Street Savvy: Zionsville
Inhale
Bitter lemon. Green tangerine. Tobacco scent. Create a one-of-a-kind fragrance at The Village Parfumerie (but soon—the owners are flirting with retirement). Pre-made potions also line shelves, including cologne said to be favored by Leonardo DiCaprio. 112 N. Main St., 317-873-9707, thevillageparfumerie.com
Shop
Recently re-homed from Carmel, Mary and Martha’s Exceedingly Chic Boutique offers contemporary styles for women made from super-soft fabrics. Accessory addicts rejoice: Statement necklaces and signature wrap bracelets from designer Chan Luu abound, as do wares by Danish jewelry line Pandora. 110 N. Main St., 317-848-2624, shopmaryandmarthas.com
Doll Up
Dip into designer Nikki Blaine’s new digs, filled with racks of her “glam chic” clothes. The stylist, who has designed dresses for the Grammys, prides herself on crafting affordable yet luxurious garments that can be mixed and matched with ease. Her boutique, Nikki Blaine Couture, also serves loyal clientele, who commission Blaine to make pieces such as gorgeous gala gowns and leg warmers from beloved mink coats. 99 N.
1st St., 877-464-5542, facebook.com/nikkiblainecouture
Honor
Visit Lincoln Park to stand at the train depot where Honest Abe once stopped as he rode the rails to Washington, D.C., for his inauguration. 41 S. 2nd St.
Sip
Owner Ron Hopwood believes in the two-second rule. “You’ve got to greet customers within two seconds,” he says. “That’s being a good host.” Regulars visit Hopwood Cellars Winery to schmooze with the owner as much as they do to taste his wines, which he makes and bottles on-site using grapes from Midwest vineyards. Hopwood holds tastings daily, with live music Friday and Saturday nights. 12 E. Cedar St., 317-873-4099, hopwoodcellars.com
The perception is that it’s a snobby town, but it’s not. Once, neighbors saw me struggling with a shipment of big crates and ran to help. It’s that kind of place. –Drew Kogan, shopkeeper
DIY
Maybe Grandma’s nightstand would fit into your decor if it didn’t conjure the Paleolithic era. ReStyled’s “Refunk Your Junk” workshop ($99) offers hands-on instruction to achieve a modern-meets-antique look using Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint. The newest of three area locations, the Zionsville ReStyled is chock-full of painted antiques with French flair. 98 S. Main St., 973-5722, restyledfurniture.com
Black Dog Books
Peruse
Pet 2-year-old Labrador Sophie, the “shopkeeper” at Black Dog Books, which specializes in used and rare works. How rare? Try a first-edition Great Gatsby, which sold for $4,000—likely $350,000 if it had had a dust jacket, says owner Tania Roudebush. Try to find the book containing a secret painting visible only by splaying the pages. 115 S. Main St., 733-1747, blackdogbooksin.com
Eat
Try a pink taco at The Salty Cowboy—battered cod, cilantro crema, pickled onions, pineapple salsa, and smoked jalapeño, all rolled up in a rosy-tinted corn tortilla. The popular Tex-Mex spot keeps the night rolling with tequila flights, plus margaritas and a s’mores dessert served in Mason jars. 55 E. Oak St., 317-344-0926, saltycowboytequileria.com
The Salty Cowboy
Reacquaint
Update your closet at Siro’s Chic Boutique, where longtime Jacobson’s and Nordstrom personal shopper Siro Derrer-Brooks still doles out special attention to women and their wardrobes. The racks hold pieces up to size 22, including a princess-cut coat from Belgian luxury brand SCAPA. Ask the Finnish fashionista about the cowboy hat on display; she’ll reminisce about her days showing Belgian draft horses. 285 S. Main St., 344-0316, siroschicboutique.com
Chill
The Scoop serves up 28 flavors of decadent ice cream, some made in Valparaiso. Even in winter it’s hard to resist Blue Moon, a Midwestern favorite known for its robin’s-egg hue. 305 S. Main St., 317-344-0944, thescoopmainstreet.com
Indulge
There’s nothing like a glass of cold-brew, nitro-charged coffee on tap that pours like a Guinness and goes down like one, too. Bites Coffee & Dessert Bar, run by The Confectioneiress bakery, hits the sweet spot with mini treats (sprinkle-dipped cake pops, honey–lavender macarons) and creative coffee drinks (bourbon-soaked beans are an option). Try the Espresso Old Fashioned: two shots of espresso poured over an ice sphere and then hit with simple syrup, Aztec chocolate, and an orange twist. 640 S. Main St., 317-873-1001, bitesdessertbar.com
