Join Connection Club and Writings From Her Corner for the Scrap Social Series: a night to slow down, tap into your self-expression, and connect with others in a beautifully curated
7, 14, 21, 28
STORYTELLING DRAWING
Harrison Center, 1505 N Delaware St.
1-2 p.m.
Listen, converse, and create with fellow community members as you exchange stories.
8-16
MECUM AUTO AUCTION
Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 East 38th Street.
8 a.m.
9
INDY ALLEYCATS VS MADISON
Radicals w/ Roberts Camera & North Indy Magazine
Kuntz Stadium, 1502 West 16th Street. 6-9 p.m.
Join Roberts Camera and North Indy Magazine for this Indy Alleycats event! On field access for this fast paced ultimate frisbee game!
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DUNKIRK: THE IMAX 70MM EXPERIENCE
Indiana State Museum, 650 W Washington St.
IMAX 1570 | PG-13 | 107min | Action
IMAX Indy Revivals: Dunkirk
A film by Christopher Nolan
Original release date: July 21, 2017
Presented in IMAX 70mm film
Part of IMAX Indy’s year long
THE MAGIC OF DAVID RANALLI
Feinstein’s at Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Sq.
7:30-9:30 p.m.
THE MAGIC OF DAVID RANALLI
Prepare to be amazed by David Ranalli, an extraordinary magician whose mind-bending illusions, captivating stage presence, and unique style will leave you spellbound.
21
THIRD THURSDAYS IN BROAD RIPPLE
Broad Ripple, 6-9 p.m.
Third Thursdays run March–October and feature local shopping, art, food, and live music.
24
INDIANAPOLIS 500
PRESENTED BY GAINBRIDGE
Indianapolis Motor Speedway, 4790 W 16th St.
6 a.m.-4 p.m., 11:47 a.m.
It’s the buzz of energy in the Indiana air. It’s the sense of pride racing through your heart.
There’s something fundamentally different about a concert when it doesn’t feel manufactured, when it feels rooted. That’s the quiet magic behind Rock the Ruins with Citizens Energy Group Concert Series, an experience that redefines what live music can be by placing it in the living, breathing heart of a community.
Set against the historic backdrop of Holliday Park, You’re not just attending a show; you’re participating in a shared cultural moment in a space that people walk through, picnic in, and care about year-round.
This sense of reciprocity is part of what makes the series so unique. Proceeds and attention generated by the concerts help sustain and enhance the park itself, creating a feedback loop between art and environment. You’re not just consuming entertainment, you’re contributing to preservation and longevity of a public space that belongs to everyone.
Each May, as more than 300,000 fans fill the Indianapolis Motor Speedway grandstands, one of the most anticipated moments happens not on the track, but in Victory Lane. The winning driver lifts a bottle of ice-cold milk, takes a celebratory sip, and solidifies a tradition as iconic as the race itself, powered by American Dairy Association Indiana and the Hoosier dairy farmers it represents.
The now-famous milk ritual dates back to 1936, when three-time Indianapolis 500 winner Louis Meyer requested buttermilk after his victory to quench his thirst, a nod to his farming roots. A photograph captured the moment, and a tradition was born.
Nearly 90 years later, that spontaneous request has evolved into a
WINNERS DRINK MILK
INDIANA DAIRY FARMERS
KEEP INDY 500 MILK TRADITION ALIVE
Writer / Renée Larr
widely recognized symbol of victory.
“It’s something that’s embraced not just in Indiana, but across the world,” says Brooke Williams, communications director for the association. “To know it started with a simple choice by one driver, and now it’s expected every year, is really special.”
Since 2005, the association has elevated the ritual through its Milk Presenter Program, placing Indiana dairy farmers at the center of the celebration. What began with dairy board members has grown into a three-year commitment that prepares farmers for one of the biggest stages in sports.
Photographer / Chris Owens - IMS Photo
Each year, a rookie, a veteran and a rookie-elect participate.
