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2024 is here! This year when you’re in need of some ideas for the weekend, make sure you check out our page every Wednesday so you can plan your weekend festivities in advance! As we approach our first weekend of 2024 you’ll see there's something happening for everyone this weekend. Fort Wayne All American Outdoor Expo: 4000 Parnell Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46805 Painted Tree Grand Opening: 4020 W Jefferson Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46804 Winter Bridal Show: 4000 Parnell Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46805 As always if you enjoy seeing weekend events, entrepreneur stories, or business happenings and advice subscribe to our free monthly newsletter so you never miss what's happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Experience the true essence of Christmas at "Miracle on Jefferson," a pop-up bar in downtown Fort Wayne, IN that captures the joy, wonder, and merriment of the holiday season. From the moment you step inside, you will be transported into a Christmas oasis overflowing with decor, extraordinary holiday concoctions, and loads of Christmas cheer that will make your experience truly unforgettable. This seasonal event would not be possible without Gary and Kelly Skeel, owners of Copper Spoon, Sidecar, Nightmare before Miracle, and Miracle on Jefferson. Gary Skeel was born in Sandusky, Ohio. When Gary described what it was like growing up, he said, "I had a blessed childhood with loving and supportive parents. They pushed me to work hard and to be honest. I couldn't have asked for more. My wife Kelly's story is similar, and that's why we work so well together." After graduating from Oak Harbor High School, Gary moved to Indiana to attend Huntington University (then Huntington College). He would later graduate with a degree in education. Gary's teaching career began within the Huntington school district, but he eventually relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he would spend the next decade teaching at Carroll Middle School. Although Gary enjoyed teaching, he was ready to take his career in a different direction. He had recently married Kelly, and together, they started discussing the idea of opening their own bar and restaurant. When we asked Gary about that time, he said, "During the latter part of my tenure, I started to get the itch to take my career in a different direction. I had recently been married, and Kelly was equally excited about the idea of opening our own restaurant and bar. She continued to support the idea as we began the entrepreneurial process. After almost two years of planning, we opened up Wine Down (in March 2015.)  A wine-themed location that focused on wine tastings and small plates." After being in business for a year, Gary and Kelly started thinking of ways to better use their outdoor patio space at the Harrison Building. Together, they purchased and designed an old shipping container to serve food and drinks to their customers and named the business Sidecar located in Fort Wayne, IN. Throughout their first season, Sidecar ran as an extension of the Wine Down kitchen but with limited menu options. The Skeels quickly realized that using the inside kitchen was not working as well as they had planned, so they returned to the drawing board during the off-season. After much thought and consideration, they decided to turn Sidecar into its own restaurant and completely separate it from their inside concept. Today, Sidecar primarily serves all its food and drinks from the container. It has a more tropical appeal both aesthetically and through its menu options. Now that Sidecar was fully operating throughout the summer, the Skeels continued developing new ideas for Wine Down. So much so that in 2018, they decided to change the restaurant's name to Copper Spoon. When we asked Gary what led them to change the name, he said, "Over the years our focus shifted (from small plates) to serving a full upscale menu with locally sourced entrees, and (continued to) develop our cocktail bar into what is now a nationally recognized program. After three quick years, the name Wine Down no longer fit what we had developed into. So, after a lot of consideration and input from our staff, we decided on the name Copper Spoon. Although the restaurant is not Kelly's primary job, she is still very involved and helps with the operations. She also led the way with our recent renovations. We wanted to complete the transition to Copper Spoon and continue separating ourselves from our former name by removing a lot of old decor and updating to a more modern industrial feel." We followed this question up by asking Kelly how she felt about the business. She said, "The business we've built together is something we are very proud of, and I feel it is a reflection of our strength and perseverance. It's easy to question ourselves and have doubts about becoming entrepreneurs, but then there's a lot of affirmation that comes with knowing your talented team could be anywhere, but they've chosen our business because they believe in what we are doing. I really credit Gary for fostering a workplace that brings out the best in people and encourages them to grow in their careers." With the indoor restaurant's new identity established, bartenders began discussing with Gary and Kelly about bringing a Miracle pop-up bar to Fort Wayne, IN to use the Sidecar patio in the off-season. Although they knew there would be a few challenges with turning the outdoor patio into an enjoyable, festive pop-up bar, the Skeels purchased the franchise and went to work. They got in touch with Mutton Rentals, a tent and event rental company in Northeast Indiana, and they were able to design a tent that could attach to the Sidecar container and fit perfectly on their open patio space. The company also provided heaters for inside the tent so customers would be comfortable even in the middle of winter. In December 2019, Miracle on Jefferson was officially open for business. When we asked Gary what Miracle on Jefferson is today, he said, "Miracle is part of a global Christmas-themed Cocktail pop-up bar. We were able to bring a Miracle location to downtown Fort Wayne on Jefferson Boulevard. The cocktail recipes and concepts are all part of the Miracle brand. However, each location can look quite a bit different. Our first season, and every year since, we've added more and more decorations trying to create a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. I'd say we're somewhere between nostalgic and gaudy, like Christmas just threw up all over. Every time you visit you'll probably spot something different!" We asked the Skeels if they were nervous about purchasing a franchise company since they've always owned their