On the cover: On the cover: One bite of the almond croissant and suddenly, you’re no longer in the neighborhood—you’re in Florence at first light. Morning rituals get a definite upgrade at Carmel’s sunny Caffè Buondí, where even the simplest breakfast becomes a true taste of la dolce vita.
Photographed by Dave Pluimer
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Highlights from the November/December Issue
SHarper Plastic Surgery Expands to Nora
SHarperPlastic Surgery celebrates the opening of its newest location in Nora, marking the third home for a practice that has become synonymous with exceptional results, luxurious experiences, and trusted physician leadership. With established offices in Avon andFishers, SHarper now extends its signature blend of plastic surgery, medical aesthetics, and spa-like relaxation to the north side of Indianapolis.
Text: Caroline Mosey
Photo: Courtesy of SHarper Plastic Surgery
Cover Story: Caffè Buondí: Where Carmel Wakes Up in European Style
The sunlit sibling of Convivio brings Italian mornings, world-class coffee, and artisanal flair to The Bridges.
Text: Neil Charles
Photo: Dave Pluimer
A Vision Realized
Some houses are built. Others are composed—layered with artistry, personality, and just enough surprise to make every room sing. Kelly and Shelby’s bright Bargersville residence is the latter, the result of a dynamic collaboration between designer Linda Mordoh of Savvy Décor and builder Duke Homes.
Text: Stephanie Carlson
Photo: Dave Pluimer
Art at Home: The Cutting Edge of Conservation
Here at Easter Conservation, we have great respect for our clients and the artwork they bring to us. It’s no small thing to be trusted with valuable items, and that’s why we always bring the highest standards to our conservation work and keep ourselves educated on the best practices in our field.
Text: Jean Easter
The Skin Investment: Protecting Your Most Visible Asset
When I sit down with a new patient, I often begin by reminding them that their skin is not only their body’s largest organ, but also its most visible asset. Unlike your grandmother’s diamond earrings, which can be safely locked away, or the art on your walls that benefits from climate control, your skin is exposed daily to sunlight, stress, and the simple passage of time. It is, in many ways, the most precious “heirloom” you’ll ever own. And yet, it’s often the one most neglected.
Text: Dr. Melanie Kingsley
Photograph: Dave Pluimer
Sophisticated Celebrations: Presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Sophisticated Celebrations: Presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Text: Caroline Mosey/ Photo: Adrian Juric
Text: Caroline Mosey / Photo: Svetlana Dubovenko and Honest Hearts Photo + Film
Text: Caroline Mosey / Photo: Copperhead Photography
Text: Caroline Mosey
Los Arroyos Makes Itself at Home in Indianapolis
Serving Carmel’s The Bridges and Downtown Indianapolis, the Santa Barbara favorite blends California flavor with Hoosier heart
Text: Neil Charles
Photo: Dave Pluimer
Sophisticated Travel
Full Throttle, Full Luxury
If you’re heading to the desert’s neon heart for the Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix and plan to watch from a high-roller suite with room service sushi—well, you’re doing the weekend wrong. In the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World, you’ll want to be part of the action, not just a spectator. Allow me to steer you toward something far more exhilarating: the Bellagio Fountain Club. It’s the rarest of hybrids—equal parts haute cuisine, horsepower, and high society.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photo: Courtesy MGM Resorts International
Game, Set, Cincinnati
I arrived in Mason, Ohio—not far from Indy—for the newly reimagined2025 Cincinnati Open, staged from August 7 to 18 at the lavishly renovated Lindner Family Tennis Center. With a sweeping $260 million makeover and a bold expansion of both singles draws to 96 players, the venue feels every bit as grand as the tennis itself.
Walking through refreshed fan zones and state-of-the-art courts, it’s clear the organizers spared no expense. The gloss of the upgrades—new seating, superior amenities, upgraded concourses—made me feel like I’d stumbled into Wimbledon, with a dash of modern flair and Midwestern charm
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photo: Tony Bailey
Viva Fast Vegas
They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—but this month, the lights, the engines, and the egos will be loud enough to echo all the way to Indianapolis. The city that built its reputation on roulette wheels and residencies is once again betting big—this time on horsepower—as the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix returns to the Strip, November 20–22.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photo: Courtesy Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc.
