Good morning, Hamilton County! In today’s edition: MasterChef champion launches Clutch Kitchen, an immersive gaming venue debuts, a 90s murder mystery dinner invites sleuths, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

🏆 Most popular this week

Curated by popular demand — here are this week’s most-clicked events, local spots, and stories.

Fresh culinary venture arrives: Fishers Test Kitchen in the Sun King building has closed, making way for Clutch Kitchen from former MasterChef champion, which opened Jan. 1 and will renovate into a full-service restaurant — read the full story.

Ambitions amid tighter state limits: Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam outlines 2026 plans, from possible AI to parks upgrades, as Senate Enrolled Act 1 tightens funding. Big redevelopment deals are expected, with milestone anniversaries ahead — get all the details.

World’s first gaming venue: Activate Fishers is now open with an interactive mix of fitness and tech for ages six and up. Try games like basketball and MegaGrid at the 96th Street location — see hours, location and options.

Give your decor new life: Happy Goat Lucky Acres in Noblesville is accepting real Christmas trees and wreaths for goats, with limits on large-box and treated trees, and plans to turn trees into mulch — see how and what to donate.

Community wellness gets boost: Fishers, Indiana, recently marked year-end upgrades to green spaces, opening the new White River Park and unveiling a plaza along the Nickel Plate Trail, highlighting environmental and health benefits — read the full story.

A bid for global share: Incog BioPharma plans to invest about $200 million to expand its Fishers, Indiana sterile injectables plant, a move expected to add around 1,000 jobs with state backing — get all the details.

Are you overpaying? The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. I was paying over $300 for ONE car until I checked out various quotes, switched providers, and ultimately cut my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably losing money too — this free comparison tool makes it easy.

Gold & silver are hot: Gold just had it’s best year since 1979. Silver did even better, climbing nearly 150% in 2025… and analysts expect the momentum to continue. If you’re curious about adding precious metals to your portfolio as a market hedge, American Hartford has a helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free — and definitely worth a read.

A new haircare solution: My hair’s been thinning and I’ve been quietly ignoring it, hoping it’ll fix itself. Plot twist… it hasn’t. When I finally started looking into what I should do, there were so many options I didn’t know where to start. I stumbled on Keranique, and its simplicity really sold me. One kit, no pills, no choosing products, and no confusion whatsoever. It’s also on sale with a money-back guarantee (although I doubt you’ll need it).

📆 Sneak peek at next week

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🧶 Handmade Blanket-Making @ Crate Escapes Dog Park + Bar | Monday (1/12) at 6:00 PM – Bring your patience and a decent playlist, and learn to make a handmade blanket from scratch. It’s cozy, hands-on, and pleasantly low-drama, like therapy with yarn. Leave with a blanket, bragging rights, and maybe one fewer streaming subscription.

🛒 Guided Grocery Tour with Chef Anupy Singla @ Niemann Harvest Market | Wednesday (1/14) at 1:30 PM – Stick around after the ghee class, because the real magic happens in the spice aisle. Chef Anupy leads a smart, no-nonsense walk through Harvest Market, covering what to buy, what to skip, and how to stock your pantry like a pro, and it’s free.

💐 Flower Arranging Class @ The Sensory Shoppe | Wednesday (1/14) at 5:30 PM – Give your coffee table something prettier than remote controls with a one-hour flower arranging class led by the pros from Oberer’s. Learn simple design tricks, play with fresh seasonal stems, and leave with your own arrangement, no experience or green thumb required, all supplies included.

⚗ Pour Your Own Epoxy @ Upland Carmel | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Grab a pint at Upland Clay Terrace and pour your epoxy river charcuterie board or lazy susan on walnut, colors of your choice. You do the fun part, they finish it and ship it later. Finally, a project that pairs with beer, patience, and cheese.

🌷 Bulb Lasagna Method @ Wasson | Thursday (1/15) at 6:00 PM – Over at Wasson in Fishers, we’re learning the bulb lasagna method, essentially a Hoosier casserole for your pots. Layer those leftover bulbs for waves of blooms, less digging, and more smug porch-sitting. Dirt therapy, expert tips, and zero soggy noodles.

❄ Festival of Ice @ Carmel Arts & Design District | Friday (1/16) at 4:00 PM – Let the pros chisel ice into art in the Arts & Design District, then swing by The Ice at Carter Green for People’s Choice voting, the Carmel Fire Department chili cook-off, skating, and a live DJ. It’s free, kid-approved, and peak Indiana winter.

🕵 Murder Mystery Dinner @ Urban Apples Cidery | Friday (1/16) at 6:00 PM – Ready to relive the 90s without dial-up? Urban Apples hosts a murder mystery dinner where you bust out scrunchies and bucket hats, solve a whodunit with mall rats and valley girls, and get dinner, a first drink, and the show for $65, 21 and over.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

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📻 Hamilton County report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 44°F – Low: 23°F – Precip: 59%

Rain likely between 10am and 2pm, then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy. High near 44, with temperatures falling to around 40 in the afternoon. West southwest wind 3 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: A chance of rain showers before 7pm, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy. Low around 23, with temperatures rising to around 26 overnight. West wind 9 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 33°F – Low: 24°F – Precip: 30%

A chance of snow before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 33. West northwest wind 12 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 24. West wind 5 to 9 mph.

Most popular house this week

This 5-bed, 3.5-bath spans nearly 4,000 square feet in Carmel Clay schools, minutes from downtown Carmel. A grand foyer opens to a sunken family room with fireplace, custom built-ins, and a sunroom. The gourmet kitchen features high-end appliances and a large island. Dual primary suites, one on the main and one upstairs, boost flexibility.

Upstairs adds three bedrooms and a full bath, plus a finished basement for workouts. Outside, an inground pool, putting green, and patio anchor entertaining. A heated three-car garage with epoxy floors joins updates like a new roof, gutters, HVAC, refreshed kitchen and baths, and new flooring.

Take a peek inside →