own restaurant and bar companies. Gary said, "I can't say I had any worries about joining the Miracle franchise. They allow us a lot of flexibility and basically just provide us with the framework and recipes. There's a web portal where other locations can interact with each other, offering advice with whatever comes our way. One thing that is important to Miracle is that you live up to their expectations. The cocktail recipes are extremely complex, and there are several steps to the creation of each and every drink out there. Most of the bartender's work is done in the kitchen before the guests even arrive. Let alone the building, mixing, and garnishing that all takes place upon your order. So Miracle will send out someone randomly to check on your location and make sure it's top-notch. Needless to say, we continue to meet these expectations and plan to do so for years to come." Now that the Skeels have discovered how to utilize the Sidecar patio during the winter months, they have decided to bring out the tent early each year by creating their own pop-up concept, "Nightmare before Miracle." The idea for Nightmare came a year after Miracle, and the drink recipes, decorations, and concepts were created entirely by Gary, Kelly, and their staff. When we were talking about Nightmare Before Miracle, Gray told us that although this was entirely their idea, some of the other Miracle franchises have started doing similar Halloween-themed pop-up bars, too! We asked Gary what his hopes are for the future of Miracle on Jefferson, and he said, "One of the cool things about Miracle is that when we buy our glassware, we are also donating to charity. Built into our price is a donation to charity that usually changes from year to year. Which is why we also try so hard to deter people from stealing our Christmas-themed mugs. They are super cool! But it hurts both us and the charities we donate to. And the glassware is all available for purchase! Every time we actually sell a mug we are donating twice, once to the charity of Miracle's choice, and the other is to our local Community Harvest Food Bank.   My hope for the future of Miracle on Jefferson is that we can continue to grow and, in our growth, also help the community by making larger and larger contributions both locally and beyond." The creation of Sidecar came out of a need to better utilize the outdoor patio space at Copper Spoon (then Wine Down), but little did the Skeels know that they were creating the stepping stone for a new hot spot destination for Fort Wayne residents and visitors alike. Through their innovative thinking, they have managed to create three unique businesses that not only generate revenue for most of the year but also create a sense of excitement and anticipation among their customers. Gary and Kelly have successfully transformed their business into a destination for unique and immersive experiences. Their ability to navigate the challenges of the bar and restaurant industry is commendable. Their dedication to providing exceptional service and memorable experiences has earned them a loyal customer base and a positive reputation in Fort Wayne. The success of Copper Spoon, Sidecar, and the pop-up bars can be attributed to Gary and Kelly's attention to detail and commitment to quality. The growth and expansion of their business ventures reflect the Skeel's entrepreneurial mindset and willingness to take risks. Their story inspires aspiring business owners, showcasing that anyone can achieve their entrepreneurial dreams with hard work, determination, and a desire to think outside the box. To finish our conversation, we asked Gary and Kelly what advice they would give aspiring entrepreneurs. Gary said, "Search for advice and talk to people in the industry you're pursuing. It can take a long time to formulate your business plan, and there are resources to help with that too. We first took our early concepts to the Indiana Small Business Development Center. They were able to help take our ideas to the next phase. Expect and know there will be several bumps in the road, and those bumps never seem to happen at a convenient time. So before you start to put all of your time and energy into this new business, make sure you start that journey with a strong trust and support system, at home, with business partners, and any staff you have." Kelly followed up by saying, "It takes a lot of support and a lot of sacrifice. You really need people you can lean on because this takes a lot of resources, and we are fortunate enough to have a solid foundation of family and friends who have come to our aid in times of need. There will be many moments when your wants and needs will be secondary, and you have to be at peace with that and do what needs to be done to succeed. Owning a business can be the most stressful and joyful experience all at once, so enjoy the ride and take it in stride." We want to send a huge thank you to Gary and Kelly for taking the time to talk with us, especially during the busy holiday season! We also want to thank Nike with Creative Roots Media for capturing the photos you see throughout this article. If you enjoy reading the stories about the entrepreneurs helping shape Fort Wayne one business at a time, sign up for our free monthly newsletter so you're always in the loop about what's happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

As the year comes to a close we hope that you have had a successful, positive, and joyous 2023. Before the year is over, enjoy a few events this weekend to help end the year with a bang! Vision Boards and Yoga: 10202-C North Coldwater Road Fort Wayne, IN 46825 New Years Eve Great Gatsby Style: 420 West Wayne St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Countdown to Noon: 1950 North Clinton St Fort Wayne, IN 46805 New Years Eve Black Tie Adult Prom: 219 W Washington Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46802 As always if you enjoy seeing weekend events, entrepreneur stories, or business happenings and advice subscribe to our free monthly newsletter so you never miss what's happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Christmas is almost here! You won't want to miss your last chance to visit Santa or his Reindeer in Fort Wayne, IN before they head back to the North Pole this weekend! Enjoy a few festive events happening around the Fort Wayne area! Visit Santa and/or his Reindeer - 3411 Sherman Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46804 Holiday Vibez Pop-Up Event: 1020 Swinney Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Santa Visit & Pictures- Christmas Cookie Tray & Cookies: 6817 Lima Road Fort Wayne IN 46818 If you enjoy seeing what's happening in Fort Wayne, Indiana every weekend, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for our free monthly Newsletter.

