Lifestyle

Library Card Catalog DIY

by Kelly7 Comments on Library Card Catalog DIY

Owning a library card catalog has been one of those dreams I’ve had ever since I can remember. The library system I work for sold their four remaining units several years ago to staff, but names got picked out of a hat and sadly, mine wasn’t one of those.

If you’ve never gone hunting for one, you’d probably be surprised to find out that they go for hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars depending on size. I didn’t think I’d find one or even be able to afford one if I did. But I got lucky.

Back in May, another member of the Indy Blog Society posted a link her her blog, Two Twenty One, and I was causally scrolling through posts when one about a card catalog stopped me dead in my tracks. I commented on her post in the group and said how jealous I was that she found one on Craigslist for only $85.

Shortly after that, she messaged me and gave me some fabulous news – a friend of hers had one that was just sitting in her garage and she thought she might want to sell it.

OMG.

My librarian heart was exploding.

The friend uncovered it in her garage and sent pictures. Then, silence. I kept asking, but couldn’t really get a response about price or if I could come get it. Months went by and finally, at the beginning of Sept. as we were about to close on our new house, I sent one last message and FINALLY got confirmation that she’d sell it to me for $100. I immediately went up to her house and somehow got it in my car and up the apartment stairs (these things are heavy, people).

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It didn’t have a top or a side and wasn’t on a stand. So it needed some work, but I knew I could handle it. My brother-in-law brought up the sander and we got the frame done in about an hour, then went to Home Depot to get some boards cut.

Let me tell you, that was the worst part of this whole experience. No one would wait on us. We literally stood around for 30 minutes waiting on an employee to finish a personal conversation with some people in the store before going to find someone else that could possibly cut some boards for us. When we finally did, they were rude and for some reason thought I was trying to build the thing from scratch even though I clearly told them what I needed. The boards finally got cut and guess what? The top wasn’t right. So Andrew took it back home with him to get a friend from work fix it so we could put the top on it. And guess what? It STILL didn’t fit. So back to Home Depot we went (because Menards didn’t cut wood) and this time found a piece that was the exact size we needed.

In the meantime, I sanded all the drawers, which took a lot longer than one would expect. There were eighteen in all and the drawer nobs also had to be taken out. I worked on it when I could and did most of it in the garage on a warmer winter day.

Then came the staining. I opted for a darker walnut color and put three coats on the entire piece. It really brought out the wood grain and looks absolutely stunning!

Once everything was stained, I sealed with a semi-gloss poly coating to protect the wood, then put the hardware back on. Here where I ran into another problem – there weren’t enough screws for the hardware! Thankfully, the hardware store had some that were pretty close to what came with the unit. I’m not sure where the remaining screws went since the drawer pulls weren’t on it at the time I acquired it so I’m wondering if they just got lost somewhere.

Doesn’t this just look stunning?

Then the only thing left to do was put on the legs. I bought black hairpin legs off Amazon that I thought would look nice – they were around $50 for a set of four 28” legs. Since I’m using the card catalog as an accent table, I wanted some that were a little taller and these were just the right height.

We started to drill the screws in without pre-drilling the holes and that was a no go. After pre-drilling all of them, it was really easy to just use a screw driver and attach the legs that way. If you try this yourself, I recommend pre-drilling to make it so much easier.

Once the legs were on, I just had to stain that final top piece and coat it with poly and the project was finished! It looks beautiful in the space and I’m so happy with how it turned out. It’s just the way I envisioned it.

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Food

Yanni’s Golden Gyros

by Kelly4 Comments on Yanni’s Golden Gyros

Sometimes the best restaurants are the hole in the wall places you’d never think to stop at. Yanni’s Golden Gyros on Indianapolis’ west side is getting lots of buzz lately because they were ranked as one of the best restaurants in the country by Yelp users.

I’m not one to pass up Greek food, so we headed over there one Friday night to see what all the fuss was about. And after having one of their gyros, I can confirm they’re the best thing I’ve had since the one I tried in Greece a few years ago.

