Art Gallery
Art-lovers like Dean Johnson Gallery because it showcases a range of local artists. Art-buyers like it because the staff want people to see the art, and act as if it’s just an added bonus when they find a piece a good home. Artists like it because, thanks to those art-lovers and that staff, pieces easily change hands from the latter to the former. And here’s why you’ll like Dean Johnson: open spaces filled with smart exhibits from names you know and names you don’t; unpretentious employees; and fun openings reminding you that yes, Indy really does have some cultcha. 646 Massachusetts Ave., 634-8020; deanjohnson.com
Underground Show
Quirky, provoking, surprising, and thoroughly entertaining, maverick theater company ShadowApe rewards audiences for venturing outside the safe confines of conventionaltheater. Pro thespians with playbills full of stage experience at Indiana Repertory Theatre, Phoenix Theatre, and other regional companies, the small troupe produces high-quality stuff. In fact, you have to catch their shows during the summer, theater’s off-season, because they have jobs in other local theaters or drama departments the rest of the year. But the Apes are definitely worth the wait. shadowape.com
Man Cave
Sinatra had Jilly’s, Superman his Fortress of Solitude, and Saddam the infamous spider hole. For the rest of us, there’s Nicky Blaine’s—a top-shelf timeout to call when the game of life gets out of hand. The downtown cocktail lounge is a refined basement oasis bathed in the forgiving glow of amber light and hushed chocolate shadows. Sink into one of the generous leather couches. Inhale the Spanish cedar of the humidors. Sip a dirty martini (three olives, please!)—icy, medicinal. Relax. Then, as Frank put it: “You pick yourself up and get back in the race. That’s life.” And that’s why there’s Nicky Blaine’s. 20 N. Meridian St., 638-5588; nickyblaines.com
Yoga Class
All People Yoga Center remains true to its name, with classes designed for experienced people, newbie people, pregnant people, stiff people, stressed people, fearful people, and so on. But the key to All People’s charm lies less in its quantity than in its quality: Classes move at a steady pace; teachers respect all levels of ability and challenge their students (without pushing); the practice is unpretentious; and, as promised, all people involved work up a healthy sweat. 1724 E. 86th St., 818-1800; allpeopleyoga.com
Volunteer Work
Forget hugging trees—save some love for the folks at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful. Founded in 1976, KIB has dedicated its efforts to be the catalyst for innovative, hands-on programs around the city. Since 1995, the private, not-for-profit organization has helped plant more than 15,000 trees—plenty of opportunities to get your hands dirty. 445 N. Pennsylvania St., Ste. 915, 264-7555; kibi.org
Walking Tour
With 185,000 gravesites, 555 acres, and 143 years of history, no wonder Crown Hill Cemetery continuesto dig deep (figuratively speaking,of course) for fresh takes on its perennially popular walking tours. The cemetery offers three ways to take in its picturesque grounds—on prescheduled tours offered every other weekend; on private tours that can be scheduled at practically any time; and on self-guided jaunts, aided by picking up a free walking-tour brochure or a $5 tour booklet at a cemetery office. 700 W. 38th St., 920-2644; crownhill.org
Reference Library
The Indianapolis Museum of Art’s Stout Reference Library is a treasure of resource materials if you’re aninterior designer looking for inspiration, a dealer researching art, a student discovering mysterious iconographies and symbolisms, or just an average Joe who is interested in architecture or public art. The staff have compiled 29,000 files on individual artists—including a special emphasis on Indiana painters, sculptors, and designers—and they can help aspiring collectors track down information on provenance and price indexes. 4000 Michigan Rd., 920-2647; imamuseum.org/explore/stout
Art Class
The Indianapolis Art Center is the city’s unrivaled outlet for crafty souls who dream of making all their own Christmas presents. To each his own, but it is for the benefit of everyone on your gift list that the Center also offers a one-day Bring Your Old Jewelry Back to Life class, the perfect outlet for people who want to be creative without actually creating anything. The end result: a fabulously repurposed piece of jewelry that you’ll want to keep all for yourself. 820 E. 67th St., 255-2464; indplsartcenter.org
Tennis Courts
