A Live Game of Clue!

The board game Clue was one of my favorites as a child. The mystery, the challenge, good 'ole Colonel Mustard taking people out with a rope in the study. When I came across a Groupon for a Murder Mystery Dinner at the Signature at the Indianapolis Propylaeum I had to see what it was all about!

I couldn't think of better people to accompany me on this quest to solve a crime than my mom and 2 sisters. So, we picked an event date from the long list of themed murder mystery dinners such as "Who killed cupid?" and "And the award goes to ... murder!". We chose the "Who killed cupid?" where Valentine Cupid "gets knocked off"!  

Before the event guests have the opportunity to tour the Propylaeum which is a house built in 1888 in the Old Northside historic district of Indianapolis. It is a club for Indianapolis-area women, with a  mission "to emphasize a sense of civic responsibility and community services; to foster the love of literature, music, science and the fine arts; to provide women a social and cultural center." The Indianapolis Propylaeum offers events and holds weddings and such. We toured the three-story house with period furnishings then headed to the carriage house where we were sat for dinner. There were 180 people at the event, split between the main house and carriage house of the Propylaeum.

 

 

There were tables set for 6 and each place setting had a character booklet. The character at your place setting was your persona for the evening. There was background on the character, dialogue and questions to ask and info on how to answers questions asked to you - no props or costumes. 

The murder mystery began with the detective (a person that worked there) setting the scene. Valentine Cupid had been murdered in the chicken limo!!!! The staff then instructed us that each table of 6 were to complete the dialogue and ask each other questions as directed to try to solve the murder mystery, all while staying in character! We did not get up and mingle with the other tables because each table was acting out the same scenario. Unfortunately 2 of our 6 people did not show up to the event so one of my sisters and I played two parts (which  got a little confusing).

We ate the 5-course dinner while completing this dialogue - garlic tomato soup, strawberry salad, plum tomato and cheese fettuccine, chicken cordon blue and chocolate grenache - served throughout the evening. Beer and wine were available at the bar.

Here was the character list: 
Joan was an actress and Valentine's bride-to-be, Tony, the Italian hunk, was hired to ferry Joan to her wedding venue, Lucinda was Joan's drunk aunt, Mike was Valentine's best man who backed out of the wedding party last minute, Seymour was a film director and Chloe was a young actress.

We completed the dialogue, asked the questions, ate the yummy food and had a great time acting, laughing and being funny! The detective would make announcements from time to time and the waitresses brought around clues and evidence. Evidence included poison gummy bears, an emerald ring, gold coins and candy ... It was loud, a little wild and full of life in this carriage house turned murder scene! Each Lucinda was even asked to serve their table their entree while dancing like a pole dancer ... say what?

Ultimately each table had to agree on a suspect and turn in their guess as to who murdered Mr. Valentine Cupid. The detective then uncovered the mystery of each character and announced who murdered Cupid!

There was only 1 table in the carriage house that guessed correctly ... And it wasn't our table ... We should have brushed up on a little Law & Order before we attended!

Even though my table did not solve the crime, the event was a blast - just a fun, out of the ordinary Friday night - the food, the wait staff, the guests, the house all enhanced an already exciting activity.

I would suggest checking out these events for a girls night out or even a date night. There were groups of woman and lots of couples. If you attend, I suggest letting loose and allowing yourself to "become" your character ... where else will you be able to go all CSI with your closet friends?

Master Bedroom Horizontal Wood Feature Wall

When we purchased our new home we bought it for location, space and the overall flow, but there were some things that we knew would have to change - all aesthetic ... flooring, paint, appliances and such. My husband and I tend to be a bit creative and like a challenge, we weren't going to shy away from a little reno! Our years of watching DIY and home shows were about to be put to the test!

We started our renovations in the Master Bedroom. The Bedroom is a giant room ... almost too big. It has vaulted ceiling that add to an open and airy feel. We knew we wanted to paint the dull, damaged wood trim, paint the walls and tear up the carpet and install dark wood laminate floors ... but we felt like the room seemed too large and kind of boring. Our bedroom furniture is low profile, and we didn't want it too seem dwarfed by the high ceilings.

