Mike Epps is putting Indy in the spotlight 🏘️

Indy native Mike Epps is getting his own HGTV show

Mike Epps’ house went from a literal firehouse red to this moody dark color. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Hoosiers are taking over HGTV — one show at a time.

You’ve definitely heard of “Good Bones,” which is into its seventh season on the home + garden network. You might have heard of its new offshoot “Good Bones: Risky Business,” but what about “Buying Back the Block?”

The show
Mike Epps is the second Indy native to get the green light for an HGTV show. It’s called “Buying Back the Block,” and it will chronicle Mike and his wife, Kyra as they renovate homes in the Fall Creek neighborhood.

Mike started his renovation journey with an old firehouse in Fall Creek, which is now his family home. He + his wife will continue transforming the neighborhood house-by-house, “restoring a sense of community with more property renovations.” Modern amenities will be added but the duo intends on keeping the original charm.

The first three episodes of the series will air in summer 2023.

The Hoosier
This won’t be Mike’s first on-camera appearance. He’s also starred in movies like “Resident Evil,” “The Hangover,” “All About the Benjamins” + TV series “The Upshaws.”

Plus, we can’t leave out his mark on the comedy scene. Not only is he constantly on tour performing standup, he’s recorded three Netflix comedy specials. You might remember his recent appearance at the Madam Walker Center, where he recorded his latest comedy special for Netflix. Little did we know this was just the beginning of his filming journey in Indy.

His wife is also a notable figure in the media arena. Kyra is a TV producer + has worked as part of the Oprah Winfrey Network. Fun facts: Kyra and Mike named their first daughter Indiana Rose and Mike graduated from Arsenal Tech High School.

Share this story with the Mike Epps fans in your life + anyone who loves a good HGTV binge.

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Today

IndyVolved | Thurs., Sept. 29 | 4:30-8 p.m. | Victory Field | Free | Network with 100+ organizations and start getting involved in your community. 🤝

Friday

Patty Griffin & The Chicks | Fri., Sept. 30 | 7:30 p.m. | Ruoff Music Center | $39+ | Hear “Cowboy Take Me Away” + “Goodbye Earl” performed live. 🎶

Saturday

Alpaca Yoga | Sat., Oct. 1 | 10 a.m. | Montrose Farms Alpaca Ranch, Brownsburg | $25+ | Move through your vinyasa flow alongside gentle alpacas. 🦙
Contemporary Mexican Film Festival | Sat., Oct. 1-Tues., Oct. 11 | 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. | Central Public Library | Free | The Mexican Consulate is partnering with the library to showcase stories from Mexico inside Clowes Auditorium.
Baila | Sat., Oct. 1 | 10 p.m. | The Vogue Theatre | $15+ | Cut a rug at “Indy’s No. 1 Latin dance party.” 💃

Plan Ahead

Pinners Conference & Expo | Fri., Oct. 7-Sat., Oct. 8 | Friday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. | Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E 38th St. | $10+ | Experience the world of Pinterest come to life with 100+ hands-on classes and 200 vendor shopping booths — use code IndyToday for $5 off any ticket.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*

100+ MORE EVENTS

Add to cal: 5 family-friendly shows at Butler Arts and Event Center

Percy Jackson in action. | Photo provided by Butler Arts and Events Center

Looking for a new kid-friendly activity? Live theatre is a great way to shake things up — and Butler Arts and Events Center has four productions coming to Clowes Memorial Hall that the whole family can enjoy, kicking off with The Lightning Thief (Thurs., Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.), which tells the story of Percy Jackson.

Can’t-miss 2023 shows include Frindle (Jan. 24), The Magic School Bus (Feb. 10), The Pout-Pout Fish (April 4) and Junie B.'s Essential Survival Guide to School (April 6). 🎭 *

GET TICKETS FOR THE FAM

Weather

68º | Sunny | 8% chance of rain

Coming Soon

Alley Cat Lounge in Broad Ripple is expanding next month. The dive bar plans to take over the space left by the Egyptian Cafe and Hookah Bar, which moved down the block in February. Owner Lori Davis says the development will transform the schedule and perhaps the identity of the business. Get the details. (IBJ)
Upland Brewing Company is opening yet another location in Indy. Its new tap house will be located at 4939 E. 82nd St. — the ninth Upland in the state. It’s still under construction + will serve seasonal food and rotating beer. It’ll have a covered patio overlooking green space. 🍻 (IndyStar)
Gallery Pastry Ships — a product line venture that makes Gallery’s pastries available nationwide — is coming back in 2023. The well-known local pastry shop hasn’t revealed much about the revamped line, but if we do know there will be more options. Bon appetit.

