Indianapolis, IN

Mayor Hogsett dines out after skipping homelessness event amid harassment claims

Published

12 months ago

June 11, 2025

Mayor Hogsett dines out after skipping homelessness event amid harassment claims

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — I-Team 8 tracked down Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett eating lunch at a downtown restaurant on Tuesday after deciding not to attend a press conference about homelessness in the city. It comes less than 24 hours after Lauren Roberts — who says she experienced sexual harassment and grooming from the mayor’s former top aide, Thomas Cook — was thrown out of a City-County Council meeting.

At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Hogsett was scheduled to attend a press conference to announce a new initiative with his Leadership Council on Homelessness.

Just before 11:30 a.m., his office announced he would no longer be attending the conference.

“In light of recent events, in order to keep the focus on supporting our unhoused neighbors, this afternoon’s press conference about the Streets to Home Indy initiative is postponed,” his office told News 8.

At around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, I-Team 8 found the Democrat mayor was eating lunch at The Oakmont, a popular downtown restaurant. The restaurant is a few blocks away from the press conference he was set to attend.

Maggie Adams-McBride is a former employee of Hogsett’s, having worked as a project manager in his office.

In early May, she resigned from her post, saying Hogsett did not adequately address cases of abuse and harassment.

“I am deeply concerned about how the administration handles harassment reports, including my own and those of colleagues,” Adams-McBride said in her resignation letter. She never received a response from Hogsett.

She also spoke at Monday night’s City-County Council meeting, joining calls for his resignation.

“He has not been held accountable for internal harm experienced by his workers,” Adams-McBride said at the meeting. “We have heard from survivors who have experienced retaliation, harassment, and systemic neglect, and these patterns don’t just exist in isolation.”

Following the meeting, Adams-McBride went to the restaurant on Tuesday.

When Hogsett left the restaurant, I-Team 8 was across the street and attempted to ask him why he had chosen not to attend the press conference and asked if he had a response to the City-County Council meeting Monday night.

He did not answer any questions at the restaurant.

Later on Tuesday afternoon, I-Team 8 sat down with Hogsett at the City-County Building for an interview and asked him about his interaction with Adams-McBride.

“I was having lunch and so she came up and we did have a conversation,” Hogsett said. “It’s unfortunate that she’s left the office, because I thought she was a wonderful employee, but she’s moved on to different things and I just said, simply wished her the best.”

I-Team 8 also asked the mayor if he was watching the City-County Council meeting and saw Roberts being thrown out of the meeting.

“I thought it was incredibly regrettable,” Hogsett said.

I-Team 8 also asked Hogsett what he has to say to current employees who are fearful of reporting harassment within his administration.

“I think it’s important that we continue to evolve the process for protection for all employees, and that includes confidentiality and anonymity, if they do have concerns,” Hogsett said.

As previously reported, I-Team 8 asked Hogsett if he has plans to resign.

“No, I don’t,” Hogsett said. “We’ve for two and a half years left in this term, and we have a lot to accomplish.”

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Indianapolis, IN

New stores in Indianapolis include indoor kid’s playground, cafe

Published

10 hours ago

June 3, 2026

Press Room

New stores in Indianapolis include indoor kid’s playground, cafe

May came and went, and with it, we saw the closest Indianapolis 500 finish in history, the 150th anniversary of Eli Lilly and a contested primary election day.

There’s also been some movement in retail news ahead of the summer shopping season. On the north side, a new women’s clothing store opened while a piercing studio set up shop in Speedway. Meanwhile, an indoor children’s play place opened on the near north side.

Read on for four spots that recently opened and one in Broad Ripple that said farewell.

Openings

Monkee’s

8659 River Crossing Blvd., monkeesofindianapolis.com, opened in March

Monkee’s of Indianapolis, a high-end women’s clothing store, opened recently on the north side in the Shops at River Crossing near the Fashion Mall. The brand Monkee’s started in the South three decades ago and has since grown to nearly 70 locations. In Indianapolis, Missy Llewellyn and Whitney Schmitt started the franchise to bring the clothing brand to the Circle City.