We only have three more weekends before the end of 2023, and you won't want to miss out on any of the upcoming events!! This weekend there are plenty of options for the whole family to enjoy. Free Pictures with Santa and Mrs Claus: 4610 Parnell Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46825 Sassy Vegan Christmas Party: 1025 W Rudisill Door N Fort Wayne IN 46807 Wish Upon a Christmas- A Royal Princess Ball: 826 Ewing St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Fort Wayne Great Santa Run 5K: 202 W Superior Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 The Bell Mansion Presents: A Winter Gala: 420 W Wayne Fort Wayne IN, 46802 Trek Fort Wayne Holiday Lights Ride: 202 W Superior St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Candles, Cocoa, and Cookies: 3954 W. Jefferson Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Ft. Wayne Farmers Market- Winter Holiday Palooza: 500 E State Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46805 If you enjoy seeing what's happening in Fort Wayne, Indiana every weekend, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for our free monthly Newsletter.

Are you ready to get out of the house this weekend? Well you're in luck because there is plenty to do around the area this weekend and you're sure to be put into the holiday spirit! Mocha Lounge Dupont: Holiday Sip and Shop: 4635 E DuPont Road Fort Wayne, IN 46825 Free Santa Photos at Icing for Izaac: 243 Airport North Office Park Fort Wayne, IN 46825 Itoro & Dons Kwik Wash Grand Opening: 1126 Taylor Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Breakfast with Santa: 6033 Maplecrest Road Fort Wayne, IN 46835 Cider with Santa: 7328 Maysville Road Fort Wayne, IN 46815 If you enjoy seeing what's happening in Fort Wayne, Indiana every weekend, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for our free monthly newsletter so you're always in the loop!

Starting January 1st, 2024, Ohlashia Cowley will take ownership of the laundry center, Churubusco Suds Laundromat, in Churubusco, IN. This will be Ohlashia's second laundromat location, with her first being in Fort Wayne, IN. Her plans for this location are nothing short of a total transformation, and she hopes the renovations will bring new and old customers back into the laundromat. We had the pleasure of speaking with Ohlashia Cowley shortly after she took over her first location, George's Kwik Wash, in Fort Wayne, IN. (Read Full Story Here!) She received the keys to George's in October 2022 and completely renovated it aesthetically and by upgrading all the machines. We asked Ohlashia if she's noticed an increase in traffic since the renovations were completed, and she said, "Oh absolutely, we've had so many new faces. Georges has really taken off, and it's still growing. Georges looks like a total 360 since we first got it; I love being there." Today, if you were to drive by the old Georges Kwik Wash, you would notice Ohlashia has rebranded, and the new name for the company is now Itoro & Don’s Kwik Wash. We asked her how she chose the new name, and she said, "I wanted to honor my sister; she passed away last year. She had a developmental disability, and she passed away on the way to my uncle's funeral from a heat stroke. She has been my inspiration with life in general, but I'm also a recreational therapist. I work with people with special needs, and I wouldn't be in that field without her. I wouldn't even be able to purchase a laundromat if it wasn't for that job. I also wanted to honor my stepdad; he passed away in 2021 from COVID. I grew up very poor. We were homeless and sleeping in cars and shelters, but he rescued us from that situation. His passing was very hard on our family. So I definitely wanted to honor my sister and stepdad." When we first spoke with Ohlashia in April of 2023, she expressed her hopes for owning multiple laundromat locations, and those dreams are coming true. She has officially closed on a Churubusco laundromat and will be taking over on January 1st, 2024. Her plans for this location are significant, but we have seen her completely transform one place, and we have no doubt she will do it again. She said she plans to gut this location entirely and turn it into a more welcoming and functional facility for Churubusco residents. She explained to us that the current site, the way it is today, is steering customers away due to the condition of the facility. This is causing customers to drive all the way to Columbia City or Fort Wayne, IN to get their laundry done, but Ohlashia is ready to change that. She plans to add a fresh coat of paint to the walls, remodel the bathroom, redo the floors, remove all the old machines, and replace them with new ones. She plans to add two 80-pound washers, two 60-pound washers, eight 40-pound washers, and ten 30 and 50-pound dryers. She also plans to turn the laundromat into a 24-hour location to accommodate everyone in the area. She hopes that these changes will encourage Churubusco residents to feel more comfortable and welcome to do their laundry. She also wants residents with bulkier items that don't fit in their washers at home to know that Itoro & Dons Kwik Wash has the washer and dryer space to accommodate their needs. Ohlashia is excited to turn this location around and expand her brand into the Churubusco community. She is passionate about creating welcoming environments for all her clients and pours her heart into her businesses. We are confident that there is no better person to take on this project than Ohlashia; she is sure to deliver nothing but the best for her customers in both customer service and quality laundry services. If you have any events or happenings with your company email us at info@businessjournalfw.com

