🔥 If you can’t take the heat, get out of the chicken
Editor Shea here, and I’ve got news for you: Hot girl summer is so 2019. Maybe it’s because I’m 39 weeks pregnant and trying to induce labor, or maybe it’s because my taste buds like a little bit of pain — but I’m branding the summer of 2025 as hot chicken summer.
Whether you like a dash of spice or the whole cabinet, here are some of my favorite places around town to get my hot chicken fix.
World Famous Hotboys | This is where my hot chicken journey began. My ride or die is the crispy, saucy guap fries, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu — just don’t overestimate your spice tolerance.
Flamin’ Chicken and Breakfast | This newly-reopened spot serves up spice in just about every configuration you can think of. My fave is the Flamin’ Style Fry Bowl, which combines tenders, fries, and mac ‘n cheese.
Shani’s Secret Chicken | This hidden gem spot makes some literal fire chicken, infused with traditional Pakistani + Indian spices. It was even voted Indiana’s best fried chicken by Yelp Elites.
Glizzy Gallop | 6-8 p.m. | Athletic Annex Carmell | Free | Celebrate National Hot Dog Day by meating up for a run or walk, followed by a hot dog social.
Tom Arnold | 7 p.m. | Helium Comedy Club | $13+ | Get your daily dose of laughter with the veteran actor and comedian.
Thursday, July 17
Early Detection Saves Lives | Thursday, July 17-Saturday, July 19 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. | Lilly Corporate Center, South Street Square Park | Free, RSVP | Get a free 10-minute mammogram screening, whether or not you have health insurance.
Mid-Year Reset | 6-8:30 p.m. | COhatch Polk Stables | $29 | Reset + reconnect with your goals for 2025 with workshops, mini somatic therapy sessions, posture screenings, vision boards, and more.
Friday, July 18
Meet Your Neighbor: Refugee 101 | 2-3:30 p.m. | IPL Michigan Road Branch | Free | Learn more about refugees living in Indy, Exodus’ history and programs, and volunteer opportunities.
Food Truck Nights | 5 p.m. | 930 N. Rangeline Rd., Carmel | Cost of purchase | BYOB and seating to grub on tasty fare from your favorite food trucks.
Tour stops in Indianapolis are coming up quickly. Place a pre-order now to make sure you get in on one of the best crops in a decade before the final stop in our area on Friday, Aug. 2.
Thanks to some slow-moving weather fronts, Indy is expecting increased rain + storm chances throughout this week. At least you won’t have to water your garden.(WTHR)
Edu
IPS received a $5.5 million grant from the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation to help increase STEM readiness among students. Check out the three programs that will receive funding. (WTHR)
Development
Renderings have been released for a $6 million boutique hotel planned at 1015 Virginia Ave., adjacent to the Cultural Trail in Fountain Fletcher. The 26-room, two-floor hotel will go before the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission for approval. (IBJ)
Announced
What do Britney Spears, Marvin Gaye, Green Day, and the B-52s have in common? They’re all musical legends set to be celebrated at this year’s Tonic Ball, taking place on Friday, Nov. 21. Tickets go on sale today. (IBJ)
Try This
Want to win a basketball signed by Caitlin Clark? Check out Visit Indy’s Hoops Pass. Starting tomorrow through Sunday, July 20, you can scan QR codes at 25+ basketball-themed locations across the city to cash in on cool prizes.
Ranked
Hoosiers, rise up. Indianapolis placed No. 14 on LinkedIn’s list of Cities on the Rise, thanks to downtown revitalization, record tourism, and investments from pharmaceutical manufacturers + logistics companies.
Sports
Legends only.Locked On asks, “who would you place alongside Peyton Manning on the Colts’ Mount Rushmore?”
Try This
Turn up the heat with the Indy Arts Council and the WNBA All-Star 2025 Host Committee. “Indy’s Home Court” comes alive Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19, with free, family-friendly activations — from an art market to pop-up shows and public tours — celebrating women + girls in sports and the arts.*
Community
Your next big event could use some attention. Get a crowd in the room by letting us help you spread the word. Our self-service ad portal can put you event in front of our highly engaged local audience in a matter of two days. Get started now.
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Post of the Day
Have you spotted Reggie recently? Peace Water Winery’s cheery VW bus has been spreading sunshine around town this week. If you see him, snap a pic for a chance to win a gift card.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
If the prospects of winning a Caitlin Clark-signed basketball didn’t interest you, this might. Hoosier champion Nate Spangle is giving away two tickets to the Elephant Spa in Wilstem Wildlife Park, where you can help bathe 61-year-old elephant Vicky. Enter here.
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