The Nest Play Cafe

515 E 22nd St Suite 101, indynestplaycafe.com, opened early May

The Nest Play Cafe opened at the corner of Central Avenue and 22nd Street, offering an indoor space for parents and caregivers to bring their children to play. Caregivers can book 90-minute play sessions for $15 per child over the age of one. Tickets for additional siblings run $10. The cafe sells coffee and snacks, too.

Open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon. Closed Tuesdays.

Forget Me Not Piercing Studio

5324 W. 16th St., jessflowerspiercings.square.site, opened May 27

A new piercing studio opened in Speedway at the end of May just days after the Indianapolis 500. Forget Me Not Piercing offers traditional lobe, helix and conch piercings along with nostril and septum piercings. Artist Jess Flowers opened the one-woman shop on 16th Street.

Open Sunday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Black Orchid Barbers Fountain Square

1201 Prospect St. Suite 100, blackorchidbarbers.com, opened in May

Black Orchid, a local barbershop known for its sharp haircuts with a side of humor, opened its Fountain Square spot, marking the company’s seventh brick-and-mortar location. Walk-ins are welcome but Black Orchid recommends grabbing a time slot online for your preferred service.

Open Monday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Closures

Vitality IV Bar

6302 Guilford Ave., vitalityivbar.com

An IV-wellness spot in Broad Ripple shut its doors last month. Vitality IV Bar was located next to the Thieves cocktail lounge, formerly the Broad Ripple Starbucks location, before it went out of business.

Vitality IV still operates an Indianapolis-area location on Mass Ave downtown at 749 Massachusetts Ave where customers can book a variety of infusions with vitamins.

See a store opening or closing near you? Contact IndyStar reporter Alysa Guffey at alysa.guffey@indystar.com.

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Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis artist merges forgiveness, healing and protecting water

Published

20 hours ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Indianapolis artist merges forgiveness, healing and protecting water

Carolyn Springer added streaks of light blue with her brush to the canvas. The streaks, representing light reflected through water, crossed over names written in chalk.

Forty-one names comprised the 11th layer of Springer’s “The Forgiving Sea VI,” an interactive painting that invites people to wr

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Indianapolis, IN

Garfield Park Conservatory will combine nature and crafts in June

Published

1 day ago

June 2, 2026

Press Room

Garfield Park Conservatory will combine nature and crafts in June

Elizabeth Gabriel, Mirror Indy

(MIRROR INDY) — The Garfield Park Conservatory will host multiple family-friendly events throughout June. The events include plant shows, kid’s story time and Dollar Menu Night, which allows residents to harvest and eat veggies from a community garden.

Events at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, range in price and some require advance registration.

The Indianapolis Bonsai Club will have displays and answer questions about a variety of bonsai. Vendors will have items for purchase.

🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 6, 1-5 p.m. June 7
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)

Preschoolers ages 2-5 can participate in nature-themed storytime and crafts.

🗓️ 10-11 a.m. June 9
🎟️ $6 per child

Residents of all ages can harvest and eat veggies from Blakes’ Garden. Advance registration is preferred.

🗓️ 6-7 p.m. June 10
🎟️ $1 per person

Focused on ages 2-8, participants will listen to a nature-themed story and explore Blakes’ Garden. Attendees will relocate to a classroom if there’s inclement weather.

🗓️ 10 a.m. June 12
🎟️ Free

Up to 15 neighbors ages 10 and up will learn to ferment kimchi. Registration is required.

🗓️ 1-2 p.m. June 13
🎟️ $15 per person

Kids ages 2-5 can plant and harvest crops in the Children’s Garden. Registration is required.

🗓️ 11 a.m. to noon June 24
🎟️ $6 per child

The Indiana Insectivores will display tropical and native Indiana predator plants. Plants will also be available for purchase. Those who attend the plant show will also have free entry to the Predatory Plants Presentation 1-2 p.m. June 27.

🗓️ 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 27, 1-5 p.m. June 28
🎟️ $7 per person, $15 per family (maximum of two adults per family)

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Mirror Indy reporter Elizabeth Gabriel covers the south side of Marion County. Contact her at elizabeth.gabriel@mirrorindy.org. Follow her on X at @_elizabethgabs.

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