Photos by Tony Valainis
New Outdoor Art
A stroll through Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park is a lovely time to contemplate what it means to call a place home. The Hawryluk Collection of Art in Nature, three installations introduced to the sprawling green space this year, welcomes just that. Exploring the questions of location and belonging and collectively titled Home Again, the works represent a $3 million investment by philanthropist Kent Hawryluk. Oracle of Intimation by Heather Hart presents a rooftop emerging from the ground, inviting visitors to scale it and climb through its windows. The recorded voices of Indianapolis-area refugees emanate from Anila Quayyam Agha’s white filigree structure, This is NOT a Refuge. Mark Dion and Dana Sherwood’s whimsical Pollinator Pavilion is surrounded by native pollinator plants, beckoning both humans and insects to linger. A QR code encourages guided reflection on and interaction with each. 1850 W. 38th St., 317-923-1331 —Camille Graves
Volunteer Work
If you want to get your hands dirty for a good cause, spending an afternoon with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful should be on your Indy bucket list. They will even provide the bucket. The volunteer-driven nonprofit teams up with around 20,000 locals each year to plant trees, create green spaces and pocket parks, tidy up neighborhoods, and keep the city as litter-free as possible. As a bonus, you get to spend the day with fun, like-minded folks and enjoy some fresh air while helping to make the city look great. Check the calendar on KIB’s website for upcoming projects—which have ranged from Riparian Revegetation and Rubbish Removal to highly satisfying Fall Creek Waterway Cleanups. 1029 Fletcher Ave., 317-264-7555 —Julia Spalding
Workout Buddies
Day Won Fitness co-owner Jason Shaw knows a thing or two about resilience. A sudden heart attack during Memorial Day weekend in 2021—just a month after he and Day Won partner Dana Matis signed the lease for their space inside Factory Arts District (formerly the Circle City Industrial Complex)—forced him to reshape his own fitness journey. “I was used to running marathons, and suddenly I couldn’t lift anything heavier than a shoe,” says Shaw. His medical emergency showed him the importance of “being able to focus on where you’re at now, as opposed to what you did before.” Inspired by Shaw’s recovery, the partners decided Day Won’s mission would be all about support, no matter where members start from. With classes capped at 16, expect lots of hands-on guidance and supportive vibes. 1125 E. Brookside Ave., 317-446-6067 —JS
Photos by Tony Valainis
Craft Classes
Groovy Greenhouse Studio, which opened on the east side in July, can add some color to your palette with its fused glass and stained-glass classes. Owner Alyssa Ream offers single sessions as well as recurring ones for students looking to hone their skills with multiple projects. She also leads private group classes. 2131 E. Michigan St. —Gabriela Bell
Bocce Courts
Edna Balz Lacy Park in Fletcher Place caters to nearby families with children and is in one of the city’s most established Italian communities, making it a fine spot to play or watch some lawn bowling. Established in 1917, the patch of grass tucked between Eli Lilly, Holy Rosary Church, and historic working-class homes hosts pickup games as well as league play in the spring, summer, and fall. It’s not fancy—just timeless and authentic. 700 Greer St., 317-327-7220 —JS
Rail Adventure
Noblesville’s Nickel Plate Express Railbike Excursions cater to adventurers with a thing for nostalgia and a strong pair of legs. Tour guides lead the four-passenger pedal cars on reservation-only group outings that cut through miles of Hamilton County farmland or span the White River into town—where riders can dismount and explore the shops and restaurants before the return trip. 825 Forest Park Dr., Noblesville —JS
Park Design
Completed in 2021, Grand Junction Plaza honors both nature and modern design, covering a 6-acre patch of downtown Westfield. A length of Grassy Branch Creek, a scruffy, sluggish trickle, is elevated to a stunning central feature as it meanders through the park, part of a project (helmed by landscape architect David Rubin’s Land Collective) integrating flood resilience and climate adaptation into a lush, people-forward layout. Other features include raised boardwalks, bridges, a rope playground, an amphitheater, and a quiet lawn ringed with ergonomic chaise loungers. But with stepping stones placed across the water running through it, Grand Junction is, at its heart, a salute to the Hoosier pastime of creek stomping. 225 S. Union St., Westfield, 317-804-3150 —JS
Photos by Tony Valainis
Sweaty Experience
Perspire Sauna Studio in Carmel—and soon in Fishers—combines the traditional sauna culture of Finland, a 2,000-year-old means to detoxify the body, soothe muscles, and boost immunity, with the more contemporary fixes of infrared and red-light therapy. The sessions are all contained within private rooms equipped with smart TVs and other comforts, a plus for those who still believe you should “never let them see you sweat.” 14400 Clay Terrace Blvd., Carmel, 463-223-9661 —JS
Fitness Destination
Ozwell Fitness creates its own brand of luxury workouts in a sprawling complex that proves fitness can be as chic as a pair of buttery soft Lululemons. Membership includes infrared-heated Vinyasa yoga, high-intensity interval training classes, and muscle-sculpting sessions on an open-concept training floor with roll-up garage doors opening to a lawn bordering the Monon Trail, blending gym time with fresh air. Recovery includes cold-plunge tubs, red-light therapy, and compression chairs that tend to the lymphatic system. As a bonus to parents who don’t usually get out much, Ozwell serves self-care with a side of childcare. 1077 3rd Ave. SW, Carmel —JS
Container Homes
Popping up near the intersection of College and Sutherland avenues, a trio of modern, industrial shipping container homes stands out among the classic, century-old dwellings in the surrounding neighborhood. James Rapp, owner of Indy Urban Jungles, offers these themed 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath Airbnb properties as getaway spots with easy access to the city. Though the rust-toned exteriors appear as a matched set, the interior styles vary, with pop culture, modern boho, and contemporary coastal vibes in their decor and furnishings. Views of Fall Creek through floor-to-ceiling windows contribute to the oasis atmosphere. —Andrea Ratcliff
Photos by Tony Valainis
Year-Round Pickleball
For those who can’t get enough of the fastest growing sport in the United States, 23,500-square-foot Pickle on Penn in Carmel is a dill squad mecca. Indiana’s first pickleball country club appeals to serious (and not-so-serious) players with its eight indoor courts, luxe locker rooms, and a mezzanine for game-watchers. Memberships cater to all skill levels, from casual dinkers to pros, with perks such as clinics, leagues, and private lessons. On-site restaurant The Kitchen (IYKYK) serves both a loaded charcuterie board called The Paddle and (of course) fried pickles. 11575 N. Pennsylvania St., Carmel, 317-623-3300 —JS
