BEST OF CARMEL

It’s been a good year for the queen ’burb. Money magazine ranked it the country’s No. 1 place to live, plus these great finds cropped up and sweetened the deal.

>> The Monon Community Center’s outdoor surfing ride, FlowRider, churns 30,000 gallons of water per minute at a gnarly 25 miles per hour. Take a lesson, or do what the teenagers do and study tricks on YouTube. 1195 Central Park Dr. W., Carmel, 848-7275, carmelclayparks.com.

>> Pet shop Canine Cloud Nine may look a little sparse, but dogs want nothing more than the help-yourself homemade Fido treats anyway. Organic, all-natural peanut butter–molasses bones, sweet-potato biscotti, and Indiana chicken jerky had a finicky Yorkie begging for more. 110 W. Main St., Ste. 120, Carmel, 999-5444, caninecloudnine.com.

>> Just released, Walter Knabe totes feature some of the famed artist’s designs printed on linen-lined, leather-trimmed canvas bags. They go for $150 at Knabe’s studio in the Indiana Design Center. 200 S. Range Line Rd., Ste. 217, Carmel, 574-9800.

>> The Palladium’s Great American Songbook Movie Series, a collaboration with Heartland Truly Moving Pictures, screens high-definition oldies scored with standards from Michael Feinstein’s Great American Songbook. Tickets are $7.50. 355 City Center Dr., Carmel, 843-3800, thecenterpresents.org.

>>  No time to scour Vogue and W every month? 14 Districts owner Rebecca Hanson saves you the effort. Most styles—a recently spotted Milly pleated charcoal sheath, a Tibi oxblood dress, sparkly Ecru blouses—are boardroom-worthy, with a little moxie to boot. Don’t overlook the pretty power necklaces. 110 W. Main St., Carmel, 818-4585, shop14districts.com.

Photo by Tony Valainis

This article appeared in the December 2012 issue.