The rookie presents milk to the winning team owner and chief mechanic, while the veteran earns the honor of handing the bottle to the race winner.
“It’s not every day someone steps off their farm and into a spotlight like that,” Williams says. “There’s media training, interviews, and a lot of preparation. By the time they become the veteran presenter, they’re more comfortable, but it’s still an incredible moment.”
Farmers apply and are selected based on their willingness to share their story, host media and represent the dairy industry. While the application is straightforward, the impact is anything but.
“For many of them, it’s emotional,” Williams says. “They go from their daily routine on the farm to representing hundreds of dairy families in front of a global audience.”
Race day begins early, well before the green flag drops. Milk presenters are picked up at dawn and escorted to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by police, a perk that sets the tone for an unforgettable day.
After their early arrival, the farmers’ morning is filled with media appearances, storytelling and anticipation. From a suite near the Pagoda, they watch the race, taking in the pageantry, flyovers and energy of race day.
With about 25 laps remaining, it’s time to prepare. The milk, carefully stored and chilled, is retrieved, and three bottles are readied: whole, 2% and fat-free. Drivers select their preference in advance during practice week, ensuring the correct choice is ready the moment the checkered flag waves.
Within seconds of the race’s end, the milk is in hand, and the farmer steps forward to deliver a moment nearly 90 years in the making. Though brief, the memories last a lifetime.
Williams says her most unexpected moment was when fourtime winner Helio Castroneves added strawberry powder to his milk to match a sponsor’s branding, turning the iconic white beverage pink.
“We were all so confused watching it happen,” she says. “But it was very Helio.”
More often, though, the most memorable moments are deeply personal. In recent years, one presenter, a mother of two, returned from Victory Lane overwhelmed with emotion after completing her role.
“It really hits them in that moment,” Williams says. “It’s not just about handing over milk. It’s about representing their family, their farm and their community.”
Beyond race day, American Dairy Association Indiana represents nearly 700 dairy farm families across Indiana and uses the Indianapolis 500 platform to highlight the people behind the product. While the famous “Winners Drink Milk” slogan takes center stage in May, their work continues year-round through partnerships, school programs and community events.
From handing out thousands of chocolate milk cartons at the Mini Marathon to serving tens of thousands of milkshakes at the Indiana State Fair, the goal remains the same: to connect consumers with the source of their food.
As the crowd roars and the winning driver raises that bottle, Williams hopes fans see more than just a victory celebration.
“We want people to realize it’s not just milk,” she says. “It represents generations of farmers, hard work, and pride. When you see that bottle, there’s a story behind it.”
In a race defined by speed and tradition, that bottle of milk tells a story of perseverance, pride and community, a story that endures long after the checkered flag has waved.
For more information, visit winnersdrinkmilk.com.
Brian Rexing, New Generation Dairy, Owensville, Indiana
CITY CONVERSATIONS
Writer / Braden Ochs Photographer / Mike Lee
Conversation Piece” host Patrick Armstrong wants to hear your story.
In 2022, Armstrong started the podcast Conversation Piece to better understand Indianapolis and the people who live here. With more than 200 episodes and multiple segments and iterations, it has grown into a live show hosted locally, focusing on interviewing Indianapolis natives.
“From all sides, like from the center of downtown to the Far Eastside, out west, up north, on the south side, there are really cool things happening,” Armstrong says. “And I think through the show and through these conversations, I’ve been able to experience that firsthand, which has been a huge privilege.”
Armstrong was born in South Korea and adopted three months later by a Hoosier couple in rural Indiana, where he grew up. He eventually moved to the Chicago metropolitan area as an adult. At the start of the pandemic in 2020, he got the opportunity to move to Indianapolis. Around that time, Armstrong was led to explore the question of what it means to be Asian American. Shortly after asking more questions and connecting with other Asian Americans in the city, he co-launched a podcast about Asian adoptees called The Janchi Show with Nathan Nowack and KJ Roelke.