To remedy this problem we had to think outside the box a little. We had the idea to add some type of molding or trim work to the wall behind the bed. I saw a photo on Pinterest of horizontal wood molding on a wall, and we agreed this horizontal molding would not only help ground the room but it would complement our contemporary furnishings, in essence work as a headboard ... so we put our heads together and came up with a plan!

Here is the inspiration photo:

 

(http://mydesigndump.blogspot.com/2011/07/pizitz-home-cottage-seaside.html?m=1)

First we had to determine what material we could use to create our desired look. Luckily Lowes had the perfect 2" wide by 8' long primed pieces of wood.

We then used a stud finder and marked each stud in the wall.

We decided to space each piece of horizontal wood 16" a part - we picked this width because we liked the look of it. We then cut a piece of wood to 16" to use as a template spacer for installation.

You need access to a chop saw and nail gun in order to cut and install the pieces. With the use of the template, the installation actually went pretty quick ... we set the template in place, lined up the wood molding, leveled it and nailed it.

 

 

 

We painted the walls and the wood white to finish it off. It really pops against the dark floors and the newly painted trim!

The result is a unique architectural feature wall that adds visual interest to a previously plain, boring room! It is everything we hoped it would be and more ... comfortable, casual, bright and cheery!

Ralston's Drafthouse 2.9/4.0

I'm back! After a short hiatus, i.e. selling a home, living in temporary quarters for a little while, buying a home, moving and starting renovations on the new place, I'm back to blog life - sharing experiences, DIY projects and eating my way through Indianapolis' local restaurants! While my blog posts might not be as often as before due to my demanding reno schedule, I'm excited to begin writing again!

Local restaurants are abundant in Indy, especially is artsy districts such as Broad Ripple and Massachusetts Ave. Ralston's Drafthouse, www.ralstonsdrafthouse.com, is a fairly new restaurant named for Alexander Ralston, the engineer who surveyed the city in 1820 and created Indianapolis' city plan in 1821 - pretty cool piece of Indy history! Did you know the Governor's mansion used to be centrally located in downtown Indianapolis where Monument City stands today? The owners of this restaurant also operate Chatham Tap which is a good restaurant on the same strip, so I was excited to try it!

Ralston's has a pretty cool vibe - it is tastefully decorated with beer pictures and such, the restroom doors covered in beer bottle caps, but the large restaurant also felt homey with wood floors and dimmer lighting.

The menu seemed to have a unique offering. First, a large beer menu featuring a number of Ralston's beers among others. I got a flight of four which showcased the Ralston's beers nicely - an IPA, Witbier, American Brown and Hefeweizen. Each had a nice taste but I especially liked the American Brown and Hefeweizen. The food menu featured oven baked flatbreads and flatbread sandwiches, among other sandwiches, with interesting ingredients like pulled duck, a peach-chipotle reduction and pulled lamb. Great variety if you are in to trying new flavors.

My sister and I decided to split The Peach Pig and the Apple Butter Bacon Sandwich - both exciting combinations of flavors. The Peach Pig was an oven-baked flatbread topped with pulled pork, aged cheddar, ginger, cilantro and a peach-chipotle reduction. I was surprised on the large amount of pulled pork on the flatbread - sometimes places skimp on the meat. The peach-chipotle reduction had a subtle peach flavor - not too peachy. The flatbread came with a side dish - I chose fried veggie sticks, and I wasn't exactly sure what a veggie stick was ... apparently, in this case, it is fried artichokes. Unfortunately, I was NOT a fan of these veggie sticks ... very greasy, too tough to bit through, wouldn't order them again.

The Apple Butter Bacon Sandwich was fresh and delightful. The flatbread had a nice texture and the lettuce was crisp. Overall, it had great flavor, and it wasn't too heavy on the stomach, though filling. The side item chosen here was rosemary potatoes - now, those I would order again - yum!