If public tennis courts were good enough for young Venus and Serena Williams, they’re good enough for anyone—at least when the weather cooperates. Sure, a few of Garfield Park’s eight asphalt courts are scarred with cracks, but what they lack in conditioning, they make up for in charm befitting the city’s oldest park. Big, mature trees shade half of the courts, and a group of longtime regulars (one of whom is reverently referred to as the court “mayor”) has been known to accommodate pick-up games. 2345 Pagoda Dr., 327-7220; indygov.org
Movie Snack Bar
In the age of high-definition home theaters, we expect alot from our local movie houses. Why, then, do we settlefor oversalted, packing material-like movie popcorn and melted-together Milk Duds as our cinema fare? Enter Keystone Art Cinema, where you not only get to see the independent movies you can’t see anywhere else, but you can also feast on gourmet snacks. Start off with a latte. Then grab some dessert, doctor up your popcorn with Parmesan or white-cheddar flavoring at the seasoning bar, and (especially if there are no subtitles to worry about) treat yourself to a martini from the Indie Lounge. You’d have to be a real Goober not to get excited about that. 8702 Keystone Crossing, 579-3009
Neighborhood Coffeehouse
Lazy Daze Coffee House in Irvington percolates with a community connection as full-bodied as its crowd-favorite Monsoon Malabar, a single-origin estate coffee from India. Organic and fair-trade brews pair nicely with homemade scones from The Bread Ladies next door. Musicians perform two or three nights a week on a small stage, and every Thursday, locals are “In the Company of Shakespeare” for open poetry readings. All the coffeehouse comforts are available (outdoor seating, comfy couches, free Wi-Fi, and a used bookstore across the street), but what makes us love this shop is a staff that remembers the names (not just the drink orders) of most customers. 10 Johnson Ave., 353-0777; lazydazecoffeehouse.com
Salsa Dancing
Providing the ultimate dinner-and-dancing duo, The Jazz Kitchen fills you up with tapas and mojitos before morphing into a spicy salsa club every Thursday night. It’s okay if you’ve not yet learned the steps, since there’s a free lesson before all the pros show up. By 11 p.m. the dance floor is a kicking, dipping, twirling mess of bodies moving to salsa, bachata, merengue, and reggaeton rhythms. 5377 N. College Ave., 253-4900; thejazzkitchen.com
Free Wi-Fi
Free wireless is so ubiquitous these days that it takes more than a speedy connection to please a tech-savvy customer. We’re talking nice chairs for hours-long work sessions; homey environs; and (of course) sustenance that keeps us fueled, not just caffeinated. Perk Up, tucked just off the Monon in Broad Ripple, has it all—including a crystal-clear online connection that even works on the coffee shop’s outdoor deck. Owner-operators Kim McManama and Mike Mott offer friendly service but know better than to chat up a customer who is busy behind a laptop. “We’ve graduated two lawyers and six doctors who passed their boards from here,” Mott says. “They sat here studying for seven, eight hours a day.” 6536 Cornell Ave., 251-0033
Charity Race
Unlike the mega ’thons that draw participants by the thousands, the Indianapolis Marathon (and accompanying half-marathon, 5K, four-person run/walk marathon relay, and kids’ fun run) isn’t about the numbers—it’s about the runners. “My goal isn’t to put on a 40,000-person race,” says director Joel Sauer, who’ll be organizing the 13th annual in October 2008. “We want to put on something people can walk away from saying, ‘That was a great experience.’” The Fort Harrison–area, walker-friendly running festival raises more than $70,000 for charities around town, proving you don’t have to be big to make a difference. 826-1670; indianapolismarathon.com
Water Park
For evidence that unbridled summertime fun is wasted on the young, take the plunge at Carmel’s Outdoor Aqua Park at The Monon Center some sun-baked day. Just one heart-pumping splash down the 7-foot drop slide—which packs such a thrill there’s a sign warning pregnant women and other timid souls to please reconsider—will take you back to your days at the old swimmin’ hole. Only this modern-day version comes with a fully stocked snack bar, immaculate restrooms, and a full crew of lifeguards who look like High School Musical extras. 1195 Central Park Dr. W., Carmel, 848-7275; carmelclayparks.com
Cookie Sandwich