In addition to The Janchi Show, Armstrong decided to launch his own show in 2022, which became Conversation Piece. While it started with the desire to produce his own show, he realized his deeper mission was to increase the visibility of the Asian American community in the city through podcasting. In 2024, he pivoted the show to focus on better understanding the city itself.
RESEARCH STU DY SEEKING
People living with Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter
Purdue University, College of Pharmacy is seeking people living with atrial fibrillation/flutter who are planning to have or recently have had a electric cardioversion or ablation to treat atrial fibrillation or flutter. In order to qualify you must be taking anticoagulation (a blood thinner such as coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto).
If you qualify for the study:
• You will be asked to take a medicine called Zofran (ondansetron) or a placebo (sugar pill) twice a day for 4 weeks
• You will be asked to wear a Ziopatch on your chest which monitors your heart beats for 4 weeks and keep a log of any symptoms that you have related to the medicine and atrial fibrillation.
• You will complete 5 visits lasting about 30 minutes (1 visit at the start of the study and then a visit each week). The visits can be completed at your home or in the clinical reearch center located on the IU Indianapolis campus
• You will receive up to $350 after completing all study visits.
If you are interested in participating, please call or text 317-847-2094 or email: hwroblew@iu.edu
“THE MESSAGE THAT I WOULD SHARE WITH ANYBODY WHO MIGHT BE READING THIS IS DON’T LET ONE NARRATIVE OR ONE VOICE DERAIL YOU FROM DOING THE THING THAT YOU WANT OR NEED TO DO”
- PATRICK ARMSTRONG
“I think a lot of people who didn’t grow up in the city had this perception of what Indianapolis was,” Armstrong says. “It wasn’t like Chicago or New York City or Los Angeles. But what I have come to discover, particularly through the show, is that we are every bit as diverse and versatile and impactful as those major cities. We just have not had the same type of cultural density or the same type of investment from cities and organizations as those larger places have. But that creativity, that innovation, that ingenuity happens in places and pockets of Indianapolis that you might not expect.”
One of Armstrong’s favorite moments on the show was interviewing Anthony Murdock II, J.D., founder of the Black Liberation Ecosystem, on episode 80. Armstrong had already been following Murdock on social media for a while and got the opportunity to invite him on the show. During the interview, he noticed Murdock’s body language shift to show their positive connection in conversation. Later, Murdock told him it was one of the best interviews he had ever done, which affirmed Armstrong in continuing the show.
He also loved interviewing Jane Sun Kim, director of Chreece Festival, in one of his 2025 live shows, which opened up many partnerships and opportunities for the show.
Throughout the last year, Armstrong has tried a few different segments of the show. In the live show “In Conversation With,” Armstrong interviews guests in front of an audience. “Artists On” got to know local artists in Indy. “People’s Perspectives on Indy” featured short interviews about people’s perspectives on Indianapolis. And “Open Door” invited anyone and everyone to walk in and talk with Armstrong about anything they wanted to discuss.
The multiple segments were meant to reach different audiences and communities. In thinking about how to continue to give people a platform in a sustainable and meaningful way, Armstrong realized his live show segment checked all those boxes. By the end of 2025, Armstrong ultimately decided to focus all his efforts on the live show “In Conversation With.” Not only has it led to many local partnerships, but it has also created strong connections between the guests and the live audience. It keeps Armstrong going to see the city connect with each other through the show.
After hosting his podcast and living here for a while, Armstrong feels at home in Indianapolis, which he says he has never
experienced before. Conversation Piece has redefined what Indianapolis means to him.
“The message that I would share with anybody who might be reading this is don’t let one narrative or one voice derail you from doing the thing that you want or need to do,” Armstrong says. “I think this city in particular needs everybody’s unique, individual skill, ability, business — whatever it is — we need those things. Because that’s what’s going to help develop the culture of Indianapolis in a way that makes people from outside of here say, ‘Oh yeah, I need to be in Indy.’”
To listen to Conversation Piece, visit its website at conversationpiecepod.com or wherever podcasts are streamed. You can also follow the show on Instagram @conversationpiecepod.
