la-la-latteOpera singer turned owner takes center stage at HobKnob

JULY 23, 2015 — Issue 75A News and Tribune Publication

TOP THREE: Uncork the Uplands at Huber's COLUMN: SoIn fashion with Peyton Schmidt

EdItorJason Thomas

dEsIgnClaire Munn

storYDanielle Grady

PHotogrAPHYTyler Stewart

WHErE to FInd soIn:• ON RACKS: We offer free copies of SoIn at numerous hotels and restaurants around Clark and Floyd counties.• IN YOUR PAPER: Every Thursday in the News and Tribune• ONLINE: newsandtribune.com /soin• ON FACEBOOK: facebook.com/YourSoInWeekly• ON TWITTER: @newsandtribune

2 | Thursday, JuLy 23, 2015 | soIn

HobKnob Coffee Co. Owner Aaron Lundy made a transition from sing-ing opera and selling real estate to running a coffee shop when the opportunity arose a year ago. | STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER STEWART

More interesting stories from Southern Indiana.

His voice made my coffee quiver. Aaron Lun-dy’s, that is. And a beautiful ripple it created.

As I was enjoying my java at HobKnob Cof-fee Co. one lazy afternoon in Floyds Knobs, an opera song lilted through the air and stopped my fingers in their social media-surfing tracks.

Chalk up Lundy’s coffee with a side of opera as another amazing experience you’ll only find in Southern Indiana and brought to life right here in SoIn’s pages.

Lundy is an operatic tenor with a master’s de-gree from the prestigious Eastman School of Music, writes Danielle Grady in today’s centerpiece.

What is Eastman School of Music, you ask? Eastman is currently the highest ranked music school according to U.S. College Rankings. The Juilliard School is second.

Lundy was one of 10 vocal performance majors when he attended. The school’s acceptance rate was 13 percent in 2011.

And you can find him singing songs and serv-ing up coffee as the owner of HobKnob right in your backyard.

Such a rare treat. The stars aligned perfectly that Lundy — tired of bustle of cramped cities like New York or Chicago — joined his wife Sarah in Jeffersonville and began teaching at Bellarmine University and Indiana University Southeast.

That path would ultimately lead to an invest-ment in HobKnob and a self education on the finer elements of all things coffee roasting. Lundy

compared his musical past to the “artisan” process of brewing coffee, Grady writes.

A fine art, indeed.

— Jason Thomas is the editor of SoIn. He can be reached by phone at 812-206-2127 or email at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com. Follow him on Twitter: @ScoopThomas.

NEW ALBANY — The Carnegie Center for Art and History has a new exhibit: “David Iacovazzi-Pau: Paint-ings on Canvas and Paper.”

There are several programs planned in conjunction with this exhibit, in-cluding a special evening event, “The Subject as the Subject” on Aug. 13, featuring a signing of David Iaco-vazzi-Pau’s new catalog followed by a live interview with Gunnar Deather-age, fashion designer, past “Project Runway” competitor, and subject of one of Iacovazzi-Pau’s paintings in the exhibit. All programs are free and open to the public; please note those programs that require pre-registration; call 812-944-7336 to register.

Born 1978 in Luxembourg, Iaco-vazzi-Pau began his education in fine arts from the age of 15 in Belgium. He later attended the Centre Académique des Arts in Luxembourg and immi-grated to the United States in 1997, studying at Indiana University South-east. Iacovazzi-Pau’s work focuses on the human figure and is a visual diary of the people he encounters. His series

reveal different aspects of the sitters and the link between their physical appearance and personality.

There will be an opening reception for this exhibit from 6 to 8 p.m. Fri-day, July 24. Visitors can enjoy light refreshments, music by the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Quartet, and a chance to meet Iacovazzi-Pau. This exhibit and the opening reception are free and open to the public.SChEdULE OF EvENTS:

• Tuesday July 21, 12-1 p.m.,

Lunch & Learn: Pamela Mattei, free, registration required; “Making a Living Through Art”; bring a lunch, drinks provided

• Friday, July 24, 6-8 p.m., Exhibit Opening Reception, free

• Saturday, Aug. 8, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., Family Fun Workshop: YOU, free, registration required