So how did this restaurant rate according to my 1-4 rating system - 4 being the best:

Food: 2.75
Both flatbreads were very tasty, and the beer was good. The fried veggie sticks brought down this score a bit. I would definitely visit Ralston's again and explore their menu further.

Atmosphere: 2.75
As I mentioned, I liked the vibe of this place. It was casual and welcoming with a touch of sophistication. There is a large patio that might be a fun place to hang out when it warms up.

Price: 3
I thought the meals were reasonably priced. The portions aren't huge, but I think it was priced competitively.

Uniqueness: 2.5
At first glance at the menu, the food offering seemed incredibly unique - the combinations of ingredients are not extremely typical ... but the taste wasn't as unique as we expected. I wasn't blown away by anything we ate.

Service: 3.5
Our server was a young friendly man. We always had what we needed. He was quick and offered assistance with food and beer choices.

Overall Average: 2.9
Ralston's was an above average experience, particularly in regards to the service and price. The food was definitely tasty, and I can see myself going back to try another flatbread combination and sipping a beer.

Next time you are on Mass. Ave, consider trying out Ralston's Drafthouse. As this place gains popularity, I expect it to be a popular Mass Ave. restaurant!

Yats 3.85/4

If you have never been to Yats! GO NOW!

 

Yats is a quirky, New Orleans-style Cajun Creole restaurant in Indianapolis and surrounding areas. The first location still stands at 54th and College Ave. in Indianapolis and locations have expanded to Fishers, Greenwood, Mass Ave, Carmel ... Columbus, IN and more!

Yats is said to be all about their customers and their love for the community ... it is intended to be a place to hang out with friends and have a good time! I do believe Yats has succeeded in providing an inviting restaurant that will keep you coming back for more! The food is simple and tasty. The prices are extremely affordable. The atmosphere is crazy ... in a good way! 

Today, my sister and I enjoyed the spinach and mushroom and the chipotle Alexio at the 54th and College location on their patio. As you walk in, you can't help but notice that the restaurant is full of quirks. The menu is written on a chalkboard behind the wildly decorated counter. You won't get bored of the decor, that's for sure! They also have several tables outside on the patio.

The menu items are essentially Louisiana cuisine, with heavy emphasis on beans, rich flavorful sauces and rice. The entrees are accompanied by crusty bread. My suggestions is to pile the rice topped with your choice of etouffee, gumbo, jambalaya, red beans, etc. onto the bread - it makes a delightful combination!

My sister loves the spinach and mushroom dish while I have gotten the chipotle Alexio the past two times I have been there ... the chipolte Alexio has a bit of spice but not too much!

The ALWAYS-friendly staff come in handy when it comes to the menu. They are willing to make a recommendation, explain the dishes and give you samples - this is important if you are new to this Cajun Creole food. The menu items may not be named in a way that you are familiar with, but don't worry, the staff is there to help!

It’s essentially Louisiana cuisine, with a heavy emphasis on beans, rich flavorful sauces, and of course, rice. There are etouffees, gumbos, jambalayas, red beans and rice, in various combinations. - See more at: http://www.yatscajuncreole.com/menu/#sthash.pkKKYzKs.dpuf

The 54th and College location only accepts cash which I find charming. But don't be too worried about the need for cash ... the food is cheap - quality, but cheap!



So, let's get down to the scores!

Here is how this experience at the 54th and College location stacks up based on my 1-4 rating system - 4 being the best:

Food: 3.75
The variety is vast, and the flavors are outstanding. The bread is perfectly paired with the entrees. The portions are large ... I always get the half portion which is just enough for lunch. The food is such a nice departure from the more common sandwiches and salads!

Atmosphere: 3.75
The quirky decor is one-of-a-kind ... there is a carousel horse on the counter! I don't really know why, but I guess the question should be, why not? The restaurant is inviting with plenty of seating indoors and on the patio.

Price: 4
Large portions for cheap! The half-sized portion shown above which includes the bread is ONLY $4.75!!!!!!!

Uniqueness: 3.75
The Louisiana-style food is fairly unique here in Indy! I have never been to another restaurant quite like Yats. From the food to the staff to the decor, it is a special place.