Sweet Lucinda’s carrot-cake cookie sandwich—gooey cream-cheese filling with toasted pecans (if you like), smushed between chewy carrot-cake cookies—was adapted from a recipe that owner Courtney Gorman got from her mother, Lucinda (the business’s namesake). “I can’t make enough for the Zionsville Farmers Market,” Gorman says. “They sell out before 10 a.m. most Saturdays.” During the market’s off-season, you can pick up a batch of the homemade goodies at Ballerinas and Bruisers children’s boutique in Zionsville. Now you can have your cake and eat your cookie, too. 180 S. Main St., Zionsville, 339-2878; sweetlucindas.com
Dim Sum
Dim sum at Shen Yang isn’t just the best in town, with plate after plate of steaming Chinese goodies delivered to your table—it’s hands-down the best smorgasbord around. But even if you did want to sample everything on the wheelie cart in one sitting—the puffed steamed cream buns filled with sweet custard; the succulent shrimp potstickers; the shrimp toast; the roasted red spare ribs; the crunchy taro cakes—you simply wouldn’t have the room. Instead, you’ll sample until you just can’t sample anymore, pay your bill, and vow to come back again, for more. 3902 Georgetown Rd., 280-1978
Oysters
For those of us with a special affinity for the slippery little guys, The Oceanaire Seafood Room is the raw-oyster destination of choice. The half-shelled morsels are flownin every day, and in a wider selection than at other local fresh-seafood restaurants. The servers will gladly review the flavor profile of each choice (briny, creamy, metallic, a hint of cucumber). Best of all, there’s an oyster happy hour from 3 to 6 every weeknight, when you can toss back a few for half-price. 30 S. Meridian St., 955-2277; theoceanaire.com
Cupcakes
Big boys and girls are lining up for The Flying Cupcake’s selection of homemade frosted delights that seem almosttoo nice for kiddie parties. Kate Bova and Nicole Hill (alsoco-owners of Girly Chic Boutique) aren’t kidding aroundwith favorites like the Red Velvet Elvis, the Black Bottom, and tasty surprises like a coconut monster that’s as moistas a sugar-cream pie. Keep an eye on what’s going on behind the counter, because the latest selection warm from the oven is the best way to go. 5617 N. Illinois St., 396-2696
Chocolates
Chocolate is the not-to-be-missed highlight of the sweet little after-dinner mignardises at Peterson’s. The molded chocolates are loaded with seasonal fillings like pumpkin butter or ganache made from Traders Point Creamery yogurt. Miniature golden macaroons are also perfectly and delicately treated with Scharffen Berger’s dark chocolate. 7690 E. 96th St., Fishers, 598-8863; petersonsrestaurant.com
Chocolate Milkshake
What’s so special about the shakes at Boogie Burger? Quite simply, it’s the ice cream. Using nothing but rich, velvety dark scoops from a Nebraska creamery, blended with milk—and, surprisingly, no chocolate syrup at all—Boogie’s manages to deliver a decadent rendition that’s still oh-so-refreshing as you slurp it down. Even without the added frippery of whipped cream and a cherry on top, and even with its no-frills presentation in a plastic cup, this stuff is just the ticket when we want to chill. 927 E. Westfield Blvd., 255-2450
Chocolate Truffles
The Best Chocolate in Town lives up to its name with more than 36 varieties of handmade truffles that owner Elizabeth Garber and her team of confectioners proudly display at their downtown location. Ingredients are mixed with preservative-free chocolate to create tempting flavor twists like espresso-cardamom and wasabi-ginger. Each new flavor is tested with every possible ganache and dipping combination before it’s ready to leave the shop in silver-trimmed, ribbon-adorned boxes. 880 Massachusetts Ave., 636-2800; bestchocolateintown.com
Ice Cream
Point Reyes bleu-cheese ice cream isn’t for everyone. But it works for H2O Restaurant and Sushi Bar, where co-owner and pastry chef Nicole Anderson churns up a rotating assortment of ice creams and sorbets. Whether you favor sweet (shagbark syrup), spicy (Tellicherry black peppercorn), tart (grapefruit-rosemary), or seasonal (mulled cider), Anderson has a flavor to suit whatever it is you scream for. 1912 Broad Ripple Ave., 254-0677; h2osushibar.com
Filet
There’s nothing petite about the filet at Ruth’s Chris Steak House—not the fist-sized cut of USDA Prime, not the robust flavor, and certainly not the $35.95 price. And here’s the rub: it smokes the competition. Served on a plate sizzling with butter, the filet is seasoned simply with salt, black pepper, and parsley. And although the steak itself is seared at 1,800 degrees, somehow it avoids that overly charred taste around the edges that you find at even some of the best places. We could go on about how perfectly the filet is cooked to order and how it’s aged for tenderness, but we were taught not to speak with our mouths full. 45 S. Illinois St., 633-1313; 9445 Threel Rd., 844-1155; ruthschris.com