Yanni’s is located in an old fast food restaurant. It’s not fancy and there’s not much seating, but

They cook the meat on a large stack on the rotisserie and have both chicken and the lamb/beef combo. You can see into the kitchen while you’re waiting for your food and it’s always fun to watch the process! If gyros aren’t your thing, they also have tenderloins, Italian beef, hot dogs and fish on the menu. If you’re vegan, this probably isn’t the place for you because the only thing on the menu I saw that might work for plant based diets were the salads.

Portion sizes are very generous. We both got combos, but I honestly didn’t need the fries because the sandwich was filling enough by itself. The house made tzatziki was so, so good- I like to call it the ranch of Greek food! Give it to me on pizza, with fries or on pita bread – when it’s good, it’s addictive.

Price-wise, it’s also very affordable in relation to the amount of food you are getting. A combo also comes with a drink, so you get a huge sandwich, a side and a drink for around $8. Kind of hard to beat that even at some fast food places.

So next time you’re in the mood for a gyro or just want to try something new, get yourself on over to Yanni’s! They are located at 6658 W. Washington St. and not too far from the airport.

 

Lifestyle, Movies

Kelly Watches Top Gun

by Kelly5 Comments on Kelly Watches Top Gun

There are so many movies that I’ve never watched that everyone else has and when it comes up in conversation that I’ve never seen ______, I always astound people with my response. A few days ago, I decided to bring Top Gun home from the library because there’s a new installment coming out this summer that looks good and I figured I needed to see the original before watching any sort of sequel.

I posted about it on Instagram and got some responses that I should do a review and tell people what I thought, which led me to an idea: what if I watch some of those iconic movies I’ve never seen and then chat about my experience on my blog?

In all honesty, it would probably make a cool YouTube series, but I’m better with words than video, so here we are. I hope you’ll enjoy this little diversion from books, travel, food and lifestyle from time to time.

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So let’s get into it! What did I think about Top Gun?

Honestly? I was pleasantly surprised! For a film that was released in 1986, it holds up pretty well cinematically and it was probably a maverick (see what I did there?) of its time with the type of aerial shots and stunts they filmed for the movie.

If you know nothing about the plot like I did, here’s a quick synopsis for you: Tom Cruise (Maverick) stars in this action/drama about a group of Navy fighter pilots as they attend an elite school to hone in on their flying skills. Maverick, falls for his instructor Charlie (Kelly McGillis) along the way. Anthony Edwards (Goose) and Val Kilmer (Iceman) also star.

For most of the first half of the movie, I couldn’t figure out if I was watching a chick flick or an action film. We’ve got romance, forbidden love and hot sweaty men in towels in locker rooms, yet there’s all the action going on with the fighter pilots up in the air, so it kind of bends genres.

I’d also never seen Anthony Edwards with hair before. Hello, Dr. Greene from ER! Sorry that you seem to always die in everything you star in. RIP Goose.

And something else I noticed – everyone except Charlie is SO SWEATY. All the dang time. I get why the fighter pilots might be sweating it out up in the air, but why are you all sitting around sweating in the classroom? Haha.

Then there’s the soundtrack. 80s music at it’s finest folks! “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin even won an Academy Award for Best Original Song.

Here are some interesting facts about the movie, via Mental Floss.

1. IT’S BASED ON A REAL SCHOOL.

2. THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HELPED FINANCE THE FILM.

3. THE NAVY USED THE FILM AS A RECRUITING TOOL.

4. KELLY MCGILLIS’ CHARACTER IS BASED ON A REAL-LIFE NAVY EMPLOYEE.

5. THE FILM’S SOUNDTRACK SOLD NINE MILLION COPIES

So, the verdict? This was a fun movie that I enjoyed way more than I thought I would. If you haven’t seen it, add it to your “to-watch” list!