• Thursday, Aug. 13, 6-7:30 p.m., “The Subject as the Subject.” Free. Catalog signing with David Iacovazzi-Pau, 6 p.m.; Live interview with Gun-nar Deatherage, 6:30 p.m.

nEXt soIn:

SOIN ThE KNOW• WHAT: ‘David Iacovazzi-Pau:

Paintings on Canvas and Paper’ exhibit

• WHEN: Friday through Sept. 26; opening reception 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 24

• WHERE: Carnegie Center for Art & History, 201 E. Spring St., New Albany

The diary of the human figure

Got a story you're just dying to see in SoIn? Tweet or Facebook us and your idea could be our next SoIn feature. For the latest SoIn content, follow/like us online.

follow us on TWITTER @newsandtribune FACEBOOK/YourSoInWeekly

ON ThE COvER:

Serving up some coffee with a song

We now have

MINIATURE GOLF!

Charlestown Family Activities Park1000 Park St. (across from the high school football fi eld)

Charlestown, IN.

Now Scheduling Birthday Parties, Company Picnics, Field Trips

and Family Reunions.Park Admission is $3.00 per person

(ages 2 and up)

Also:• Sprinkle Pad• Playground• Roller Skating

($2.00 skate rental)

AlAlsoso::• SpSprinkle Pad

18 HOLE Miniature Golf $5.00 per person

(includes park admission)

Play additional rounds for $4 each.

JASON THOMASSoIn Editor

Hot deals, cool tHemespread your wings

• WHAT: Christmas in July• WHEN: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 24• WHERE: Downtown New AlbanyCelebrate a Christmas in July Sale in Historic

Downtown New Albany and some stores will be open until 8 p.m. Visit stores on Pearl Street and Market Street including: Classic Furniture, Colokial Copper Moon, Dress & Dwell, Earth’s Art, J. Nicolle Salon & Spa, Jimmy’s Music, Mari-posa, New Albany Honey & Apiary, Opal Gypsy, Pearls On Pearl, Regalo, SoIN2Dance, Sparrow’s Tree, Third Market, True North

• WHAT: The Monarchs with guest Personnel Only• WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday• WHERE: RiverStage, Spring Street and Riverside

Drive, Jeffersonville• INfO: theriverstage.com• COST: FreeEvery Friday, local and regional bands perform on

the RiverStage along the Ohio River in Jeffer-sonville. Lawn chairs, blankets and coolers are welcome. No alcohol is permitted. Food vendors and a beer garden are available on site. The Monarchs have come a long way. In 1960, the Blue Angels, a 5-piece combo, contained the core of what would become The Monarchs.

gottA go: Interested in seeing your event in our 3 To Go? Email SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

• WHAT: Uncork the Uplands• WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, July

25• WHERE: Huber’s Orchard, Winery

and Vineyards, 19816 Huber Road, Borden

• COST: Main event is $60 plus tax• INfO: uncorktheuplands.comThere are nine wineries on the

Indiana Uplands Wine Trail, located throughout southcentral Indiana. For one night each year, they’re all in one place: Uncork the Uplands. Best Vineyards Winery; Brown County Winery; Butler Winery; French Lick Winery; Huber Winery; Owen Valley Winery; Oliver Winery

Turtle Run Winery;Winzerwald Winery

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| 3soIn | Thursday, JuLy 23, 2015

1 pop tHe cork

3 TO GO Where to go and be seen in Southern Indiana

2 3

ToasTy Tones Opera singer finds family in coffee shop customers

By DANIELLE GRADYdanielle.grady@newsandtribune.com

The music at HobKnob Coffee Co. in Floyds Knobs isn’t always the typi-cal, easy-listening fare — although

some customers would agree it’s just as pleasant.

The culprit is Aaron Lundy, the owner of the shop and an opera singer known to serenade unsuspecting customers and empty rooms with equal helpings of gusto.

Lundy’s potential as a young singer was as high as the impressive notes he can hit as an operatic tenor with a master’s degree from the prestigious Eastman School of

Music. His devotion to family and the small-town lifestyle led him away from the city and to Southeastern Indiana, the area his wife Sarah comes from.