Public art plays a crucial role in enhancing the aesthetic appeal of cities, transforming them into vibrant and culturally rich spaces that inspire and engage residents and visitors alike. The presence of public art acts as a magnet for tourism, attracting visitors who seek out unique and immersive cultural experiences. It has the ability to transform neglected or underutilized spaces and create a vibrant and more walkable city. Beyond its aesthetic value, public art has been proven to positively impact mental health and well-being, providing a source of solace, inspiration, and reflection for all those who stop and experience it. If you had walked the streets of Downtown Fort Wayne before 2016, you would have witnessed a downtown scene that felt dull and lifeless, creating a lackluster and forgettable experience. In fact, if you talk with residents who lived in Fort Wayne around that time, many would tell you they wanted to move away from the area with no intentions of returning. Fast forward nearly a decade later, and the transformation of downtown Fort Wayne is nothing short of remarkable. Thanks, in part, to the vision and hard work of artist and advocate Alexandra Hall and the Downtown Improvement District, together they created Art This Way. Through this program, they have turned downtown into a vibrant and visually stunning destination filled with eye-catching murals, captivating sculptures, and a thriving arts community. Alexandra Hall was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, but at a young age, she and her family left Indy and moved to a large property in Northern Fort Wayne, Indiana. Growing up in Fort Wayne, she and her siblings spent most of their days playing together in the woods or at the lake in the summers until most of them became more active in sports. When we asked Hall if she had ever played sports, she said, "Oh, badly! All my other siblings are amazing athletes; I'll just start with that. I was supposed to be good at sports. I'm very tall for a girl, and I think everyone expects you to play basketball or volleyball really well, but I was definitely not good at any of them. I ran cross country for a while, and I did attempt volleyball and softball, but ultimately, my siblings were the sports stars." We followed this question by asking if she or her siblings were ever interested in art as kids, and she said, "Yes. Oh yes, always. My mom had a craft room in the basement, so I enjoyed any time I could draw, paint, or play with clay or whatever I could get my hands on. My brother James, who's the closest in age to me, was also someone who enjoyed drawing, but that didn't end up being his career path or something he wanted to do as an adult. My baby brother is a very talented musician. He played football in college but was that jock that could walk up to a piano and play Coldplay for a few hours. We all are creative in different ways." After graduating from Bishop Dwenger High School, Alex attended the University of Michigan until she transferred to Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. She graduated from IU with a political science degree and a Slavic languages and literature degree with a Russian language certificate. While earning her degree, Alexandra studied abroad to gain new experiences in other countries. Alex ultimately moved back to Fort Wayne in 2011. Throughout Alexandra’s early adulthood, her love for art remained. In fact, once she got settled back in Fort Wayne, she opened an art gallery within the city exchange building. Although she had her art gallery, Hall always wished there was more of a public art presence throughout the streets of downtown Fort Wayne like she had experienced in other cities and countries. Eventually, these hopes led Alex to start having conversations with Bill Brown, the former President of the Downtown Improvement District (FWDID), about why there was hardly any public art around the area. She was informed that it was ultimately due to a combination of ‘how to go about installing public art on private property’ and funding such a program. A year later, a former employee of the Downtown Improvement District suddenly lost their life, and Friends of Lincoln Financial sent money to the FWDID with the hope that they may be able to do something in celebration of her life. This individual loved the arts scene, so to best honor them, the FWDID approached Alex at her art gallery and asked if they could use those funds to purchase a large guitar sculpture she had made to display in an alleyway. Alex agreed, and this sculpture became the first art piece installed by the FWDID. After the installation, the FWDID did not intend to continue to program art, largely due to the lack of funding. Hall responded by asking if she found the funding for more public art could they continue to have conversations about the idea. This conversation is what would soon lead to the conception of Art This Way. In 2016, Art This Way was officially launched. When we asked Alex to describe in her words what Art This Way is, she said, "Art This Way operates under the Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District. In 2016, when I started it in partnership with the Fort Wayne Improvement