 

Books, Travel

Literary Themed Spots You NEED to Visit in Indianapolis

by Kelly5 Comments on Literary Themed Spots You NEED to Visit in Indianapolis

When you think about Indianapolis, you probably think about the Indianapolis 500 or the Colts. Maybe only cornfields come to mind. We are a “flyover” state after all.

However, if you’re a punk ass book jockey like me, then you’re probably seeking out bookish related things in each city you visit. Well, I’m here to tell you that Indianapolis has got it going on when it comes to literary spots you should check out.

Here are five spots you don’t want to miss next time you are in the Circle City.

Books and Brews

Books and Brews marries used books and craft beers in a unique setting. With several locations around Indianapolis, this cute little brewpub features a gently used bookstore in the front of their space and  10% of all proceeds goes to IndyReads (which I’ll highlight a little later).

The drinks are named after books and with names like “The Stout of Monte Cristo”, “Clifford” and “Charlie and the Chocolate Stout”, you’ll want to partake even if you aren’t a beer drinker.

Each location hosts trivia nights, has board games on tap for you to play with friends and serves lunch and dinner so you can grab a bite to eat to go with your bubbly. There are nine locations around Indy, one in Muncie, and one in Ohio, so no matter what side of town you live on, there’s bound to be one near you.

James Whitcomb Riley Museum Home
Located in the historic Lockerbie neighborhood, this gorgeous Victorian home and museum celebrates the life and accomplishments of Hoosier poet James Whitcomb Riley, who spent the last twenty-three years of his life living and writing in the home.

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The museum also hosts events, like Victorian teas and summer writing camps.

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Admission is dirt cheap – at $4/person, that’s practically a steal and the home/museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. If you’re feeling adventurous, be sure to check out Crown Hill Cemetery, where Riley is buried. You’ll also get a great view of the city skyline from his tomb at the top of the hill and you can also try to find President Benjamin Harrison and outlaw John Dillinger’s grave sites while you are there too.


Woody’s Library Restaurant
A restaurant in a former Carnegie library? Yes, please!

Woody’s Library Restaurant is located just north of Indianapolis in the swanky town of Carmel. The library moved out of the space in 1970, selling it to the Town of Carmel. They used it as office space and even a courthouse until 1998, when owners Richelle & Kevin “Woody” Rider purchased the property.

Since then, the former library has been serving up lunch and dinner in a relaxed atmosphere and while the menu offers fairly standard American fare (think burgers, tenderloins, and BBQ), there are several unique options for people wanting something a bit different. Those with dietary restrictions will be pleased that the menu designates vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options.

The owners kept the original library reference desk, which now serves as the bar counter and all the shelves and floors are original. You will be in love when you see the interior!

Indy Reads Books
In time when bookstores are dying, Indy Reads Books is thriving and for a good cause. Located off Mass Ave., the new/used bookstore is a funding source for Indy Reads, a non-profit whose mission is to make Indianapolis 100% literate.

They also offer diverse programming and feature local artists pieces on the walls. It’s a magical place, so be sure to stop in, support a great cause and check out their book mural on the side of their building while you are at it!

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The Public Collection
This is one of the coolest art installments in Indianapolis!

A few years ago, several artists were commissioned to create public art pieces that could house library books. Similar to the Little Free Library, these books can be borrowed and returned at any time. They are scattered all over the city, and more are popping up each year.

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The Indianapolis Public library donates all the books, the artists are based in Indiana and the purpose of the project is to “improve literacy, foster a deeper appreciation of the arts (and artists), and promote social and educational justice in our community.”

Cool, right? Check out their web site for more information and to find all the locations of the art pieces.

And in Carmel, their city has installed a Little Free Library in a telephone booth!! Make sure you check out the book benches next to it which feature Indiana authors. (You can find the phone booth off the Monon Trail in Carmel next to the Booth Tarkington Civic Center)

I hope whether you live here or are just passing through that you’ll check all these awesome bookish places out in Indianapolis! Let me know if you do and if you find anything I didn’t.