edwardson says. “Quite literally, if I’m taking groups up there, or even just one person, usually the first word out of their mouth is either ‘wow’ or an expletive.”
For years, the Shrine Room has remained one of Indianapolis’ hidden treasures. Edwardson often encourages hesitant visitors to climb the 70 stairs leading to the shrine. According to him, once guests arrive, the response is almost always the same:
“How did I not know this was here?”
He even recalls one visitor who had lived across the street for 50 years and never knew the Shrine Room existed until deciding to tour the building. Edwardson hopes more Hoosiers will discover and appreciate what has been standing proudly in their city for nearly a century.
“If you haven’t seen this, you haven’t seen the best spot in Indianapolis. That’s the truth,”
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Edwardson says. “It is definitely something that anybody from Indiana or Indianapolis should know about.”
The Indiana War Memorial, including the Shrine Room, is open free of charge Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is located at 55 E. Michigan St. in downtown Indianapolis.
For more information, visit indianawarmemorials.org.