District, there was a gap in artist opportunities. The visual landscape of the city failed to highlight the many creatives that live in Fort Wayne. The hope with Art This Way was to solve the problem. So, we started having conversations with private property owners and gave them the option to put public art onto their property. That was something that had never been offered to property owners before. What we found was that they wanted it, but it was more about the hurdles and unknowns of it all, like, how do I meet an artist? How much is this going to cost? What does maintenance look like? We were able to approach these concerns with many answers and solutions to most of their problems. So, in 2016, the idea of Art This Way was to create public art on private property, ease the burden on property owners, and establish a financial model to pay the artists. The artists that were hired initially for all of our projects for Art This Way were not me; I was hiring other artists. From the very beginning, it was about advocating for other artists and giving creatives the ability to express themselves in the community." When we talked about the beginning stages of Art This Way, we asked Alex what she remembers being the most challenging hurdles to get over, and she said funding and educating property owners. She said these two challenges are something she still has to overcome year after year. She said, "The hope was that the visual impact of what people are seeing and Visit Fort Wayne using us as a major mechanism for tourism; you would think the money would just be rolling in. Unfortunately, the fact is we are still looking year to year for the funds to continue the program at the rate we've been programming. We also want to continue to step it up because the hope is to do something bigger and bolder and keep challenging Fort Wayne. I would say funding is something we will always be pursuing and looking for different avenues to continue to grow and program. As I mentioned, education is ongoing. Each property owner is different. Sometimes, I have property owners or entities that are not Fort Wayne based; rather they are a large LLC, housed within an LLC, within another LLC, so with those types of corporate holdings they typically don't care about your community. They're not necessarily going to say no to the project, but maybe they don't have the mechanisms for approving these types of projects. So I still run into a little of that and I still see local owners that are a little hesitant to participate in a public art project." We asked Alexandra how she finds artists for each project, and she explained that there are a couple of different ways they find an artist. The first way is through their open RFQ (Request For Qualifications), which is a tab on their website that is always live. The RFQ allows artists from across the globe to submit their portfolios and express their interest in being considered for any upcoming or current projects. The second way they find artists is through an invitational process. This process is precisely how it sounds: they invite specific artists, asking them to submit a proposal for the project if they are interested. The invitational allows Alex to invite artists who specialize in a particular style of art that may be needed for the project. Once all the proposals have been submitted, Alex establishes a review jury of 12-15 people to consider the artwork proposals, and collectively, the jury decides whose proposal they will install. We asked Hall if the business owner knows what the final mural or art piece will look like before the project begins, and she told us that the only people in the dark during these projects is the public. Once a design has been selected by the jury, it is immediately sent over to the property owner for final approval. After that approval is granted, the artist is officially hired. Before any of this can take place, funding is already in place, and the property owner has signed a contract to participate. The next steps are creating and signing a contract with the artist. Then, it comes down to filing for permits, scheduling the artist, and securing any heavy machinery they may need to complete the project. Alexandra said that she has had projects turn around relatively quickly, but that was only when all the stars aligned. Typically, from the start of talks with property owners through the completion of the project, it takes about 2-3 years. We asked Alex how many of the murals we see downtown are her work, and she told us that aside from the guitar in the alleyway of the old MKM Building, she did her first mural for Art This Way this year. She said the only reason she had the opportunity to create one was because the sponsor specifically requested that she be the artist for the project. We followed up by asking if she had been waiting for the moment she could do a piece, and she said, "No. Truly, it has been such a joy to see other creatives get to do things, and I'm always so impressed by everyone's talent and professionalism. I love meeting with the artists that visit from outside of our region; they have so much experience and strong resumes. I enjoy introducing them to our local creatives. It is a joy to see others shine. It was obviously an honor to have gotten selected and have someone want to see me execute their project. It was lovely, but it wasn't like, ah, finally." While talking about all the great work going into downtown's art scene, we asked Alexandra if she