Thankful and filled with pride

By Kim Galeaz

It took one year, dozens of dinner parties and numerous glasses of wine to convince my friends, Rick May and Jeff

About the Author: Kim Galeaz, R.D., C.D., is a freelance food and nutrition writer, registered dietitian and consultant to the food and beverage industry. Popcorn is her favorite movie-viewing food along with dark beer or red wine. About the only movies she won’t watch are horror flicks. Kim can be reached at kim@kimgaleaz.com.

Tagen, to visit Indy. They live in Ponte Vedra, Fla., just south of Jacksonville where my husband, Jeff, has worked for the past couple years.

All my trips to Jacksonville include a get-together with Rick and Jeff (aka JT to avoid confusion), and it’s usually at their place because they have a beautiful home, huge kitchen and fabulous pool. After spending so much time in their surroundings, Jeff and I realized we wanted them to experience our place in Chatham Arch. With wine in hand, we’d go on and on about all the great things to do in Downtown Indianapolis, how warm and welcoming the city is and how diverse the downtown neighborhoods are. “You’ll love it!” we’d say repeatedly.

And they did. Rick and JT visited one long weekend this summer. They stayed right across the street from my condo at the Nestle Inn Bed & Breakfast. I was in my prime, trying to plan out the “food schedule,” since any trip is also about the food. I had to figure out which restaurants we’d go to for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner, which day we’d have a cook-out at the condo so our Florida friends could meet our Indy friends, Matt and Rod, and which mornings they’d have breakfast at the B&B. Needless to say, hanging out on the porch of the Nestle Inn or outside in front of Henry’s Coffee Shop was just too inviting and relaxing and we didn’t get to do it all.

We did, however, walk around Chatham Arch extensively, went to Mass Ave Wine Shoppe, Best Chocolate in Town, Chatham Tap, Hoaglin’s and Harry & Izzy’s (so they could see Downtown and Monument Circle, and meet the executive chef, my close friend).

Recently I asked Jeff, a relationship director at ING and his partner of 14 years, Rick, who is retired, to reflect on their visit to the city my husband and I are thankful and proud to call home.

What were your impressions of Indianapolis prior to the visit?

Jeff: No solid impressions. Really just another Midwestern city.

Rick: Kim had said it had some good restaurants and nice neighborhoods, so I was very interested to see.

What were your impressions after the visit?

Jeff: Much more urban, hip and quirky than I had expected!

Rick: The neighborhood and the surrounding area were visually interesting, walk-able and comfortable to be in.

Both: I could actually live here and like it.

Favorite parts of the trip?

Jeff: One of my favorites was breakfast at the B&B. Each day was a bit different, but it was delicious and the owners are good conversationalists and great sources of information about Indy. (Thanks, Barb and Steve Tegarden!)

Rick: Another favorite was walking through the neighborhoods for the yard sales. Beautiful homes in lovely settings. (Rick and Jeff visited the weekend of the Chatham Arch Yard Sale in July.)

Jeff: And I got my Rocket Dogs for a steal! (True confession: not one of the four of us knew what Rocket Dogs were until JT bought a pair for $3 at the yard sale!! And he looks so dapper wearing them!)

Comments about the food or places you visited?

Jeff: Chatham Tap had good food and a lively crowd. I like to people watch.

Rick: The food at Harry & Izzy’s was really good, as were the martinis. And Hoaglin’s was hopping for Sunday brunch, plus it was quite delicious.

When you come back to Indy, you’d like to:

Both Rick and Jeff: Stay longer, walk a little farther in the other neighborhoods and go to the gay club (The Metro).

Chatham Arch resident Kim Galeaz is already making a list of must-visit restaurants and shops for JT and Rick’s next trip. Kim, a certified and registered dietitian, is a frequent contributor to Urban Times, most notable thorugh her “Dining Downtown with the Dietitian” series. Past articles can be found at www.urbantimesonline.com.