Pastry Chef
The fact that we’ve considered skipping the dinner course altogether at Peterson’s just to save room for dessert is less an indictment of our sweet tooth than it is a tribute to the beautiful creations of chef Joseph Allford. From a cloudlike puff of a classic chocolate souffle to a voluptuous pear pie served with espresso sorbet, Allford gives us reason after reason to reconsider that steak order. 7690 E. 96th St., 598-8863; petersonsrestaurant.com
Caipirinha
Few places in town make this Brazilian treat, and even fewer get it just right. The correct ingredients are cachaca—distilled alcohol made from sugarcane juice—white sugar, lime, and just the right kind of crushed ice. But The Jazz Kitchen mixes one so authentic and refreshing, you can imagine yourself sipping one on the beach with the girl from Ipanema. 5377 N. College Ave., 253-4900; thejazzkitchen.com
Carrot Cake
Done right, carrot cake is oh-so-good. Done wrong, it’s like something Mom makes you eat before you leave the table. Thank goodness Bar Louie gets it right. The massive slab, billed as “Mile High Carrot Cake for Two,” is actually more suited for a table of four and is worth every cent of its $7.99 price tag. The cream-cheese icing is sweet but not cloying, and coated in chopped nuts, while the flavorful cake is full of crunchy candied nuts, carrots, and raisins. With the pile of julienned carrots artfully piled atop the treat, we’ll just count this as a serving of vegetables. Okay, Mom? Clay Terrace, Carmel, 843-1200; barlouieamerica.com
Dessert
The “banana” part of the silken banana pot de creme at L’Explorateur might deter some people from ordering it, as they opt instead for something ostensibly richer, fruitier, or sweeter. But don’t be one of those people. No other dessert in the city satisfies all of those requirements as deliciously as chef John Adams’ pretty little bowl of light, creamy banana custard, which he tops with a dense chocolate ganache and a pecan tuile and then sprinkles liberally with candied pecans. Not only is this finale a refreshing change from all those creme brulees and molten chocolate jobs—it’s exquisite. 6523 Ferguson St., 726-6906; dinelex.com
Oatmeal
At his downtown City Cafe, Brad Royal roasts oats with pure vanilla and honey from the Twin Crooks Amish family farm in Montezuma, Indiana, before mixing the crunchy bunches with dried cherries and cranberries, walnuts, and pecans to make granola. Then he cooks the granola in water and apple juice; tops it with fresh blackberries, blueberries, bananas, and strawberries; and serves it up hot with shiny miniature pitchers of brown sugar and cream on the side. 443 N. Pennsylvania St., 833-2233
Bacon
We think it’s no coincidence that almost everything on the menu at Hoaglin To Go could easily be paired with bacon. (Omelets! Grilled cheese! Chicken salad!) They make bacon the way it wants to be made—in rashers of super-thick, chewy (yet crunchy-edged), apple-smoked strips—and wisely offer food that gives you excuse after excuse to order lots of the stuff. 448 Massachusetts Ave., 423-0300; hoaglinfinecatering.com
Cobb Salad
The Cobb salad is one of those classics that was discovered by accident—by Bob Cobb, owner of The Brown Derby in Hollywood in 1937, as it happens. Restaurants all over the country offer variations on the theme, but the original is best honored locally at the Patachou restaurants. Merging chopped butter lettuces, poached white-meat chicken, tomato, red onion, avocado, Gorgonzola, bacon, egg, and a lightly sweetened vinaigrette, Patachou has varied Cobb’s creation only slightly, and all for the better. 4911 N. Pennsylvania St., 925-2823; 8691 River Crossing Blvd., 815-0765; 4733 126th St., Carmel, 569-0965; Petite Chou: 823 Westfield Blvd., 259-0765; Patachou on the Park: 225 W. Washington St., 632-0765; cafepatachou.com
Happy-hour Menu
For about two bucks at McCormick & Schmick’s, you can feast on a full-sized cheeseburger served with steaming, salty fries, or something off the rotating menu like calamari flash-fried until crunchy, seasoned with Cajun spices, and served with remoulade, or oyster shooters with horseradish and cocktail sauce. Tack on a couple more bucks and you can get a thick tuna gumbo brimming with giant crawfish (on Thursdays) or fish tacos. The prices are low, the energy is high, and the beer (at $2.95 a glass) flows like water. It makes a soul happy just thinking about it. 110 N. Illinois St., 631-9500; mccormickandschmicks.com