had any plans of expanding Art This Way outside of downtown, and she educated us further on how the program works. She explained that since Art This Way is partnered with the Downtown Improvement District, they must stay within the 99-block area where the FWDID lives. The city council designates the area, and property owners within that 99-block area are asked to pay a little extra tax to get the perks that the Downtown Improvement District offers. For example, the additional tax money helps provide the vibrant flowers and landscaping you see throughout the sidewalks in the spring and summer. It pays for the Christmas decor that is so elegantly displayed throughout the streets of downtown Fort Wayne throughout the holidays. It keeps the roads cleared of trash or sidewalks clear after accidents. So, many of the unseen perks of living within the city are possible because of those property owners who contribute to that extra tax and the hard work of the FWDID. Because Art This Way operates under the FWDID, it is essentially a program that only operates within those 99-blocks. With that said Alex told us that she works closely with a program provided by the City of Fort Wayne called the Public Art Commission. Their mission is to ensure art is available to all and can happen in anyone's neighborhood. We asked Alexandra what her hopes are for the future of Art This Way, and she said, "That's a hard one for me because Art This Way is a piece of a larger puzzle that I hope is making Fort Wayne a better place. My hope for the future as an art entity is that Art This Way encourages a more walkable city and that people are making more conscientious efforts to build the city to allow pedestrians to navigate this town safely. We are already seeing people wanting to live closer to downtown as a result of the more vibrant, culturally rich city. So I guess the hope for the future is that we continue to challenge this city with bigger and bolder public art projects, and as a result of that growth, we see a more densely populated and walkable downtown Fort Wayne." Those interested in donating to Art This Way can do so on their website or by mailing a check to the Downtown Improvement District. Another way to contribute to the program would be by attending their annual Art Crawl, which has been held every September since 2017. Until 2023, the Art Crawl consisted of attendees going into multiple non-traditional gallery spaces and having a different experience within each venue. Due to the growing attendance, the event had to be moved outdoors, and the concept was shifted slightly. Instead of going inside various venues, attendees were encouraged to explore Downtown Fort Wayne's art-filled alleyways and enjoy unique experiences within each space. If you want to be more involved in Art This Way, Alex says they often need volunteers throughout the year. Volunteers are needed not only for the annual Art Crawl event but also for more minor things. For example, if an artist is coming into town for a project, Hall may reach out to volunteers interested in showing guests around the city during their stay. Another situation in which volunteers are needed would be in the summers before they put out their giant chess set at PNC Plaza to help paint squares on concrete to create the chess board. For local creatives, Art This Way offers apprenticeship opportunities to work under and learn from other artists. Artists can also get involved during the annual Art Crawl. To participate in the event, you must sign up to be considered by the selection committee. This committee is set in place to ensure a diverse group of artists are showcased throughout the event. The collaboration between Alexandra and the Fort Wayne Downtown Improvement District has resulted in a remarkable revitalization of downtown Fort Wayne. Today, the streets and alleyways are filled with an abundance of captivating murals and sculptures that have breathed new life into our city's streets. Together, it's clear that they have improved downtown's overall atmosphere, attracting new businesses, tourists, and investment to the area. As Art This Way's mission continues to bring public art to private properties, we will continue to be amazed by the remarkable efforts of the creatives who choose to display their work for the public to enjoy. If you want to stay connected with everything happening at Art This Way, follow their Instagram page or visit their website, as both are updated regularly. To finish our conversation, we asked Alexandra what advice she would give someone hoping to leap into entrepreneurship, and she said, "I have a couple pieces of advice. One is to be brave, don't be afraid to start. Two is to be smart, research things first and then ask questions. Do not go into it thinking you know everything because that's a sure way to fail. But also be okay with failure because we all do, and hopefully we learn from it." We want to send a huge thank you to Alexandra for taking the time to speak with us about her entrepreneurial journey that led her to the collaborative creation of Art This Way. Thank you to Nike, owner of Creative Roots Media, for capturing the pictures you see throughout this article. If you enjoy reading the stories of entrepreneurs helping to shape Fort Wayne, one business at a time, or you want to stay connected with everything we do here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal, sign up for our free monthly newsletter so you're always in the loop.