Lundy, an Owensboro, Ky., native, started singing at 5 years old. His father performed in a country western band and his mother’s family members were musically inclined, he said. Some of them formed a traveling gospel group that Lundy sang with.

Lundy’s listening habits drifted from church to the local NPR station, where classical music often played. He mastered gospel style music and church hymns at age 14, but his vocal chords cried out for a new

challenge. His goals solidified after finding some records at the library. Lundy wanted to sing opera.

His working class family wasn’t easily convinced.

“My mom was very supportive, but the rest of my family, not that they weren’t supportive, but they didn’t understand why didn’t I just get a factory job and stay home,” he said.

Instead, Lundy became the first family member to graduate with a bachelor’s de-gree and the only one to earn a master’s.

He received a scholarship to attend the Eastman School of Music for his graduate de-

gree. Eastman is currently the highest ranked music school according to U.S. College Rankings. The Juilliard School is second.

Lundy was one of 10 vocal performance majors when he attended. The school’s ac-ceptance rate was 13 percent in 2011.

At 35, Lundy still claims his accomplish-ments were luck — at least partially.

“I knew I was talented,” he said. “I knew I was rarely gifted to sing, but I didn’t know I would have the opportunities that were offered to me.”

As a kid, Lundy traveled the state as a gospel singer. In his 20s, he explored the world.

He showcased his talents in Germany, Austria, Japan and Italy, but the experience wasn’t everything.

“The fact is that when you’re an opera singer, you give your whole life to opera,” he said. “You travel from city to city and you live out of a suitcase in hotels for weeks at a time.”

He wanted a family and he knew he wasn’t suited to the bustle of cramped cities like New York or Chicago. Lundy joined Sarah in Jeffersonville and began teaching at Bellarmine University and Indiana Univer-sity Southeast.

TOP: HobKnob Coffee Co. Owner Aaron Lundy prepares a cup of coffee for a customer behind the counter at the store’s location in Floyds Knobs.

LEFT: Light roasted Colombian beans sit in a container on the counter, awaiting to be freshly ground for brewing at HobKnob Coffee Co.

BOTTOM: Barista Sean Jenks serves a customer at the front desk of HobKnob Coffee Co. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART

JAVA JINGLE• WHAT: HobKnob Coffee Co.• WHErE: 3700 Paoli Pike,

Floyds Knobs• HOurS: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7

a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

• InFO: 812-728-8239• VIDEO: To watch a video of

HobKnob and to hear Aaron Lundy’s tenor opera voice,

view this story online at newsandtribune.com. SEE OPErA, PAGE 8

ToasTy Tones Opera singer finds family in coffee shop customers

By DANIELLE GRADYdanielle.grady@newsandtribune.com

The music at HobKnob Coffee Co. in Floyds Knobs isn’t always the typi-cal, easy-listening fare — although

some customers would agree it’s just as pleasant.

The culprit is Aaron Lundy, the owner of the shop and an opera singer known to serenade unsuspecting customers and empty rooms with equal helpings of gusto.

Lundy’s potential as a young singer was as high as the impressive notes he can hit as an operatic tenor with a master’s degree from the prestigious Eastman School of

Music. His devotion to family and the small-town lifestyle led him away from the city and to Southeastern Indiana, the area his wife Sarah comes from.

Lundy, an Owensboro, Ky., native, started singing at 5 years old. His father performed in a country western band and his mother’s family members were musically inclined, he said. Some of them formed a traveling gospel group that Lundy sang with.

Lundy’s listening habits drifted from church to the local NPR station, where classical music often played. He mastered gospel style music and church hymns at age 14, but his vocal chords cried out for a new

challenge. His goals solidified after finding some records at the library. Lundy wanted to sing opera.

His working class family wasn’t easily convinced.

“My mom was very supportive, but the rest of my family, not that they weren’t supportive, but they didn’t understand why didn’t I just get a factory job and stay home,” he said.

Instead, Lundy became the first family member to graduate with a bachelor’s de-gree and the only one to earn a master’s.

He received a scholarship to attend the Eastman School of Music for his graduate de-

gree. Eastman is currently the highest ranked music school according to U.S. College Rankings. The Juilliard School is second.

Lundy was one of 10 vocal performance majors when he attended. The school’s ac-ceptance rate was 13 percent in 2011.