Pizza
Thin-crust or deep-dish? That is the question when it comes to pizza. Well, usually it is. But at Dom di Carlo’s, you’re too focused on the housemade tomato sauce(tangy and gently seasoned), the judicious layer ofcheese (bubbly and ever-so-slightly browned from the oven), and the tempting toppings (silky strips of basil,ripe pear tomatoes, housemade Italian ground sausage,and fresh-milk mozzarella) to care about the type of bread beneath. The important thing here is that, by our count, the charming Noblesville pizzeria has yet to turn out anything less than a perfect pie. 654 Logan St., Noblesville, 776-6500
Power Lunch
There are restaurants with more local flavor, and restaurants with more intimacy, but when it comes to the quintessential business lunch, no Indy restaurant tops Palomino. The warm hues and subtle lighting are clubby but not clique-y, and the menu offers plenty of crowd-pleasing entrees. Some of the city’s biggest power-brokers are regulars—including Jeff Blade, the chief financial officer of Steak ’n’ Shake—even though his chain has a restaurant just across the street. 49 W. Maryland St.,974-0400; palomino.com
Cheeseless Pizza
The sweet, roasted flavors of eggplant, grilled onions, chunky tomato sauce, and fresh basil are captured in every bite of Bazbeaux Pizza’s Senza Formaggio. For those who have the guts to order a dairy-free pizza pie, this sauce-topped version is not only a champion of the lactose intolerant, but possibly one of the best nontraditional versions in town, with a thin, crisp crust that holds up well under the weight of veggies artfully fanned out with an eye toward both composition and proportion control. 811 E. Westfield Blvd., 255-5711; 334 Massachusetts Ave., 636-7662; 111 W. Main St., Carmel, 848-4488; bazbeaux.com
Salad Menu
Zest! Exciting Food Creations is the sole restaurant in town where we’re always coerced to order a salad over something more sinful. Strong as the pull may be toward the meatloaf and mac-and-cheese, we’re consistently drawn to the fresh herb salad, piled high with organic greens, tart Granny Smith apples, minced fresh herbs,and chunks of bleu cheese. Or the inventive grilledCaesar: a huge split heart of romaine, charred withjust enough zing that we barely need any of the garlicky dressing. 1134 E. 54th St., 466-1853
Takeout Menu
Nowadays every restaurant does takeout. But nobody does it quite like Oakleys Bistro. Call ahead to orderany entree (like the succulent duck breast with mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, and goat cheese), as wellas appetizers, sides, and soups by the quart—and theywill be as fresh as they would be if they were broughtto your table. You can even bring the garlic mashedpotatoes home in a microwaveable pastry sleeve.Another option: Oakleys at Home, the takeout armof the restaurant, which lets you order the seasonings, stocks, and salad dressings for use at home. And the coup de grace: Oakleys sells the mix for the batter that goes on the restaurant’s famous shrimp “corndogs,” complete with instructions and wooden skewers. 1464 W. 86th St., 824-1231; oakleysbistro.com
Brunch
Breakfast Sandwich
Cafe Patachou’s broken-yolk sandwich takes the holy trinity of breakfast (cheese, runny fried egg, bacon) and puts it on a slab of toast, a crafty reinvention of Mom’s toad-in-the-hole. 4911 N. Pennsylvania St., 925-2823; 8691 River Crossing Blvd., 815-0765; 4733 E. 126th St., Carmel, 569-0965; 823 Westfield Blvd., 259-0765; cafepatachou.com
Brunch Sweets
Taste Cafe and Marketplace is king when it comes to iced cinnamon buns, Belgian waffles with Vermont maple syrup, granola, and crumbly scones. All homemade, of course. Why not get an early start on your day’s sugar intake when you have all day to eat a salad as penance? 5164 N. College Ave., 925-2233; tastecafeandmarketplace.com
Champagne Brunch
You’ll find plenty of the fizzy stuff when you toast the fact that it is not yet Monday at Scholars Inn Gourmet Cafe and Wine Bar. You’re just as well off ordering a Bloody Mary (tops in town!), mimosa, or any of the cocktails listed on the extensive brunch menu. 725 Massachusetts Ave., 536-0707; scholarsinn.com
Gourmet Brunch
Fancy it is not. But you don’t need sterling tureens or platters of pastries when you can have Zest! Exciting Food Creations’ quiche that’s loaded with bleu cheese and spinach, biscuits and sausage gravy, homemade scones packed with brown sugar, and cups of fresh berries alongside egg-and-bacon biscuit sandwiches. 1134 E. 54th St., 466-1853