Service: 4
You couldn't ask for much more out of the staff. They are knowledgeable about the food, in good spirits and extremely friendly. A staff member brought our food out to the patio for us and picked up our dishes when we were done!

Overall Average: 3.85
The overall score is the highest of any restaurant that I have rated! The price plays a large role in this score but the food and service just can't be beat in my opinion!

I recommend finding your nearest Yats and giving it a try ... you might just find your new favorite restaurant!

We’re Yats. We’re a local New Orleans style joint. Born on 54th and College, also at Fishers, Greenwood, Mass Ave, Carmel, Traders Point, The Avenue downtown, Columbus, IN and coming soon….Hamilton Town Center and Valparaiso, IN. You could say we’re in the people business and we serve pretty good food at an affordable price. We’re not real sophisticated, and often accused of being irreverent. Maybe so. But we care about our customers and we love our community. Yats is a place you can come hang out with your friends, your family, and other people you love. It’s our place and we want it to be your place too. Oh yea…we are now offering franchise rights to people that feel the same way we do. Let’s spread the love….. - See more at: http://www.yatscajuncreole.com/#sthash.W1RCfV8B.dpuf

We’re Yats. We’re a local New Orleans style joint. Born on 54th and College, also at Fishers, Greenwood, Mass Ave, Carmel, Traders Point, The Avenue downtown, Columbus, IN and coming soon….Hamilton Town Center and Valparaiso, IN. You could say we’re in the people business and we serve pretty good food at an affordable price. We’re not real sophisticated, and often accused of being irreverent. Maybe so. But we care about our customers and we love our community. Yats is a place you can come hang out with your friends, your family, and other people you love. It’s our place and we want it to be your place too. Oh yea…we are now offering franchise rights to people that feel the same way we do. Let’s spread the love….. - See more at: http://www.yatscajuncreole.com/#sthash.W1RCfV8B.dpuf

We’re Yats. We’re a local New Orleans style joint. Born on 54th and College, also at Fishers, Greenwood, Mass Ave, Carmel, Traders Point, The Avenue downtown, Columbus, IN and coming soon….Hamilton Town Center and Valparaiso, IN. You could say we’re in the people business and we serve pretty good food at an affordable price. We’re not real sophisticated, and often accused of being irreverent. Maybe so. But we care about our customers and we love our community. Yats is a place you can come hang out with your friends, your family, and other people you love. It’s our place and we want it to be your place too. Oh yea…we are now offering franchise rights to people that feel the same way we do. Let’s spread the love….. - See more at: http://www.yatscajuncreole.com/#sthash.W1RCfV8B.dpuf

Antique Objects Turned Functional Home Decor

I have found a new appreciation for antiques and vintage items lately. Old items have such character, such personality. Over the past month I have purchased a few decor items from local antique shops. One of the items I sought out after a creative project idea popped in my head. Two of the items I had to have after spotting them at a shop and I knew I could put them to good use!

Item #1 is an old yellow, weathered wooden Coca-Cola crate. I sought this piece out to create a magazine and laptop holder to sit on my new coffee table. I needed a better place to put magazines that usually sit haphazardly on my table and a spot designated for our laptop that didn't have an official  "home". 

 

To create this magazine/laptop holder all I had to do was saw the compartments out of the middle of the crate, place it on my coffee table and fill it. It adds visual interest to my coffee table and helps organize items that would otherwise look like clutter. 

 

 

Items #2 and #3 were impulse buys which could be dangerous - you could end up with a items you don't NEED or items with no purpose. I don't typically impulse buy, so I figured these purchases were justified.

Item #2 is a bright yellow metal "basket" with interesting curves. The paint is a little worn which adds character. I really liked the color and thought I could put this to go use ... Somewhere.

After bringing home the basket, I figured it out! This item makes the perfect dog toy holder!

 

Item #3 is an old egg basket. It's silver metal. I fell in love with how the basket opens and closes. I liked the lines and the raw metal look. Again, I figured I could always use another container ...

I ended up using this egg basket to hold my coffee and K-Cups near my Keurig. It now hangs from a hook in my kitchen.