At 35, Lundy still claims his accomplish-ments were luck — at least partially.

“I knew I was talented,” he said. “I knew I was rarely gifted to sing, but I didn’t know I would have the opportunities that were offered to me.”

As a kid, Lundy traveled the state as a gospel singer. In his 20s, he explored the world.

He showcased his talents in Germany, Austria, Japan and Italy, but the experience wasn’t everything.

“The fact is that when you’re an opera singer, you give your whole life to opera,” he said. “You travel from city to city and you live out of a suitcase in hotels for weeks at a time.”

He wanted a family and he knew he wasn’t suited to the bustle of cramped cities like New York or Chicago. Lundy joined Sarah in Jeffersonville and began teaching at Bellarmine University and Indiana Univer-sity Southeast.

TOP: HobKnob Coffee Co. Owner Aaron Lundy prepares a cup of coffee for a customer behind the counter at the store’s location in Floyds Knobs.

LEFT: Light roasted Colombian beans sit in a container on the counter, awaiting to be freshly ground for brewing at HobKnob Coffee Co.

BOTTOM: Barista Sean Jenks serves a customer at the front desk of HobKnob Coffee Co. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART

JAVA JINGLE• WHAT: HobKnob Coffee Co.• WHErE: 3700 Paoli Pike,

Floyds Knobs• HOurS: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 7

a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday

• InFO: 812-728-8239• VIDEO: To watch a video of

HobKnob and to hear Aaron Lundy’s tenor opera voice,

view this story online at newsandtribune.com. SEE OPErA, PAGE 8

alBums: Books:moVies:JULY 24é “Woman” by Jill Scott “Shockwave Supernova” by

Joe Satriani

JULY 24é “Pixels” “Paper Towns”

6 | Thursday, JuLy 23, 2015 | soIn

Doing your best to look the part

EnTErTaInmEnT This week's entertainment releases

SOIN STREET ChIC: ExPRESSINg YOUR INdIvIdUALITY

Just as the seasons change year round, so do the various styles and trends of the fashion world. Though

fashion is constantly reinventing itself, there are those rare and impeccable trends that just seem to stick. Though we can typically be seen as more reserved when it comes to bold fashion statements in the good ole Midwest compared to other high-end parts of the country, that certainly doesn’t mean we are boring. In fact, the heart of the Mid-west’s character and culture is visible through the apparel of its residents.

Hailing from the quaint city of New Albany, I would consider myself pretty knowledgeable of the local fashion scene. Amid the bold hats and feathery fascinators (hello Kentucky Derby!), polished Oxfords and preppy pastels, there is a level of freedom of expression when it comes to Southern fashion. Though our Southern belles keep it classy for the rest of us during the Kentucky Derby’s off-season, it is not all button-ups and bow ties in New Albany. Strutting the busy streets of the downtown area are several stylish lo-cals that are experts in expressing their individualities through their outfits.

One thing I love about fashion is its ability to help you express whatever you want without having to mutter a

word. Your individual style and acces-sory choices do all the talking for you. I will give you two different scenarios for how this statement rings true.

One: I am happily skipping, polished head to toe in my best dressed with my lipstick and cappuccino. If you see me like this, you officially have the green light to freely approach me. I am dressed, I am happy and I have my lipstick. I am prepared for the day.

Two (Beware): I have just rolled out of bed and I am still in last night’s pajamas with a hoodie over my head, sprinting to my 8 a.m. and you make the mistake of approaching me (silly, you). I am not dressed, I am not happy and I do NOT have my lipstick. I am not prepared for the day.

I am constantly inspired not only by the way locals dress and express their personalities through their clothes, but by the way they carry themselves. Yes we all have those days of stumbling out of bed and hitting the snooze button one too many times, but we also have those days where we shine. We should even embrace those lazy days because they are apart of what makes us who we are.

You should bask in the awesome freedom to be able to wear whatever the heck you want to wear (No I am not telling you to waltz into work in your birthday suit). Fashion can be a great way to showcase your unique and bold personality by wearing pieces you feel comfortable and confident in. As Versace stated, whatever you decide you are, express it not only by the way you dress but by the way you live. Put-ting that statement into “Peyton terms”: Don’t just walk the walk and talk the talk, but look the part!