EXPERT SPINE CARE
SHARP EDGE
ASH BLAEDS TURNS CRAFTSMANSHIP INTO CUSTOM KNIFE ART
Writer / Ashley Watters
Photographer / Michael Durr
Ten years ago, Aris Geesaman never thought that being the primary cook in his household would eventually lead to a thriving business endeavor. The job of meal prep was a constant need with a third baby on the way.
His search for local knife sharpening uncovered a lack of quality services in his area. Forging his own path, he decided to learn to sharpen his own knives to get a more optimal edge for his blades. A decade later, you can find Geesaman doing the same thing at his business, Ash Blaeds.
“I tried store-bought gizmos that you’d drag through to sharpen them, but I just was never satisfied with how they performed, so I figured I ought to learn how to sharpen them by hand on whetstones. That’s how my grandfather did it, and I figured it’d probably work for me too,” he says.
After a few years honing his craft, Geesaman decided to take a pass at forging his own knives. Without a mentor to guide him, he dove in and learned what he could from books and knife-forging classes around town. His first forge was
made from a paint can, furnace cement, ceramic wool and a MAP torch. Although that one left something to be desired, he continued to shape new creations, now crafting highly sought-after pieces.
Ash Blaeds offers knife-sharpening services along with custom, handcrafted blades for everyone from enthusiasts to chefs, hunters, hikers, fishermen and anyone looking for a unique, quality knife. You can find him doing pop-up blade sharpening at Corridor or in his shop
located at 5883 W. Falling Waters Drive in McCordsville.
Geesaman’s blades are truly one-of-akind and handcrafted from start to finish. If you commission a blade, this even includes a watercolor painting of your design. Each knife is handmade every step of the way, with Geesaman swinging the hammer, grinding the bevels, doing the heat treatment, hand-sanding and handle shaping every single knife he offers.
“This truly is a labor of love and creation for me. It’s a lot of hard, detailed work, and I want people to use them and love them for a lifetime and then pass them on to the next generation. Secondly, when I say ‘handmade’ or ‘handcrafted,’ I mean it,” says Geesaman.
Many of his knives also incorporate materials from around Indianapolis, from the wood at Newfields to recycled bourbon barrels and repurposed IndyCar parts. He pushes the aesthetics of every single creation, honing a bespoke piece of art and function.
Geesaman ensures quality in each and every piece, with a guarantee to fix any of his original creations should they break. Each purchase also includes free knife sharpening for the life of the knife.
“There are certain compromises I don’t have to make because I’m not a billion-dollar company with a factory and shareholders, so I can focus on super-high-quality steel with expert heat treatment, geometry that emphasizes the fact that knives are precision cutting tools, and beautifully unique handles that set them apart from what folks around here normally see. Plus, I can often incorporate very personal materials into custom pieces like wood from a family farm, or a T-shirt from a loved one,” he says.
If you’re looking for a truly unique creation, check out Geesaman’s work at ashblaeds.com, stop by his pop-up at Corridor, or schedule your knife sharpening at his McCordsville shop.
Stars Media
Windows • Doors • Roofing • Siding • Gutters
PEDALING PURPOSE
NINE13SPORTS INSPIRES LEARNING THROUGH BIKES
Writer / Braden Ochs Photographer / Michael Durr
In communities throughout Indianapolis and beyond, Nine13sports has found a way to get kids excited about going to school. The Indianapolis-based organization uses the bike as an educational tool in schools and community centers all across Indiana. Whether it’s stationary riding in school gyms, building bikes, or exploring Indianapolis on two wheels, Nine13sports engages kids physically and mentally and gets them excited to learn.
“We really believe that the bicycle is the ultimate equalizer. It doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t care about the student’s background or shape or size or color. What it does is it creates an opportunity not just in
that moment, but for a lifetime,” says Nine13sports CEO Tom Hanley. “The bicycle is also this incredible tool that can be used for education, for fitness and for transportation, and it’s something you can do from when you’re the littlest of ages — just a couple years old — until the day you die.”