LIV Golf Arrives in Indiana
Rarely does a global sporting spectacle plant its flag in central Indiana, but this summer, Westfield found itself on the world stage when Chatham Hills hosted LIV Golf’s first-ever Indiana tournament. For three days, the quiet elegance of this Pete Dye masterpiece was transformed into a vibrant festival of golf, hospitality, and community—an event that proved both historic and unforgettable.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photo: 800 Meter Sports Photography
The Legacy of a Slice
How Diavola is raising the bar—and the dough—on East 54th Street.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photo: Dave Pluimer
Driving Change
From the moment I first met Anthony “AC” Calhoun—some twenty years ago, brought together by a mutual golfing friend—I knew he was the sort of kindhearted, genuine person the world needs more of. Over the years, I’ve admired his warmth on screen as much as his grace off it. He’s one of those rare people who make kindness look effortless, and as I’ve come to learn, there’s a lot of quiet determination behind that easy smile.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photo: Emily Ann Poe
Mastering the Market
While conventional wisdom suggests spring and summer as the prime seasons for selling a home, discerning sellers know that winter presents a unique opportunity—especially in the upper-tier market. If you're considering listing your property, here are threecompelling reasons why the colder months might be the most strategic time to sell.
Text: Matt McLaughlin
The Art of Anna
Years ago, my editorial director and I were on a mission: Find an artist who could make Indianapolis look like a dream you didn’t want to wake from. That’s when we discovered Anna Afshar and her watercolor of Monument Circle bathed in golden light—it stopped us in our tracks. The painting wasn’t just a cityscape; it was the city distilled into color and motion. We auctioned it for charity, yes, but the real gift was the friendship that followed, as colorful and unexpected as her brushstrokes—and even more delightful when shared over a glass of wine.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Apples, Honey & Bordeaux
Some holidays are best measured in hours, plates, and laughter, not miles. This year, my wife, our son, and our daughter—who lives in Chicago—gathered with me in the Windy City to celebrate the Jewish New Year. It’s a rare pleasure when adult children not only tolerate each other, but genuinely enjoy one another’s company. Arriving in Chicago Monday night, the four of us settled in for a special Rosh Hashanah dinner at Mon Ami Gabi, the classic French bistro in Lincoln Park that would define our holiday away—its perfect blend of tradition, warmth, and charm on full display.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Photograph: Mon Ami Gabi
Grace, Grit & Gucci
Every so often, I meet someone who makes me feel as if I’ve been gliding through life on cruise control. Enter Kay Anderson—a woman who has stared down more adversity than anyone I’ve ever known, and somehow does it with wit, poise, and the kind of stylishresilience that makes Gucci look like a sensible shoe brand. She has endured cancer, tornadoes, and more than her share of bad hands, yet keeps coming back—smiling, determined, and, frankly, unstoppable.
Anderson’s latest labor of love is Prana Play, a bright new space in Carmel designed for neurodiverse children and their families. It’s not just another play facility. Think of it as equal parts sanctuary, adventure, and social experiment in the best sense. Here, kids can climb, create, explore, and simply be themselves without judgment. Parents, too, find connection—often with each other, sharing stories and hard-earned wisdom over coffee rather than in hushed tones at therapy waiting rooms.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
Society Calendar: Presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
Happenings of note in November & December.
Sophisticated Society, presented by Reis-Nichols Jewelers
When I was a kid growing up in New Orleans, my father was gone a lot. His job as a project manager for a general contractor took him all over the country, sometimes overseas. To my kid-brain, it felt like he chose to be away.
My dad was a dependable provider for my mother, my younger sister, and me, but I still resented the distance between us. He always fancied himself a man’s man, the kind who didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve. Maybe that’s part of why we weren’t close, too.
By the time we’d moved to Indianapolis and I was a teenager, I should have known better—that it wasn’t my dad’s choice to be gone so much, it was just his job. But of course, that was my “know-it-all” phase, and instead of understanding, I doubled down on being annoyed about it.
Fast forward several decades, and not much had changed between us. Then, about a year ago, everything did.
Text: Jeffrey Cohen
From the Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
Get to know us.
At Sophisticated Living, we are dedicated to and passionate about all the finer things life has to offer. Whether your interests are close to home or in far-flung places. each issue shares highlights of the good life in Indianapolis and beyond.
Jeffrey Cohen, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief
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