— Peyton Schmidt is a Southern Indiana native and a sophomore communications major focusing on journalism and fashion business at Bellarmine University. She can be reached via email at pischmidt96@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter: @peytonscmidtt.

NASHVILLE — More than your typical beer fest, GnawBrew Beer, Art and Music Festival will bring together local and regional professional breweries, home-brewers and wine makers, beer connoisseurs, along with Hoosier artists and musicians, for a fun-filled day in Brown County on July 25, according to a Gnaw-Brew news release. Back for a sixth year, GnawBrew is the best of all festival worlds, combining beer, art, and music in a unique, country setting you cannot find anywhere else.

Held at eXplore Brown Coun-ty, this festival creates the perfect atmosphere for personal interac-tion between the artists, brewers, musicians and guests. Festival-goers will have the opportunity to meet and greet Hoosier brewers, performing bands, and featured artists as they mingle around the festival’s grounds and campsites. GnawBrew’s laid-back environ-ment and welcoming vibe drive a sense of community among both patrons and participants.

There will be no shortage of

samples for guests at GnawBrew either, with 15 participating pro-fessional breweries from across the state. From regional favorites and traditional style beers to more radical flavors and home-brewed masterpieces, there is a beer for everyone at GnawBrew.

The festival also offers a one-of-a-kind Beer Exchange and a Homebrew Competition. GnawBrew’s Beer Exchange is a community-driven craft brew tast-ing feature where guests are able to sample an even wider variety of beers courtesy of their fellow festival-goers. Those bringing a six-pack of their favorite craft beer to the festival will be able to participate in the exchange.

Take a bite out of brewsSOIN ThE KNOW• WHAT: GnawBrew Festival• WHEN: Saturday, July 25• WHERE: eXplore Brown

County, 2620 Valley Branch Road, Nashville

• INfO: gnawbrew.com• COST: $40

JULY 28é “What Pet Should I Get?” by

Dr. Seuss “Badlands” by C.J. Box

LOcaL SOIn HappEnInGSFeeling left out? Send your establishment’s and/or organization’s upcoming events/new features/entertainment information to SoIn Editor Jason Thomas at jason.thomas@newsandtribune.com

LIvE mUSIC AT hUBER’S• WHEn: 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sunday• WHErE: Huber WinerySaturday, July 25: Aquilla Bock; Sunday, July 26: Kyle Hastings[huberwinery.com]

LIvE mUSIC AT WICK’S• WHAt: Live on State• WHErE: Wick’s, 225 State St., New AlbanyFriday, July 24: Taylor Lynch & The Insane Outlaws; Saturday,

July 25: The Sellouts

CONCERTS IN ThE PARK• WHEn: 7 p.m. Friday• WHErE: Warder Park, Court Avenue and Spring Street,

JeffersonvilleJuly 24: Grand Slam; July 31: River Cities Concert Band;

Aug. 7: The Rheingold German American Band; Aug. 14: Rascals of Ragtyme; Aug. 21: The Saints Blues Band; Aug. 28: Indigo; Sept. 4: Moonlight Big Band; Sept. 11: Cloigheann Irish Band

LIvE mUSIC AT PASTImE • WHEn: Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m. to midnight• WHErE: Pastime Grill and Pub, 424 E. Market St., New

AlbanyWHo: Men in Denim

RIvERSTAgE CONCERT SERIES• WHEn: 7 p.m. Friday• WHErE: RiverStage, Riverside Drive and Spring Street,

JeffersonvilleJuly 24: The Monarchs with guest Personnel Only; July

31: The Wulfe Bros. with special guest The Doo-Wop All Stars and Munch; Aug. 1: Jeffersonville Goes Country Maddie & Tae with special guest Love & Theft; Aug. 7: Endless Summer Band with guest TimeSquare; Aug. 14: Juice Box Heroes with guest The Hiding; Aug. 21: Tony & the Tanlines with guest Blues and Greys; Aug. 28: 100% Poly with guest Muji Fuji; Sept. 4: Steamboat Days The Louisville Crashers with guest Derby City Rockers; Sept.