Wine By The Glass
The ever-changing and alsways-intriguing menu of wine by the glass at Elements deserves a fine toast. "My food is wine-oriented," says chef and co-owner Greg Hardesty, who, with his business partner Michael Sylvia, changes the wine list two or three times each week, compiling by-the-glass menus that balance Old- and New World styles as well as different expressions of a single varietal. Oenophiles enjoy comparisons like a prestigious California pinot noir and a noble Burgundy, while novices can trust the knowledgeable waitstaff for recommendations when they're torn between an Alsatian blend and a pinot gris from Oregon. 415 N. Alabama St., 634-8888; elementsindy.com
Ravioli
Ravioli is one of those foods where pretentious often passes for perfect. Such is not the case with the Raviolo Aurora at Capri Ristorante. This humble dish of homemade pasta stuffed with a ricotta-spinach mixture doesn’t try too hard because it doesn’t have to; each of the dish’s components carries a share of the load. The perfectly cooked pasta (you can taste the egg!) holds up to a straightforward filling that doesn’t try to hijack the spotlight. And a light tomato-cream sauce sets off the entire presentation with a knowing wink: Great doesn’t have to be grandiose. 2602 Ruth Dr., 259-4122; capriindy.com
Juice Bar
Just because we live in one of the country’s fattest cities doesn’t mean we can’t go through the motions of healthful eating. To that end, we like to frequent The Market Eatery at Georgetown Market, where we can get fresh veggie and fruit juices, smoothies, “energizers” super-charged with spirutein and spirulina, and wheatgrass shots all around. 4375 Georgetown Rd., 293-9525; georgetownmarket.com
Guacamole
While it feels a bit gimmicky when they wheel theguacamole-making cart up to your table, Adobo Grill’sversion of the tasty avocado dip is the real deal. It’s made with fresh-squeezed lime juice, diced onion, garlic, serrano peppers, and a smidge of kosher salt, which are crushed with a pestle in the molcajete (volcanic-stone mortar) to release all the oils. Next, the avocado is mashed with a spoon, andtomatoes, cilantro, and a final squeeze of lime juice are added. The result is the kind of chunky guacamole that leaves you scraping the mortar with your tortilla chip for more. 4939 E. 82nd St., 915-9990; adobogrill.com
Sushi Roll
Say one day a band of fish fascists takes over and tells you that for the rest of your life, you are confined to only one type of sushi. Tempted as you may be to select your safe spicy tuna or soft-shell crab—don’t. What you want is the orange roll at H2O Restaurant and Sushi Bar, which combines crab and salmon with a light, fresh-tasting trio of sweet onion, cucumber, and basil. Spicy orange tobiko gives each bite a happy little kick and keeps things interesting, even for the long haul. 1912 Broad Ripple Ave., 254-0677; h2osushibar.com
Sashimi
It’s hard to improve upon a simple, clean slice of fresh fish, but Rob Koeller at Kona Grill takes it up a notch with a twist on traditional yellowtail sashimi: six thinly sliced slivers of hamachi, topped with a bite of jalapeño and cilantro and served around a pile of mild daikon root with a salty-sweet ponzu sauce. It’s crisp, it’s interesting, and it’s among the best sushi dishes in the city. Clay Terrace, Carmel, 566-1400; konagrill.com
Pet Groomer
The first-class treatment at Platinum Paws includes a Bath & Beyond package that ministers to your pooch with a nail clip, hair trim, bath soak, and ear-cleaning for $25 to $65 (based on breed). “We sit down with the owner and come up with a plan,” says owner Kathie Henschen. For those extra-pampered pooches, she offers a $15 Dead Sea mud bath that leaves the coat silky and relieves itching for up to a month, a blueberry facial scrub to reduce that unsightly face-staining that plagues poodles and shih-tzus, and a doggy pedicure that will impress all those bitches at the bark park. 9860 N. Michigan Rd., Carmel, 870-7297, platinumpaws.com
Computer Geeks
Computer geeks are the new indie rock stars. Just smarter and without the groupies. Nevertheless, Eagle Micro Computers does have a full-service computer and laptop repair center in-store and a knowledgeable staff of six who will help you fix exactly what’s wrong with that mysterious gray box on your desk. And if your computer is beyond repair, the staff can build one for you. Now if only they could build themselves some robot groupies .... 5890 E. 82nd St., 595-8888; eagle-micro.com