 

Adding some vintage, colorful flare to my home has been a joy! I enjoy the hunt for the item and then figuring out a creative way to use it. I also love organization, so these items bring me twice the pleasure! It's all about thinking outside of the box!

Challenge Nation - 5K Scavenger Hunt

I can't think of anything more fun than completing a 5K Scavenger Hunt with my sisters wearing neon tutus! So, that is exactly what I did this weekend! Aren't our tutus THE BEST thanks to my sister's craftiness!

Challenge Nation is a series of urban adventure races that take place across the nation. Our race took place in downtown Indianapolis where we had to solve 11 out of 12 clues by racing around the city and taking pictures of our team at the location of each answer. The clues could be answered in any order but the goal was to find each answer and race back to the finish line first! Racers were encouraged to dress in wacky costumes and enjoy exploring the city while staying fit.

My team called We Do Track-Well, a play on words of my and my sister's maiden name Trackwell, finished 73rd out of 123 teams ... 73rd isn't great but we had a blast running up and down the city streets and just simply spending time together. We had a bit of a miscommunication on the rules and had to go back and re-find a few answers, so I am confident we would have finished better than we did if that mishap hadn't happened, but oh well!

The clues were kind of challenging - we were allowed to use smartphones, gps or phone a friend to help crack the clues, which really helped. The clues were vague, in a rhyme or asked you to find something but didn't tell you were it was located ... you had to use your brain and problem solving skills. The smarts of our phones were a nice addition as well!

To start, the team captain from each of the 123 teams stood in a circle outside of Scotty's Brewhouse and received the clues - each of the captains were asked to not look at the clues until everyone had received theirs  - and then we were off!

We started with Clue #1 where we had to run quit a distance to a location north of an obelisk in Military Park and hula hoop. Clue #1 - check:

For Clue #2, we had to locate a small sculpture, that has been stolen 3 times, of "a boy that never ages" and draw a picture, using sidewalk chalk, of our favorite thing about Indy. The little sculpture was really hard to find - none of us had ever heard of it. Colts was our obvious favorite thing! Clue #2 - check:

Clue #3 asked that we go to the location where the King "left the building" for the last time ever, which was the location where Market Square Arena used to stand, and rock out with some props. I love my sister's face as she is singing into the microphone! Clue #3 - check:

For Clue #4, we had to find an out-of-towner wearing non-sports related hometown garb - but not from Indiana. Once we found the person we were asked to take a photo acting out what we think the home is like. The guy we found was from Pennsylvania and he said "there is nothing good about Pennsylvania", so we all gave a thumbs down and made a sad face - the guy is smiling while giving his thumbs down, what's up with that! Clue #4 - check:

 

Clue #5 lead us to the Indiana State Museum where we had to locate a plaque designed for a county of Indiana that borders another state - Spencer County it was. Clue #5 - check:

Clue #6 was solved by figuring out 2 words to fill in the blanks of a phrase. The 2 words were the names of Indianapolis downtown streets that intersected. At that site, we had to play a quick game and take a photo with the Challenge Nation staff member. Clue #6 - check:

For Clue #7, we had to take a photo with a statue of any President that appears on Mount Rushmore and act out a scene from their life. Abraham Lincoln was our man, and we acted out his death. I was John Wilkes Booth, Melanie was Lincoln and Megan was his wife ... so silly! Clue #7 - check:

 

Clue #8 was to take a photo of either a clown, a traditional barber pole, a tricycle, a person wearing overalls or any pet other than a dog or a horse. We found a barber pole and a barber that WOULDN'T STOP TALKING TO US ... we just had to run away from the shop after giving the man a few seconds of courtesy conversation. Clue #8  check:

 

 

Clue #9 eluded to engraved bricks in front of a famous place. We had to find a brick that bore the first or last name of any Indiana Governor ... the smart phone was of great help on this one. We found a brick at St. Elmo's Steakhouse with the name "James" on it to represent James B. Ray, a former governor. Clue #9 - check:

 

 

