Trace your family tree in the Circle City 🌳

Trace your family tree in Indianapolis, IN

You can find this wall of drawers in the Genealogy room at the Indiana State Museum. | Photo by INDYtoday team

Have you ever wondered how deep your Hoosier roots are?

Starting the process might seem overwhelming, but Indy has a number of local resources to get you started on your family tree. And the best part? They’re free.

Pro tip: start with what you know. Put together a list of your parents’, grandparents’, and great-grandparents’ names, along with any other biographical info.

Indiana State Library

Not to brag, but the Indiana State Library has one of the largest collections of family history info in the Midwest.

Once you’ve done the preliminary work, you’re ready to hit the Genealogy Division at the Indiana State Library. There, you can sift through census records dating back to 1790 and see if it has a book about your family in its stacks. You can also look for your family books online by searching for your surname, followed by the word “family.”

Plus, the library offers one-on-one family history and DNA testing consultations once a month.

Indiana Historical Society

When you’ve checked all the resources at the library, you can walk across the street to the Indiana Historical Society, where you’ll be able to find indexes and research guides related to your family history.

It has three main departments you can turn to in your genealogy journey: Family Records, Genealogy Across Indiana, and Regional Sources.

Indianapolis Public Library

The city library has several genealogy resources, including a library edition of Ancestry.com, which offers almost everything a paid account does, just without a few personalization tools.

For those with African ancestry, you can learn about specific challenges and databases by watching a video on African American Genealogy led by leader of Center for Black Literature & Culture Nichelle Hayes.

IPL’s Beech Grove branch is hosting a Lineage Research Workshop on Monday, Feb. 20 from 3-7:45 p.m. Sign up.

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Feb. 10

Senior Film Club | Friday, Feb. 10 | 4-6 p.m. | Indianapolis Public Library - West Indianapolis branch, 1216 S. Kappes St., Indianapolis | Free | Senior patrons are invited for a screening of “Northanger Abbey,” followed by a friendly discussion.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Puppy Bowl Watch Party and Little Mighty Meet Up | Sunday, Feb. 12 | 2-5 p.m. | Metazoa Brewing Company, 140 S. College Ave., Indianapolis | Free | Join IndyHumane to watch the Puppy Bowl and get a pawtograph from one of the stars, Little Mighty.

Monday, Feb. 13

Fort Wayne Mad Ants vs. South Bay Lakers | Monday, Feb. 13 | 12:30 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | $15 | Catch a Mad Ants game in Indy before they wrap their home schedule in March.
Trivia Night | Monday, Feb. 13, Monday, Feb. 20, Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 7 p.m. | The Garage Food Hall, 906 Carrollton Ave., Indianapolis | Free | Grab a group of five and participate in this weekly trivia hosted by The Quizzler.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Songs for Lovers | Tuesday, Feb. 14 | Times vary | The Jazz Kitchen, 5377 N. College Ave., Indianapolis | $20-$23 | Listen to the sounds of Rebecca Rafla during this Valentine’s Day celebration.

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

100+ MORE EVENTS

7 common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor

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Choosing the right financial advisor is one of the most impactful decisions families make. | Photo by SmartAsset

Life should be a balance of adventure and relaxation — not finances. Enter: Working with a financial advisor. But choosing the wrong one could potentially wreak havoc on your retirement and investments.

Avoid these seven common mistakes when hiring a financial advisor so you can get back to the balance that matters most.

Pro tip: For simplicity, try this free tool to get matched with up to three vetted financial advisors serving your area.*

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Weather

40º | Cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Number

30 million. That’s how many visitors are expected in 2023, according to Visit Indy’s president and Mayor Hogsett during the “State of Tourism.” Over the next several years, Indy will be hosting the Olympic trials, the NFL Combine, Big 10 Football Championship, and other high-profile events. Plus, hotel bookings are nearing pre-pandemic numbers. Learn more. 🏙️ (IndyStar)

Opening

Bargersville is getting a 50s diner. The Knuckle Sandwich is set to open on Monday, Feb. 13 — complete with a jukebox, car booths, checkered ceilings, and lots of memorabilia. The restaurant might sound familiar because this is its second location. The original was demolished as part of I-69 construction. 🍴(WRTV)

Learn

“Household Heroes” is a new program in Fishers and its goal is to help Hoosiers become more handy. It’s open to anyone 14+ years old and classes like toilet repair, power tool basics, and drywall repair are hosted once a month. Register for a class. 🛠️ (WISH)

DYK

Did you know the Pacers have a pre-game ritual that involves moshing? Before games, the team huddles and picks one player to “lovingly” pound on for 5-10 seconds as a form of affection. The origins of the ritual are uncertain, but it could have started when Myles Turner returned from being out with an injury. 🏀 (IndyStar)

Feel Good

Perry Township second grade teacher Brittany Tinkler just won a $25,000 award — one of just 40 educators across the country to receive the honor. The Milken Educator Award is given to teachers early in their careers for the promise of what they will accomplish. Congrats, Brittany. 👏 (WRTV)

Sports

Feeling lucky ahead of Sunday’s big game? Sign up for DraftKings Sportsbook and earn $200 in bonus bets instantly when you bet at least $5. Psst — you can also place bets on college basketball, NHL games, and even the upcoming Daytona 500. 🏈*

Seasonal

Here’s your reminder that Valentine’s Day is next Tuesday. Don’t forget to order that special someone a bouquet of flowers that will leave a lasting impression. Psst — check out Floom, an online marketplace that partners with florists that deliver locally. Shop Floom’s selection of special edition Valentine’s Day arrangements. 💐 *

Stat

59% of our readers recently told us they plan on traveling to Europe in 2023. Babbel’s user-friendly app gets readers speaking one of 14 different languages in as little as three weeks. Want to try it out? Snag 55% off your subscription today. 🌏 *

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Grab a king cake while you can

Find your king cake in Indianapolis, IN

Preorder from Amelia’s while you can. | Photo via @ffdaindy

Laissez les bons temps rouler. Mardi Gras is right around the corner and you’re probably wondering where you can get a king cake in the Circle City. Here’s a quick roundup:

Taylor’s Bakery
The north side bakery is offering the classic king cake, as well as assorted paczkis.

Cretia Cakes
Get your king cake order in to this west side baker with Southern roots.

Bake Sale Indy
You can pre-order a regular-sized or mini king cake and catch the microbakery at the Sobro and Broad Ripple farmers markets.

Amelia’s Bread
Get a king cake, a Hurricane cocktail kit, or a family meal kit that feeds up to eight people.

Circle City Sweets
The French style bakery is know for its king cakes and beignets this time of year.

Plus, the Fountain Fletcher District is having a Celebration Week Tuesday, Feb. 14-Tuesday, Feb. 21, with special offerings from participating merchants like jambalaya at Chilly Water Brewing, a special drink menu at Hotel Tango, and a special Cajun menu on Fat Tuesday at Bluebeard.

Know of some more Mardi Gras activities? Give us the scoop.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anna.

Editor’s pick: The results are in. On Wednesday, we asked you whether hot dogs and burgers are sandwiches, and you were very decided on your opinions. According to you, hot dogs are most definitely not sandwiches and burgers quite certainly are. 🥪

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Get the deets on the Gold Building’s redevelopment.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Anna Bowman, Nicole Hernandez, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Nicole Fancher | Advertise with us.

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