10 questions with Sip & Share Wines founder Nicole Kearney

This piece is part of our INDYtoday Q+A series. Do you know someone we should interview? Nominate them here.

Profile: Nicole Kearney is a lover of words + wines. She’s combined her passions to become winemaker and owner of Sip & Share Wines. She was named one of 40 African American Tastemakers (Under/Over 40) by Sabrina Jackson. And just recently, her wines have landed on the shelves of Total Wine & More in Nora — just in time for the holidays.

We asked Nicole 10 questions about her inspiration + how she got into winemaking. Keep reading to find out how Sip & Share Wines came to be.

Describe your perfect day in Indy in the length of a Tweet (280 characters).

Good food. Going to locally owned restaurants + spots, like 3 Sisters Cafe for breakfast — one of my favorite places. Probably The Trap Seafood for lunch and ending up at The Missing Brick pizza for dinner.

Name 3-5 other local leaders, influencers, or movers + shakers you’re watching.

I have to say of course, Chef Oya with The Trap. She’s a really good friend of mine. I watch how she’s moving + kind of talk to her to get advice. Then, I would say Angel Hicks with 28Boutique and I would probably say Mr. WildStyle, the producer. He’s another person that I watch and look up to. I get a lot of my local news through him.

You can only choose one local restaurant menu to bring with you to a deserted island — which one is it and why?

The Trap because I’m a pescatarian. I’m a huge fan + I’m gonna take every item on The Trap’s menu.

EVENTS

Today

Drinksgiving | Wed., Nov. 24 | 7-10 p.m. | Next Door Eatery, 4573 N. College Ave. | Free | Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend with DJ night featuring Next Door's globally inspired street food + scratch-made cocktails.🍹

Thursday

Thanksgiving at The Hulman | Thurs., Nov. 25 | 7 a.m.-12 p.m. or 1-9 p.m. | Hotel Indy | $49 | Skip cooking + celebrate with friends and family at the Hulman restaurant for a three course prix fixe dinner menu. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.🍴

Friday

A Charlie Brown Christmas | Fri., Nov. 26 | 5 + 7 p.m. | The Tarkington at the Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel | $24 | The classic animated TV special comes to life in this stage adaptation where Charlie Brown, Snoopy + the rest of the Peanuts Gang discover the true meaning of Christmas. 🥜

Saturday

Midwest Sneaker Gala | Sat., Nov. 27 | 7 p.m.-12 a.m. | The Pavilion at Pan Am | $60+ | A party with a purpose hosted by Charles Beloved + Ashmac to collect shoes for the city. 👟

Sunday

Indianapolis Colts vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sun., Nov. 28 | 1 p.m. | Lucas Oil Stadium | $146+ | Coming off a win against the Bills, the Colts (6-5) take on the Bucs (7-3) at home. 🏈

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

PLAN YOUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND HERE

NEWS NOTES

Weather

53º | Mostly cloudy | 0% chance of rain

Traffic

INDOT announced a $435 million project to widen I-465 + rebuild its interchange with I-69 in northeast Indianapolis. It’s scheduled to begin early next year and will open to traffic by the end of 2025. The project will be split into two overlapping phases so traffic will remain open. 🚧 (IndyStar)

Development

A Carmel development company plans to spend $50 million to develop 200 units of housing for low-income residents on the south side of Indianapolis, near I-465. The company is expected to break ground on its City Heights project in fall 2022 near Bixler Rd. + S. East St. 🏘️ (IBJ)

Award

Fourteen Indiana colleges + universities have been awarded grants from a partnership between the Indiana Commission for Higher Education + Indiana Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate. The institutions were awarded nearly $130,000 to expose high school juniors + seniors to educational opportunities and help with applications and financial aid. 💰 (Inside Indiana Business)

Eat

Fountain Square bar, the Inferno Room is cooking up a collab with Kuma’s Corner chef Chris Morrison Nov. 23–27. What’s on the menu? Expect a tropical smash burger, some Kuma’s-inspired dogs, and sliders. Kuma’s is taking over the kitchen for this week only + the Inferno Room will be closed on Thanksgiving. 🍔 (Indianapolis Monthly)

Sports

The College Football Playoff 2022 Indianapolis Host Committee is looking for volunteers to get involved as the city hosts another major sporting event. Volunteers must be 18 years or older + be available for most positions between Sat., Jan. 8-Mon., Jan. 10. Visit the website for more info or to apply. 🏈

Arts

On Jan. 21, Pattern will be hosting Cerulean — a Winter photography exhibition that explores different visual stories that can be told with the use of a single color — and it's looking for photographers to submit works here. The deadline is Sat., Jan. 1. 📸

Try This

PinVault — a haven for retro gamers — has been around for about five years + is one of Fountain Square’s best kept secrets. Located on the second floor of the G.C. Murphy building, it’s only open a few weekends a month but does host tournaments + is available to rent. 🕹️ (WTHR)

Feel Good

A group of volunteers with the MLT Outreach Center went door-to-door delivering Thanksgiving meals to residents on the east side. The group passed out over 350 meals to those in need in the 46218 and 46226 zip code areas — which are considered food desert areas.🍴 (WRTV)

📸 @dixie_the_praying_dog

Dixie the Praying Dog — a Bluetick Coonhound + a local celebrity — is a trained therapy dog to provide comfort to veterans, children with disabilities and anyone else who needs her canine prayer.

Her most recent act of service: She made an appearance at the Indy Fuel game to help the Central Indiana K-9 Association raise money for our retired police + military K-9 friends.

Want to meet Dixie? She’ll be at Indy Southside Harley at 4930 Southport Crossing Pl. with Jesse James Dupree from the band Jackyl this Fri., Nov. 26 from 4-6 p.m. 🏍️

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THE WRAP

Editor's Pick: For Wine Wednesday, Nicole likes to sip on a wine slushie at Daniel's Vineyard in McCordsville + Anna enjoys a relaxing post-work glass of red wine with friends at Peace Water Winery on Mass Ave.

Missed yesterday's newsletter? Your guide to Shop Small Saturday 🛍️