In today's digital age, social media platforms have revolutionized how we connect, share, and explore the world around us. Among those platforms, Instagram has become a hub for food enthusiasts where captivating visuals and mouthwatering dishes have taken center stage. The rise of food influencers has transformed the culinary landscape, creating a new group of tastemakers who inspire and entice their followers with their recipes, dining experiences, and culinary advice. Among those foodies is Stephanie Bonner, creator of BonBon Appetit, who's made her way into the food influencer market and has taken Fort Wayne, IN foodies by storm. Through her simple recipes, culinary exploration, and cinematic abilities, her page has been steadily growing as more and more as people discover the wonders of what BonBon Appetit has to offer. Entrepreneur Stephanie Bonner was born and raised in Northern California. When we discussed what it was like growing up, she explained that her family was always on the go. Due to their busy schedule, fast food or takeout was usually on their dinner menu most nights. When Bonner was in high school, she became more interested in making home-cooked meals, so she started teaching herself how to cook. When she talked about this time, she said, "I remember my family members throwing big dinner parties, and I always loved going to those because it felt like that was what family was. You get to sit around a big table, eat good food, and share stories, and I think that's what really drew me to wanting to cook and be in the kitchen. I learned so much from watching my aunt and grandma cook." After high school, Stephanie was accepted into an acting school in New York City and made the big move across the country to pursue her dreams of becoming an actress. Once she arrived, she soon realized that being behind the camera was as exciting as being in front of it, so she started learning more about filmmaking. When talking about her time in New York, she said, "I spent the majority of my time in New York as a filmmaker, artist, and actor, which also meant I waited tables. Acting is what brought me to New York, but this side hustle of working in restaurants turned into something I was so passionate about. Like service and hospitality and what that means, it's a wonderful thing to get to learn how to do that in a place like New York City. It's a thriving market where there's a new restaurant opening every week, there's always a new trendy thing going on. I worked within so many restaurants. It was so great for me, as someone who loves food, to watch professionals doing their jobs and doing it so well. This is where my love of food and entertaining comes from, being a part of that hospitality industry really shaped how I look at things today." In 2020, when the world shut down due to COVID-19, Stephanie was forced to stay home, and her filmmaking and waitressing jobs were brought to a halt. Unsure of what to do with the extra time, she began combining her two passions, filmmaking and food, and started publishing her food content on her Instagram page, BonBon Appetit. Soon after transitioning her page into more food-centered content, she started gaining more followers. With this newfound traction on her page, she realized she had tapped into a market she never thought of before. Before 2020, Stephanie would have never considered herself a foodie or influencer; she said, "Before that, I thought foodie was a bad word, but I've realized it's not. I think there are a  lot of negative connotations with the words foodie and influencer, and I think once I wrapped my head around the idea that it wasn't negative, I really started to embrace it. It's just sharing. It's just storytelling. All we do on the internet is share our story and hope someone relates to it. That's what drives people to follow you and your recipes and want to share your content. I love seeing people post something that they've made that was inspired by what I've made. I think that's so special; it's what builds community. Even though it sometimes feels so isolated because Instagram and social media are just a highlight reel of our achievements. This is why I try to post my kitchen failures. They happen, they totally happen. I am not a chef, I'm not trained, again I'm just a home cook. Sometimes I spill, sometimes I break things, sometimes I burn things, and I try to share that part too because that's real life. Sometimes, the recipe doesn't turn out to look as pretty as you thought it would, but that doesn't mean it's any less good. It doesn't have to look like a picture in a magazine, a lot of that food is sprayed with weird stuff to make it glisten and it's propped perfectly, and knowing that made me feel a lot better. Seeing these things can make you feel self-conscious, especially on Instagram, where everything looks like a picture-perfect world. It makes you think, 'I don't fit so therefore I can't do that.' I hate that because I think everyone can do it, especially in cooking. I think everyone has the ability." In January 2023 Stephanie and her husband moved to her husband's hometown, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Although Stephanie had been to Fort Wayne many times throughout their ten-year relationship, she had yet to have the opportunity to truly explore the restaurant scene. Once they were settled into their new space, Bonner turned to her Instagram page to help document her experiences as she tried new spots throughout the city. Since January, many people have contacted Stephanie requesting recommendations for her favorite spots around town. Throughout her journey of sharing her local restaurant experiences, she has gained a following with Fort Wayne, IN natives. With this new following, she has realized that an Instagram food influencer is genuinely a concept people enjoy. What makes Stephanie's page different from other foodies is that she makes it a point to highlight the restaurant's experience portion and not just her opinion about the food. She told us that she believes taste is subjective; just because she doesn't like how something tastes doesn't mean someone else wouldn't, so she tries to emphasize how the restaurant feels. She said, "I think sometimes restaurants are not just about the food. Sure, people are going out