For Clue #10, we had to buy a postcard, address it, write a message and snap a pic in front of an "old style" blue mailbox. We were surprised how hard it was to find a mailbox, but we finally stumbled upon one. Clue #10 - check:

 



Clue #11 was a funny one! We had to pair up with another team and 2 strangers and act out a scene from a movie set in Indiana while in front of a theater downtown. We acted out Close Encounters of the Third Kind, apparently filmed at Ball State. This movie is supposedly about aliens. I loved how the strangers got so in to the acting, and my sister makes a fine alien! Clue #11 - check:

 

Lastly, Clue #12 involved us battling it out as pirates against another challenge team. There were props on Monument Circle to pose with. Clue #12 - check:

 

 

After completing the clues, we ran to the finish line to end the race! We did it!

 

 

This race was pure fun! You didn't even realize that you were completing a 5K while searching for answers to the clues. It ended up being a nice workout!

 

 

Besides sharing this experience with my sisters and wearing a tutu, my favorite thing about the race was how much those in downtown Indy that were NOT in the race, reacted to all of us crazy people running around. I believe there were close to 450 people involved in the challenge. Those people dining at outdoor restaurants and those walking around downtown were so curious about what we were doing and wanted to help us anyway they could. It was great to see strangers get excited for us and cheer us on all in the name of FUN! 

 

Challenge Nation is a great event and a BLAST! I look forward to making this race a tradition with my sisters. Next year's Indianapolis race is already scheduled for August 9, 2014 - consider signing up, you won't regret it!

Refinishing an Old Table using Tung Oil Finish

My husband and I were on the hunt for the perfect coffee table for our living room for what seemed like FOREVER! We wanted something old, something with character, a project! We hit up every antique mall, garage sale and second hand store in the area and were beginning to think that thee table did not exist. We tried to think outside the box - we searched for unique objects that might make for a creative base or re-claimed molding and wood that we could re-purpose but still NOTHING ... until we stumbled upon the Indie Art & Vintage Marketplace.

For starters, the Indie Arts & Vintage Marketplace is great! This outdoor marketplace takes place one Saturday a month at the Glendale Towne Center in Indy. It began May 4th and goes through October 5th (the remaining dates are August 3rd, September 2nd and October 5th). There are many vendors offering "vintage, antique, modern, shabby, chippy, rustic and eclectic" items. Cost is $5 per person. The event also features food trucks and beer for purchase.

We walked around the marketplace looking for key items that might be able to be used for a coffee table, and then we saw it ... an old, antique folding table with rustic appeal!

 

The table is made of old wood and coolest part is that the legs are designed to fold in. There were some knots and discoloration, which we loved! The got the table for a heck of a deal - $40!

There were a few issues with the table though. For one, it was too tall - the table is intended to be used with chairs. Also, there was some glue dried to the top. So, my husband and his friend sawed off the legs creating a 19" high coffee table, and I started refinishing!

I began refinishing by using a stiff brush to clean off the table and knock down some of the glue. I then took some sand paper and lightly sanded down the areas with glue. I intentionally did not sand out all of the imperfections because I wanted to keep the character. Once the table was cleaned up, it was ready for its finish.

After some research, I choose to finish the table with Tung Oil Finish. Tung Oil Finish penetrates and protects wood making it water resistant. We chose a low gloss version that will provide a beautiful hand rubbed finish. To use the Tung Oil Finish you simply need the oil, wipe cloths and gloves (all can be purchased at your local hardwood store). All the supplies cost me about $15.

I applied the first coat of oil over the whole table, top, legs, etc. You pour the oil on your rag and begin rubbing it into the wood, like you would wax a car - a thin coat is suggested. It only took we about 20 minutes to apply the first coat.

Look how much that one thin coat enhanced the look of the old wood! Talk about breathing new life into an old piece!

After letting the first coat dry over night, I applied a second coat for added protection and let it dry over night once again. And that was it!

 

 

Only Fifteen dollars worth of supplies about 1 hour total labor, and we now we have a beautiful, character-filled coffee table that's one-of-a-kind ... and it was so easy!

 

 

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