Closed

Good news + bads news. Wyliepalooza’s second location in SoBro closed its doors this week (don’t worry, Irvington’s location is still thriving). However, another ice cream spot will be taking its place. Sometime in November, Lick will be taking over, serving even more of its nontraditional flavors.🍦

Arts

Garfield Park is swimming in sculptures, which seemed to have appeared overnight. Artist Dominic Benhura + his colleague Passmore Mupindiko from Zimbabwe installed their “Confluence” series last week + the nearly 100 art pieces will stay up until Sat., Oct. 22. Most are in the Sunken Garden, but you might just find a few in the Conservatory. 🎨 (Indianapolis Monthly)

Number

$950,000. That’s how much the state has awarded to four nonprofits for rental assistance. As part of the Indiana Housing First Program, the organizations will administer the funding to individuals + households with serious mental illness or chronic chemical addictions facing a housing crisis. Learn more. 🏘️ (Inside Indiana Business)

Biz

Local design firm Axis Architecture + Interiors has changed its name, as well as its scope. Now StudioAxis, the firm has established offices in India and Thailand, where it expects to employ more than 20 people each. It also plans to pursue other markets like Columbus, OH and St. Louis, MO. (IBJ)

DYK

Indy Chef Steve Oakley went head-to-head with Bobby Flay on the Food Network + won. Not only that, but he’s a James Beard semi-finalist. You can taste his award-winning cooking for yourself at Oakley’s Bistro (1464 W. 86th St.), which is being renovated on the weekends.🍴(IndyStar)

Sports

We want to make sure that you’re catching all the sports coverage you need to join the conversation. As the fall season gets going, tell us what kind of sports content you want to see in INDYtoday. By completing the survey, you’ll be entered in a drawing for a chance to win team-branded swag up to $100 in value.

Community

Exclusive birthday deals, shoutouts on our member wall, insider information from our team, discounts from our online shop — that’s just a few of the perks you get when you join the INDYtoday Membership Program. Learn more + sign up for this new way to support local journalism. 💻

Travel

The perfect fall getaway does exist, and it looks like this modern mountain cabin in Virginia wine country. This chalet-style rental offers three bedrooms and one bath, and did we mention there’s a huge deck?*

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A new life for Twin Aire?

Indy is looking for ideas for Twin Aire

An old aerial shot of the Twin Aire site

The space is quite expansive. | Photo via Indy DMD

With 40+ acres to work with, the world is Twin Aire’s oyster.

City officials recently did a call-out for ideas on how to redevelop the Twin Aire Shopping Plaza + Twin Aire Drive-In properties, which are looking a little bare compared to the new Commuity Justice Campus, which finally opened in May.

If you haven’t heard of the 28.7-acre drive-in on the south east side, that’s because it ceased operation in 1996. As far as the shopping center goes, it’s currently anchored by Kroger and most of the other shops’ leases are set to expire in 2024.

The direction for the parcels is likely to go in the mixed-use development direction, according to DMD Director Scarlett Andrews. That would include community-based retail, green space + a grocery store.

Though city officials have limited this question to potential developers, we’re curious: how would you transform this site? Tell us those brilliant ideas.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anna.

Editor’s pick: Speaking of the Community Justice Campus, I was recently called for jury duty (dun dun dun) + the process was surprisingly painless. That’s in large part due to the new space, which was easy to navigate with views that were, as one of the bailiffs said, “breathtaking.” Pro tip: If you ever find yourself in the new building, check out the handmade table in the common area. It was constructed by craftsmen of Purposeful Design and shaped like the state of Indiana.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Date ideas under $30.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Anna Bowman, Nicole Hernandez, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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