to dinner, but they also want an experience. It's not just about what you're eating; it's also about the service and how you feel walking in. The ambiance of it all. So much thought is put into the dining experience, so I try to share that "thing" that makes it special." We asked Stephanie if she has created ways to monetize BonBon Appetit, and she told us she has a little. She explained that she has a subscription option on her website, and she recently created a Thanksgiving booklet full of recipes for cocktails, appetizers, turkey preparations, side dishes, and desserts. Bonner has also formed relationships with other companies over the last few years and has agreed to create sponsored posts about their products. She said that whenever she does a sponsored ad for someone, she only accepts it if it is a product she loves and believes other people should try. She said, "I'm a person that has to really like something before I want to share it. I don't want to share something because someone paid me to share it. I want people to trust that I'm giving you advice that's going to be helpful. I'll disclose it was a paid partnership, but I will let everyone know that I do truly really like it, and I think it's delicious. And if you're interested, you should also try it yourself. I'm only sharing it because I love it, not just to influence you to buy it." We followed up this question by asking Stephanie how she measures the success of her page, and she said it is by people engaging with her content and trying her recipes. She says, "If I've inspired one person to try something they maybe wouldn't have done, I think that's successful. All I hope for with my page is to inspire people to have the confidence to do what they wish to do, especially in the kitchen. I also love when I feel like my Instagram page feels like a community, where everyone can chime in and share what they've made, and to me, that's what is so fun about this." She continued by saying that the amount of likes she receives on a post doesn't mean much to her. She didn't get into this industry to have thousands of likes on her posts; she got into it because she loves storytelling, sharing dining experiences, creating recipes, and connecting with people. Although most people commenting on Stephanie's posts are positive, there are always a few with something negative to say. Social media is notorious for people who enjoy posting on people's pages, nitpicking, or simply disagreeing with what someone is sharing. We asked Bonner how she pushes through the negativity, and she said, "You know, they're bound to happen. I waited tables in New York City where people would say really mean things to my face, so I have pretty thick skin. I think the first time it happened, I was like, oh, okay, I am not going to please everyone. When it happens, I do try to reflect on why this person is upset. Is it something I did or said? Can I better myself in some way? But sometimes people are just being mean because they can be. For those people, you just have to let it go. If the majority of people are coming to you and saying they love what you're doing and they are inspired, then you're doing something right. The community I've built on my page means so much more to me than the few who say mean things about me. I take it with a grain of salt because most times, it's not really even about me; I'm just the current target." As for Stephanie's hopes for the future of BonBon Appetit, she said the ultimate dream would be to create a cookbook someday. She shared that she loves reading the stories food bloggers post before sharing their recipes. She believes it would be so fun to create a book inspired by her favorite dishes and have the opportunity to explain why they are so special to her. She also said if the opportunity came her way to do a cooking show or something longer formatted that allowed her to connect more with people through food, she would absolutely take up the offer. Stephanie's culinary journey began in California, where her passion for cooking was ignited by watching her family members create delicious meals in their home kitchen. After moving to the bright lights and fast-paced environment of New York City, she not only honed her skills in the restaurant industry but also explored her love for acting and filmmaking. Now, as a proud resident of Fort Wayne, Stephanie is combining all her life experiences to bring us BonBon Appetit, a culinary adventure like no other. On BonBon Appetit, Stephanie shares her favorite simple and mouthwatering recipes that can be easily recreated in your own kitchen. She invites us to join her journey as she explores the vibrant food scene in Fort Wayne, IN. If you want to see everything Stephanie is doing with BonBon Appetit, follow her on Instagram @sbonbon or visit her website at www.sbonbon.com. We want to send a huge thank you to Stephanie Bonner for sharing her story with us. She is a prime example of an entrepreneur. She found an industry she loved and carved her way into it by creating a fun and engaging page for people to learn, connect, and be inspired by. Thank you to Nike with Creative Roots Media for capturing the photos you see throughout the article. If you enjoy reading these stories about the entrepreneurs helping shape Fort Wayne one business at a time, sign up for our newsletter so you're always in the loop about what's happening here at the Fort Wayne Business Journal.

Hello December! The holidays are quickly approaching and if you need ideas for weekend activities with the family we got you covered! Below you will find all sorts of events happening throughout Fort Wayne Indiana this weekend! Wild Zoo Wonderland at the Zoo: 3511 Sherman Blvd Fort Wayne, IN 46808 Le Chic Holiday Market: 4000 Parnell Ave Fort Wayne, IN 46805 The Living Nativity Drive Thru: 5801 Schwartz Rd Fort Wayne, IN 46835 Cookies & Crafts with Santa: 420 W Wayne St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 Santa & Reindeer Saturdays: 1100 S Calhoun St Fort Wayne, IN 46802 December 1stGingerbread, Gymdrops, Candy Canes, and More: 4621 Speedway Dr Fort Wayne, IN 46825 If you enjoy seeing what's happening in Fort Wayne, Indiana every weekend, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or sign up for our newsletter so you're always in the loop!