Hanley founded Nine13sports in 2011 following his career as a four-time national champion track cyclist while at Marian University. In his travels across the country during that time, he saw how different cities and communities engaged kids with a bike — something Indianapolis lacked. After a commercial vehicle accident that ended his
career as a cyclist, he decided to give back to the Indianapolis community through Nine13sports.
Nine13sports serves kids in multiple programs, including “Kids Riding Bikes,” which in 2012 started it all. This program has become the largest, with more than 45,000 students participating each year. Primarily offered in physical education classes at school, the program sets up stationary bike-riding simulators where the kids go through challenges like a video game.
“The positive feedback we always heard was that we could not finish up a school
Tom Hanley Nine13 Sports CEO
site before that P.E. teacher, that principal or the kids themselves were asking when the bikes were going to come back,” Hanley says. “And that’s when I knew we were onto something.”
After feedback from partners asking what comes next for kids without a bike at home, “Kids Building Bikes” launched in 2018. The hands-on program, designed for fourth graders and older, further educates kids on building their own bike, which they take home with them after graduating from the program. Along with their brand-new skills and bike, the students learn skills for the workforce and get to explore a potential career path they may never have considered before.
“The students we serve have a variety of backgrounds, not always the easiest of backgrounds,” Hanley says. “But to be able to see them be kids, to be able to see them do something new, to be able to see them challenge themselves and find success, that’s the most rewarding thing to me: to see the smile on the student’s face as they pedal out on bikes for the first time.”
Nine13sports planted roots on its 29th and the Canal property in 2018 with the plan to bring back to life an unused 130-year-old building to give it a new purpose for the neighborhood. And in fall 2026, Nine13sports is excited to launch its expansion, the “Skills and Safety Park,” which will be a safe place for anyone in the community to ride bikes. The park will include asphalt trails, dirt trails, tunnel areas and so much more for the city to enjoy.
This summer, Nine13sports will also house its own bike camps for the first time at its 29th and the Canal location. These will be one-week camps for kids to explore Indianapolis, learn to fix their bikes and learn the history of the city along the way.
With everything Nine13sports is doing for kids across Indianapolis and beyond, there are a lot of ways to get involved. Hanley encourages people who get excited about bikes to participate in some way, whether through volunteering or giving.
“If any individual is excited about the bicycle or excited about being able to serve youth, we’d love to hear from them,” Hanley says. “They can reach out to us through our website, through our contact us page, and we’d love to learn what really intrigues them and how we can best utilize their passion.”
Nine13sports is located at 1271 W. 29th St. in Indianapolis. To learn more about Nine13sports’ programs or to get involved, call 317-735-3121, email info@ nine13sports.org or visit its website at nine13sports.org.
HARRISON CENTER ARTIST PROFILE: MARY MINDIOLA
Writer / Ashley Watters
Photographer / Michael Durr
Mary Mindiola’s love of art spans back to early childhood.
Originally from San Cristóbal, Venezuela, Mindiola spent her days crafting and creating, a passion that was intensely nurtured by her mother. She would later study art and design in Grand Rapids, but young motherhood would prevent her from taking the risk of being a full-time artist. Mindiola only took the leap to during the covid pandemic, when employment options were low.
Now she spends each day excited to follow her passion and in awe that people recognize her work and know her name.
“Time flies while I make art. Not too many people have the privilege of loving what they do and looking forward to repeating it again the next day. I feel very fortunate. I don’t call it work, I call it my passion, my creative space and time,” she says.
Mindiola’s visual art focuses on a form of “painting” using only recycled magazines, a choice she makes for environmental reasons. Her upcoming art installation titled “No turn on red” features different Indianapolis intersections and serves as a metaphor for the clash between safety-focused regulations and personal freedom. She hopes visitors will recognize the dichotomy between being forced in a corner that one side views as necessary safety and the other as bureaucratic overreach. She asks, “will you be the one who follows the law or the one who turns in a hurry?” Learn more about