5: Steamboat Days; Sept. 6: Steamboat Days Dance-A-thon/ Kidz ROCK the Stage; Sept. 12: Zumba Glow Party; Sept. 13: Rock on Water Jason Gray with guest Carrollton & Hush Harbor

BICENTENNIAL PARK CONCERT SERIES• WHEn: 6 p.m. Fridays• WHErE: Bicentennial Park, Pearl and Spring streets,

New AlbanyJuly 24: Kaleidico; July 31: Nick Dittmeier is a singer-song-

writer from Jeffersonville.

LIvE mUSIC AT NAPh• WHErE: New Albany Production House, 1736 E. Main

St., New AlbanyThursday, July 23: Visionaries, London Eyes, Placebo Effect,

Silvertree Manour, 6:30 p.m. $6/advance, $8/day of show; Saturday, July 25: Ghost Bomb, Rockaway Drive, Dark Horse, Pazuzu, 6:30 p.m., $10/advance, $12/day of show

[naproductionhouse.com]

LIvE mUSIC AT BIg FOUR BURgERS + BEER JEFFERSONvILLE• WHErE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 134 Spring St., Jef-

fersonville• WHEn: Friday and SaturdayFriday, July 24: Aquilla; Saturday, July 25: Dogville; Friday,

July 31: Drew Alexander[bigfourburgers.com]

LIvE mUSIC AT BIg FOUR BURgERS + BEER NEW ALBANY• WHErE: Big Four Burgers + Beer, 114 E. Main St., New

Albany• WHEn: Friday and SaturdayFriday, July 24: Dogville; Saturday, July 25: Aquilla; Friday,

July 31: The Strays[bigfourburgers.com]

CORYdON JAmBOREE LIvE• WHErE: 220 Hurst Lane, Corydon• WHEn: 7:30 p.m. SaturdaysSaturday, July 25: Brandy Meenach, Albert Hilbert, Christy

Miller General Admission $10; children 6-12, $6; under 6, free.

For reservations, directions or any other information call 812-738-1130.

[corydonjamboree.com]

ROSS COUNTRY JAmBOREE• WHErE: 31 Wardell St., ScottsburgFriday, July 24: Doo Wops All Stars; Saturday, July 25:

Materfest: Afternoon shows: $15: Kings of Wing- Lanny McIntosh and Dave Campbell opening for Roux DeBayou, 3:30 p.m.; Evening show: $20: Kings of Wing and Natalie Berry opening for Terry Goffee - a tribute to Johnny Cash

Regular shows: general admission $10; children 6-12, $6; under 6, free. Info: 866-573-7677.

[rosscountryjamboree.com]

| 7soIn | Thursday, JuLy 23, 2015

Below is a Q&A with Jim Book, organizer of the New Albany criterium, which will be held 9 a.m. Sunday, July 26, in Downtown New Albany.

WhAT IS ThE CRITERIUm? WhAT IS ThE ROUTE?

It's a bicycle race held on a rel-atively short course on closed city streets. In this case, Pearl-Main-Fourth-Market-Bank-Spring and back to Pearl. The races are based on time ranging from 20 or 30 minutes for juniors and beginners to 60 minutes for more seasoned racers. The officials determine the speed of the average lap and at the appropriate time the begin count-ing down the number of laps with a counter beside the start/finish. At the beginning of the last lap a bell is rung to indicate one to go to the racers and the person across the line first on the next lap wins.

WhAT IS NEW ThIS YEAR?Hopefully mild and sunny

weather instead of rainy thunder-storms like last year. Comfy Cow has offered support in the kids race that is happening at noon. Any kid in a helmet should come out and ride their bike to receive a goody bag.

WhAT OThER ATTRACTIONS ArE tHErE rELAtEd to tHE CRITERIUm? FOOd BOOThS? ENTERTAINmENT?

Some of your favorite restau-rants and retail shops are going to

be open for spectators and riders. Greenway Project and Clarksville Schwinn will be represented with a booth and First Harrison Bank will be handing out water bottles for everyone. We were hoping that Houndmouth would still be in the area after Forecastle to set up and jam on the streets.

hOW IS ThE CRITERIUm BE-COmINg AN ImPORTANT EvENT IN ThE ECONOmIC dEvELOP-mENT OF dOWNTOWN NEW ALBANY?

