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- Pacers Have Indianapolis Ready to Party Like It's 2000 🏀
Pacers Have Indianapolis Ready to Party Like It's 2000 🏀
Plus - Hidden gems in Broad Ripple recommended by Tony Kanaan! 🏁
Get IN, Austin Sellers & Nate Spangle
June 05, 2025
Thursday, June 5th
Local Candle Magic You Can't Get at Big Box Stores!
Forget those forgettable Target candles! The folks at Warm Glow in Centerville, Indiana craft candles that make your home smell UNREAL.
These aren't quick-burners - they last for ages! Their Blueberry Cobbler scent will transport you straight to Grandma's kitchen on baking day.
You've probably spotted their MASSIVE candle landmark driving on I-70, but they'll ship their aromatic treasures right to your door!
Support amazing Hoosier craftsmanship at warmglow.com.
📜 This Week in Indiana History 📜
National Air Balloon Race is Held at IMS (1909)
Anyone else still in race mode like me? Well, even though it is sadly no longer the month of May, we still want to celebrate the first ever race held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway… and I’m not talking about race cars. How about hot air balloons!? Yes, the first ever race held at the speedway occurred two years before the first ever Indy 500, and it involved hot air balloons.
This race seems odd, because it is. At the time, this was a must-see event and the hottest ticket in town, especially at the speedway which was about two months away from completion.
For those who don’t know (I would imagine that would be the most people), here is how hot air balloons were raced back in 1909. The crews would show up a day early to set up. Once the race began, there were two people per hot air balloon… the driver and an aide. They would release the balloons at different intervals so they wouldn’t collide with one another. It didn’t matter who finished first, as the winner was the individual who traveled the longest distance.
The winner of this race, John Berry, flew 382 miles over 26 hours, landing about 6 miles south of Ft. Payne, Alabama. It is incredible how far the track has come. Today known as a Cathedral of Speed, it is amazing that the first event was something as slow and relaxing as a hot air balloon race. 🎈
⚡ Hoosier Headlines ⚡
👊 Series clinched. The Indiana Pacers secured a 125-108 win over the New York Knicks in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday night at Gainbridge Fieldhouse to clinch the best-of-seven series 4 games to 2. Pascal Siakam was named series MVP.
The Pacers will need a repeat performance by Siakam, Tyrese Haliburton and Co. in the NBA Finals to take down the Oklahoma City Thunder. OKC owned the best regular-season record in the NBA at 68-14 and took out No. 8 seed Memphis (4-0), No. 4 Denver (4-3) and No. 6 Minnesota (4-1) in the Western Conference.
Indiana is in the NBA Finals for just the second time in franchise history, with the lone previous trip coming in 2000 when the ‘Cers lost in six games to the Kobe and Shaq-led Lakers. A quarter-century later, and Indiana is back. Game 1 is tonight at 8:30 ET on ABC. YES’CERS! 🏀
USA Swimming and the Indiana Sports Corp announced Tuesday that the 2028 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials will be hosted in Indianapolis. The ‘28 edition will be the eighth time Indy has hosted the trials since first doing so in 1924. Last summer’s trials at Lucas Oil Stadium welcomed a record 285,000 fans across nine days and provided a $100 million boost to the local economy. 🏊
The Indy Parks Meals Program began in 2013 with a mission of feeding thousands of young Hoosiers while school is out for the summer. Since its inception, the program has provided more than 3 million meals to children 18 and under.
During summer weekdays through July 25, free meals will be available to children 18 and under at these locations. No registration is required, just Hoosiers helping Hoosiers.
Kudos to Indy Parks for not only providing dozens of recreational opportunities for families across the city but taking its efforts a step further in what has become an annual tradition. 👏
From Evansville to South Bend, Keller & Keller has been protecting Hoosiers since 1936. They know Indiana, they know the law, and they know how to win. If you’ve been injured, don’t wait—call 1-800-2-KELLER for a free consultation. They mean business!
💎 Hidden Gems 💎
Good vibes, great service, outstanding food. We caught up with 2024 IndyCar Series champion Tony Kanaan, who along with hundreds of Hoosiers, recommends Fernando’s in Broad Ripple as a hidden gem. Fernando’s takes you through the rich culinary traditions of the Mexican and Brazilian cultures and includes favorites like carne asada, picanha, chicken stroganoff, ceviche and more on its diverse menu. It has 4.8 stars among 430 Google reviews, too. 👏
Another Broad Ripple gem that is a favorite of Kanaan is La Pieded, a family-owned Mexican restaurant that serves up delicious food in an inviting, cozy atmosphere. Grab a seat on the patio if you can and sip on a cerveza or margarita. 🍹
What’s your Hidden Gem? Reply to this email to get it featured!
👏 1 Big wIN 👏
As the saying goes, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Earlier this week, Oklahoma City mayor David Holt wrote an opinion editorial to the Indy Star and had nothing but nice things to say about the Circle City.
He praised Indy’s downtown amenities and sports scene that have undoubtedly boosted the local economy. He even said Oklahoma City wouldn’t be where it is today without Indianapolis.
Why is this relevant? Well, in case you’ve been off the grid or under a rock for the last week, the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder meet in the NBA Finals starting tonight in OKC. This is no way to start a rivalry, in fact, it’s the exact opposite… it’s a “we just hope both teams have fun” mentality. Regardless, thank you for praising our state capital, Mr. Holt. But it’s always been the ‘Cers.
🎙 In today's episode I sit down with Sherm, a talented DJ from Indiana, who shares his incredible journey from humble beginnings in Bloomington to headlining shows across the nation.
We dive into the pivotal moments that shaped his career, the rise of EDM in Indiana, and how his Midwest upbringing influenced his music. From discussing his first big break to his community-building efforts and plans for the future, this episode is a must-listen for music lovers and aspiring DJs alike.
You are going to learn about:
- What it means to make EDM
- The pipeline from local to national DJ/producer
- The EDM scene in Indiana