On the cover: Castles along the Rhine
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises
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Highlights from the November/December Issue
Embellish Your Home’s Exterior for the Holidays
As the seasons change, so too can your front porch! Decorating your porch for the holidays enhances your home's curb appeal and creates a warm welcome when family and friends come to call. Decorating also establishes a tradition that brings families together to slow down and enjoy time together. While it is not always possible to keep up with seasonal decorating on one’s own due to work commitments, travel or other obligations, Naturspire’s holiday design services can help create the porchscape of your dreams.
Text: Stephanie Carlson, owner of Naturspire
Photography: Mackenzie Curtis
Pasta Perfecto
On a perfectly balmy afternoon in May of this year, I was sitting outside Handles in Fishers with my son enjoying the first ice cream of the spring. Glancing down the street, I noticed an A-frame sign on the sidewalk a few yards up the road advertising Angelo’s Italian Market. Curious as ever, and excited by the prospect of some Italian goodies, we finished our ice creams and wandered over to check it out.
Inside the small storefront was a simple wooden counter, a rack of Italian staples such as olive oil and sundried tomatoes, and on the left-hand side, much to my surprise and pleasure, a refrigerator full of the most beautiful looking fresh pasta and sauces. We were greeted by a delightful gentleman who I later found out to be Mike Marra, who, with his son Chris, owns this relatively recent addition to the city’s burgeoning dining scene. That evening, my son and I returned home with a pound of the freshest fettuccine, a tub of Sunday sauce, and some meatballs. Our dinner that night was simple, delicious and utterly wholesome.
Text: Neil Charles
Photo: Dave Pluimer
Cover Story: Castles Along the Rhine
My family and I recently embarked upon a cruise (our third) with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises along the legendary Rhine River through Switzerland, France and Germany, ending in the Netherlands. The journey, entitled Castles Along the Rhine, begins in Basel, Switzerland, and winds all the way to Amsterdam, punctuated by stops at charming towns and majestic castles, all set against spectacular vistas that provide the perfect backdrop for a cultural and gastronomic adventure. Along the way, we were treated to so much history that we acquired an education that will certainly come in handy for the NYT History Quiz on Saturdays.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Sophisticated Celebrations: Presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Sophisticated Celebrations: Presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Photo by Jessica Strickland Photography
Photo by Rolo del Campo Photography
Photo by Dowon/Luce Snap
Photo by Cody Bailey/Rogue Images Photography
Photo by Aubrey & Brandon Visuals
Photo by Yoan Mollemeyer - Cliche Photography
Market Magic
Steppinge into the Carmel Christkindlmarkt feels like entering a holiday movie set in the streets of Germany. The twinkling lights, aromas of freshly-made German treats and sounds of happy ice skaters greet you, setting the scene for a festive experience you won’t soon forget.
The Carmel Christkindlmarkt in Carmel, Indiana, is an authentic holiday market, modeled after those traditionally held in Germany. Dozens of vendors sell handmade goods, food and drinks from charming wooden huts, and Glühwein (mulledwine) is sold from an iconic Glühwein Pyramid–the first of its kind in the United States.
Photo: Roben Bellomo/Bellomo Studios
The Art of Wine
Daniel’s Vineyard has always understood that wine is not simply for sipping—it’s about those moments you share with loved ones. Whether clinking glasses over a holiday meal, reminiscing with friends around the fire or toasting to a year well lived, a bottle of wine can turn any occasion into something truly special. And if there’s any time to revel in the magic of good company and great wine, it’s the holiday season
Text: Jessica Pontius
Magical Makeover
An honest confession from a discouraged homeowner led to an extraordinary transformation. Interior designer Julie Boutilier-Berghon, owner of Cornerstone Interiors, shares the challenges, solutions and successes of a renovation that sparked her imaginationand enriched the lives of this family of seven. It all started with, “I don’t like the way my home is designed and it makes me unhappy.”
Those words from Julie’s client spoke volumes, so the designer began a journey to bring new life to the home, creating an environment where the family would enjoy harmony and happiness. “People are affected by their surroundings,” said Boutilier-Berghon. “After nine years in the home, it was dated, the family was growing and their needs were changing.” The mission was to create a home that could support the organized chaos of raising five children by integrating hardy finishes, incorporating a sense of playfulness, applying accent colors throughout in reds, purples and greens, and updating the entire home from the outside in.
Text: Stephanie Carlson
Photo: Kristianna Iliff / The Home Aesthetic
Amsterdam in Two Days
Disembarking from a cruise along the Rhine River and its more than 40 castles, fortresses and ruins, my family had two days at our disposal before returning home for the start of the school year. With scarcely enough time to explore the cultural gold mine that is Amsterdam, we decided to make a go of it anyway and settled into Avani Museum Quarter Amsterdam Hotel, a hidden gem tucked away in one of the most coveted neighborhoods of the Venice of the North. I can think of no more perfectly situated base for our explorations; with its elegant design, history, and proximity to so many of the city’s cultural institutions, it offers an exquisite blend of luxury, comfort, and convenience.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Society Calendar: Presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Happenings of note in November & December
Sophisticated Society, presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Transitions are hard, there’s no doubt about it. I’ve written about how tough it was last year to send our first-born to college. After months of preparation, giving myself pep talks about how I knew I could do it when it came time to leave our daughter ather dorm in a city three hours away, I was (predictably) reduced to a puddle of tears. One of my co-workers, whose kids are a few years ahead of mine, assured me that the first goodbye is wrenching, but after that, she promised, we’d get used to our daughter being gone and it would soon feel normal. I couldn’t imagine it at the time.
My wife, on the other hand, handled it all very well, noting that we are fortunate our daughter is just a car ride away, and that we’d have plenty of opportunities to see herwith family weekend, fall break, Thanksgiving and winter break coming up. All absolutely true, but it didn’t really comfort me as I drove away that first day, dreading the quiet house we’d inevitably come home to (though, thankfully, we still have our high-school-age son here)
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
From the Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
Get to know us.
At Sophisticated Living, we are dedicated to and passionate about all the finer things life has to offer. Whether your interests are close to home or in far-flung places. each issue shares highlights of the good life in Indianapolis and beyond.
Jeffrey Cohen, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
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For more information contact Jeffrey Cohen at 317.565.4555 | jeff@slmag.net.
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