Bringing customers to res-taurants and shops on race day, but more importantly exposing a group of people to what down-town New Albany has to offer in terms of dining, shopping, and ease of access. The crit brings riders from many different areas into New Albany to compete in the race. Last year we had a couple from Chicago that stopped by to race as they were heading to North Carolina, they loved the entire event.

How can people register for the event/contact info:

https://www.truesport.com/index.php/events/truesport_event/490

ANYThINg ELSE?Downtown New Albany

provides a great layout for the crite-rium that is very spectator friendly. Spectators have many establish-ments to visit and watch as cyclist fly by at 28-plus mph.

Jim Book, Starlight, race director for the 2015 New Albany Criteri-um, rides on Water Street along the New Albany riverfront last year. Book is a co-founder of the 0.7-mile race, and also competes. This year's event will take place Sunday, July 26. | FILE PHOTO

race the na circuit

OPERA: Lundy spent free time researching roasting

8 | Thursday, JuLy 23, 2015 | soIn

That’s when another opportunity came his way.

SAmE LANgUAgE, dIFFERENT FLAvORHobKnob Coffee Co. was a business op-

portunity — an investment. At least that’s what Lundy thought at first.

He bought the company a year ago after its owner of more than 10 years sold his shares.

In the beginning, Lundy was the “financial muscle.” He had a partner who acted as the manager, but their business relationship eventu-ally dissolved and Lundy took over her manage-rial duties after she left.

He admits he didn’t know much about coffee, but that didn’t deter him.

“I’ve always been an avid learner whether it be about voice or anything,” he said. “One of the things that attracts me to coffee is how much there is to know.”

Lundy spent all his free time researching roasting, the origins of different coffee beans and steaming milk.

Lundy compared his musical past to the “arti-san” process of brewing coffee.

“I believed in quality and I always have,” he said.

Some of the words used for coffee are even Italian — the language of the country that cre-ated opera.

He said HobKnob coffee has a smooth flavor which is the result of a specific roasting profile.

His kinship with quality may be why Lundy said his business is doing “pretty well.”

Lundy heard some complaints from the shop’s patrons when he first bought HobKnob.

“At first we got lots of, ‘Well, that’s not the way the previous owner did it.’ or ‘This isn’t HobKnob anymore,’” said Lundy.

As summer merged into fall and winter brought the cold and a thirst for warm drinks, Lundy be-gan to see former regulars making their way back to his dark brown couches and tall stools.

He began to learn names, orders and other details about their lives.

Lundy had moved to Southern Indiana to nurture an immediate family, but HobKnob introduced him to an unlikely extended one.

Mike Mullins, a HobKnob employee and an Indiana University Southeast senior, has worked in the food-service industry for years, but said HobKnob is a different experience entirely.

“It’s definitely not a work atmosphere where it’s just another customer or another number in our book,” he said. “We get to see friendly faces, they get to see friendly faces. You’re not just paying for coffee, you’re paying for a conversation.”

Amy Gesenhuse can be found at HobKnob sev-eral times throughout the week — perched on a

chair and accompanied by her laptop. She’s been returning to the shop for at least seven years.

“I’m from Floyds Knobs so the chances of me knowing or even being related to most of the customers are pretty high so it’s hard not to feel like a family atmosphere, but Aaron really helps

cultivate that environment — just with how they treat customers and the surroundings,” she said.

Gesenhuse even said she doesn’t think much has changed since Lundy assumed ownership of the shop.

Of course, there’s that key difference —

Lundy’s voice. He breaks into song at least once a day, said Mullins.

And when he does, applause tends to follow.

Patrons chat among themselves while having coffee at a table in the HobKnob Coffee Co. din-ing area. | STAFF PHOTOS BY TYLER STEWART

Two shots of espresso are poured into a cup of coffee to make a Black Eye for a customer at HobKnob Coffee Co.

A variety of coffee blends are organized from light to dark roasts at HobKnob Coffee Co. in floyds Knobs.

Pre-roasted coffee beans are measured to create one of the HobKnob Coffee Co. signa-ture blends.

A pair of scissors sit atop imported bags of organic coffee. HobKnob Coffee Co. carries 12 types of beans from 10 different countries.

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