Manicure
We don’t know what the trick is, exactly. But, more than anywhere else, time seems to be on our side after a manicure at Studio 2000. For $23, you get a no-frills polish job with a color that’s less chippable, a shine that’s more light-catching, and a duration just a little bit longer (still gleaming after Day 5!) than any other manicure in town. 55 Monument Circle, 687-0010; studio2000spa.com
Dry Cleaner
There are cheaper places. There are places with nicer decor. There are places with a few more services (such as delivery). But if you have a fine garment, especially one with a stain that just won’t come out, there is no more reliable place to take it than Meridian Heights Cleaners. For the past 75 years, the laundry has made a name for itself by removing splotches that other dry cleaners can’t. 4915 N. Pennsylvania St., 283-1361
Personal Trainer
Steve Hoffacker of Hoffacker Health and Fitness designed his northeastside fitness center to resemble his original garage gym. Well, more like seven garage gyms, all with mirrored walls, customized low-impact floors, and stereo systems. In each individual “suite,” clients get down to business during $85 one-on-one training sessions with certified conditioning specialists hand-picked by Hoffacker (or with Hoffacker himself for $175). Clients like John Andretti, some Simons, John Mellencamp, and several professional athletes have shaped up under his guidance, but acquiring a rock-hard Hoffacker physique comes at a premium. Expect to pay $300 for his initial health-assessment package that will lay the groundwork for your custom-designed workout—and prove that you mean business. 5250 E. 65th St., 849-4130; hoffackerfitness.com
Personal shopper
Born to a fashion-conscious Finnish family, Siro Derrer-Brooks of Nordstrom is cut from exactly the right cloth for giving apparel advice. Or at least that’s the opinion of the folks at Nordstrom, who plucked the style maven from her nine-year tenure with Jacobson’s on the very day the store announced it would close. Though she has clients across the country and even in Europe—some who have been with her the full 14-year run of her personal-styling career—her high demand doesn’t limit her clientele. In fact, Derrer-Brooks’ Personal Touch services at Nordstrom are free of charge. Whether you need an entire vacation wardrobe or just a belt, be sure to make your reservation at least a week in advance and bring comfortable clothes: Her style sessions rarely take less than two hours. 130 S. Meridian St., 636-2121
Shoe Repair
To Ronald Tomasello, owner of Kimmel Shoe Repair, the principal rule of the business is to complete the job on time. “I don’t think there’s anything more frustrating to the customer than having to wait, wait, wait because their shoes are not ready when the place told them they would be ready,” Tomasello says. Attention to detail—especially that detail—is why we still love Kimmel Shoe Repair after all these years. And though he’s happy to clean, polish, refinish, resole, or replace tips and heels on any shoe, he also repairs belts, purses, and luggage. 733 Broad Ripple Ave., 255-0740
Free Makeover
Wind your way through the maze of perfume-sprayers and gift-with-purchase displays in the Fashion Mall’s Saks Fifth Avenue cosmetics department and you will find yourself at the Laura Mercier station of makeup pro Baby Fox. A skincare expert who can educate you on the importance of three layers of foundation, carve cheekbones out of thin air, and draw a crowd of onlookers with her special brand of magic, Fox is clearly an artist. She’s even been known to pluck any stray eyebrows that get in the way of her transformations. Technically, her counter services are gratis, but once you see what she can do, you’ll want to buy whatever she’s selling. Fashion Mall, 816-0171
Massage
Spa Chakra in the Conrad Indianapolis treats you (swaddled in cushy robe and slippers) as though you’re the first and only client they have ever hosted. A bonus that makes the $120 fee (including tip) even more worth it: You can use the hotel’s infinity-edge pool, fitness center, Jacuzzi, and sauna. 50 W. Washington St., 524-2515; spachakra.com
You’ll have to do without the bazillion-thread-count sheets, but $25 buys 60 minutes on the table at Indiana Therapeutic Massage. You get a private room with dim lights and soothing music, and students eager to please (because they know you’ll fill out an evaluation before you leave). 7780 N. Michigan Rd., 439-4448; indianamassageschool.com
