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    What In The Hell Is There To Do In Evansville, Indiana?

    by Dewan Gibson October 2, 2019
    written by Dewan Gibson
    Retro Greyhound station in Evansville, Indiana

    Work has led to me various Midwestern cities that few would visit unless they were being paid to. That’s not to mean they’re unremarkable places. It’s just that no one really says, “Man, I heard Evansville, Indiana is poppin’! Let me check it out!”

    Believe it or not, I found good seafood in Evansville. It was at a “fast casual” place called Tin Fish. I thought it was a local spot, but it’s actually part of a small chain with locations in California, Florida, and of course…Evansville (Newburgh), Indiana? I have no idea why, but it works. 

    I walked into the restaurant and felt the stares of workers and patrons who weren’t too used to my kind. By “my kind” I mean lanky black guys who scurry to the counter like they’re about to hit a lick but really just want a fish taco before the place closes. I ordered oysters and two tacos: shrimp and scallop. I almost returned the tacos because I’m anti-cheese, but the smell was mild and didn’t overpower the taste of the seafood. The shrimp were tiny, probably newborns, but the scallop taco made the meal. I’ll be back, but hopefully when I’m in California. 

    Shrimp and scallop tacos from The Tin Fish in Evansville, Indiana

    After the meal, I took a walking tour of the gentrification in the Haynie’s Corner neighborhood. There were round women dressed like wizards or fairies or something. I don’t know. I guess the theater had just let out. There were shops that I wish were open, and a rainbow bench that stood out.

    Rainbow bench in the Haynie's Corner neighborhood in Evansville, Indiana.

    I went downtown and walked down the very appropriately titled Main Street. There were restaurants, a co-working space, a hookah spot, and a retro-looking Greyhound station just around the corner. The ‘Hound was closed for the night so I couldn’t go inside. But I was fortunate enough to see a woman sitting on the curb, yelling, “Hey! We been married to him, bitch!” 

    She wasn’t talking to me, or anyone actually, and I have nothing against polygamy, but I’ve seen enough horror films to know that I should avoid eye contact and get away.

    I walked over to a restaurant called Comfort by the Cross-Eyed Cricket for a beer. A white man, probably around 50, possibly a bodybuilder, or maybe just a really kind steroid user, offered me some of his cheese balls: “My man! Want some cheese balls?”

    I laughed because I thought it was some sort of hyper-masculine joke among locals. But nah, he was really offering me cheese balls. As I mentioned, cheese ain’t my thing, but I didn’t want to be rude. I took a bite and thought to myself, “Nasty! Man, that’s what I get…” 

    I struck a conversation with the restaurant manager. He was old school, dressed impeccably in black slacks and a light purple dress shirt that you’d never find at Marshall’s or T.J. Maxx. You could tell he cared about the restaurant. We talked kids and how Evansville is a great place to raise a family. He said we should visit during the annual Fall Festival. He also suggested that I go to the casino. The bartender chimed in, “Check out Franklin Street, too. We’re going to a place called Lamascos later.”

    The Tropicana Casino was THE spot for Evansville’s octogenarians. I should have known by the number of cars parked crooked in the lot. It’s not a huge casino, and fairly understated, but it’s something to do on a late Tuesday evening in Evansville, Indiana.

    I wanted to have a drink, maybe get some life advice from a senior at the bar, but the smoke was killing my eyes. I got out of there when I felt tears coming on like Michael Jackson did at the end of the “She’s Out of My Life” video. 

    My next stop was Franklin Street. It looked as if it’d be a happening place on the weekend. There were lots of bars and even a gun shop in case s**t got real. I drove up and down the street a few times, looking for a place that felt welcoming and energetic. Unfortunately a train came through and sapped the enthusiasm I had to actually get out the car. I was stuck at the crossing for at least 20 minutes. An Impossible Whopper and a seltzer water in bed started to seem more inviting than a bar. 

    Train crossing on West Franklin Street in Evansville, Indiana.

    I went on a food hunt and then back to the hotel. Evansville, Indiana isn’t so bad, or even so boring, at least from what I saw during my limited stay. But I probably won’t be back for the Fall Festival. 

    -Dewan Gibson

    October 2, 2019
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  • Smoked Meat, Nice Views, and Reefer: A Road Trip Through Central Canada

    by Dewan Gibson August 10, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson August 10, 2019

    GQ, I think, had recommended Metropolitan as the THE spot for happy hour in Ottawa, the first city on my road trip through Central Canada. Supposedly it’s the restaurant where…

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  • Beaches, Segregation, and Crab Rice: A Family Road Trip To Charleston, South Carolina

    by Dewan Gibson June 22, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson June 22, 2019

    The tour guide at McLeod Plantation in Charleston, South Carolina may be the wokest white man since Shaun King. The McLeod family, he explained, benefited from slavery up to the…

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  • I Went To Battle Against Wells Fargo And Won My $400 Bonus

    by Dewan Gibson June 1, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson June 1, 2019

    I called Wells Fargo’s customer service line on a Saturday morning but code-switched into my weekday work voice. “Hi. I’m calling about a checking account bonus that may be due…

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  • My Biracial Son Loves Me Because I Have “Blak Skin” (Among Other Reasons, I Hope)

    by Dewan Gibson May 21, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson May 21, 2019

    I wrote an article for Scary Mommy a few years back that discussed how my tribe of Lightskins are free to choose their own racial identity. The piece went semi-viral…

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  • ‘Don’t Get Shot!’ A One-Night Trip To St. Louis

    by Dewan Gibson May 19, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson May 19, 2019

    I touched the “freeways off” icon on Waze and took the street route from Cathy’s Kitchen in Ferguson, Missouri to Downtown St. Louis. I passed Leroy’s Barbershop. Its large lot…

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  • Taking A Parenting Break With A Short Solo Trip To San Diego

    by Dewan Gibson April 24, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson April 24, 2019

    I love my family. I also like them most of the time. We travel often and laugh a lot and live a comfortable life. But we’re not immune to stressors.…

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  • What To Do When Your Kids Are In A Viral Video (Hint: Make That Money!)

    by Dewan Gibson March 14, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson March 14, 2019

    If you’re one of the few lucky people who follow this blog, you may remember when I wrote of my disgust with Christmas: “Kids should be told that Santa’s fake, and…

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  • Insomnia, Anxiety, And/Or Recently Bust Your Ass While Snow Surfing? CBD Oil May Help

    by Dewan Gibson February 10, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson February 10, 2019

    I’ve had a few recent medical issues: 1) I bruised my tailbone while snow surfing, which is a sport I made up. You stand while sledding with your kids and…

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  • A Road Trip To D.C. With Two Words In Mind: “Free” and “Kid-Friendly”

    by Dewan Gibson February 5, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson February 5, 2019

    Recent weather has Ohio feeling like Iceland, though without the stunning scenery and far fewer kind, curious white folks. I’ve been looking for a temporary escape. Florida sounded nice. But…

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  • A Few Life Changes After (Almost) Quitting Alcohol

    by Dewan Gibson January 24, 2019
    by Dewan Gibson January 24, 2019

    I didn’t start drinking until I was 21. Unfortunately I made up for lost time in the 18 years that followed. Until recently, I drank every night. Usually a couple-few…

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