Chrissy Gilbert - Future Mrs. Austin Colle?

Name:
Chrissy Gilbert
Age:
29
Lives:
Just north of 58th on Ralston - Broad Ripple proper
Car:
Silver 2000 Jetta VR6
Job:
Public Relations
Marital status:
I'm married, but I would leave my husband (a boring consultant dweeb) for Austin in a heartbeat!
Works out at:
The Jordan "Y" on Westfield, oh ... and I run in the neighborhood.
Favorite bar:
The Casba & Old Pro's Table
Favorite bar to spot Austin Collie:
Champps at Keystone Crossing!!
Favorite musical group:
Third Eye Blind rules!
Favorite Starbucks:
In Nora next to Whole Foods, I jet by on my way to the Jordan Y every morning when I work out.
Favorite Starbucks Beverage:
Double Cupped Double Tall Extra Shot No Foam Skim Soy Iced Vanilla Latte (hot in the winter!)
Favorite part of Austin Collie's body:
"The Package" .... of course!
If I had Austin alone for 15 minutes, I would:
I'd have him autograph everything in sight, just so I could have his autograph in my cube at the PR firm, and everyone would know I'm with Austin.
Why should Austin choose me over the rest of the Trixies?
Well, I originally came from Louisville, and (thankfully) escaped to Indy to try and discard my rural heritage. However, since Austin played football at BYU and came from a small town, I would really cherish not having to conceal the real me in my own home. God knows I have to do it everywhere else!
Dream marriage proposal scenario:
During the half-time at the Super Bowl, Austin would grab a portable microphone, walk over to my front-row 50 yard-line seat, and propose to me before a crowd of 80,000 fans (including all my co-workers from the PR firm). I would say "Yes!" and jump into his arms. He would carry me up and down the field while Payton Manning launched autographed football bombs into the cheering crowd as souvenirs, and then we'd exit through the team tunnel and go to St. Elmo's for my first wedding shower and everyone would have huge, medium-rare Porterhouse steaks, shrimp cocktails and martinis! All my co-workers would be so jealous of me! Everyone would!

Anne Roberts - Future Mrs. Austin Collie?

Name:
Anne Roberts
Age:
27
Lives:
Paxton & Guilford [right in heart of it all!]
Car:
Red 1997 Jetta, Trek Edition
Job:
Jr. Paralegal at Barnes & Thornburg Law Firm downtown
Marital status:
Single -- very single
Works out at:
Cardinal Fitness on Broad Ripple Ave.
Favorite bar:
Brothers right here in the Village
Favorite bar to spot Austin Collie:
Sullivan's Keystone Crossing or Bella Vita waterfront at Geist
Favorite musical group:
Anything on 101.9 RadioNow, I just love how they replay my favorite songs over and over and over and ...
Favorite Starbucks:
56th & Illinois, all my friends go there too.
Favorite Starbucks Beverage:
Extra Skim extra shot triple iced mocha, with three equals.
Favorite part of Austin Collie's body:
I just love his face, I wish all the rest of the men in BR had his face. Any men I find with such a handsome face end up being gay.
If I had Austin alone for 15 minutes, I would:
I would take him to the nearest tattoo parlor, have him autograph my body, and then have his signature permanently tattooed on me!
Why should Austin choose me over the rest of the Trixies?
I just don't know, I'm just so shocked that I made it this far. Austin, please please please choose me!
Dream marriage proposal scenario:
Austin would take me out to Oceanaire (downtown on Meridian near Barnes & Thornburg where I work). I've only been there once before, with a client, it was so fabulous. Austin would arrange with the wait-staff to have my engagement ring inside one of the clams that I would order for an appetizer (I just love those sooooo much). I would open it with one of those little clam pliers, and there it would be. I think I would break down in tears as I yelled "yes!...yes!...yes!" over and over. Then, Nathan Baker, one of the firm’s partners, would see me there (he loves to dine at Oceanaire with his clients) and promote me to Senior Paralegal!

60 Seconds with Kristen Parker-Elliott

Name:  Kristin Parker-Elliott
Society member since:  2005
Age:  28
Interview Location:  Starbucks at 56th & Illinois
Lives near:   49th & Illinois


BRTS:    So, Kristin, how long have you been a member of the Society?
Kristin:   I joined the Society back in 2005, after I broke up with Eric and moved out of his condo in Noblesville. My best friend Jenny O'Brien told me I should move to Broad Ripple, aka "Bars, Boys and Beyond"! When I first moved to Ripple, I met this total hunk from Geist and we started dating, but you know, I just knew he wasn't the "end all be all" for me. I mean, I almost ended up moving 20 miles east for him. He was nice and all, but he was obsessed with his lawn and anyway he got laid off from Lilly the next month so I guess it was fate.

BRTS:    So, you moved to the Village and found eternal happiness right away?
Kristin:  Well, it wasn't that easy, really. The TrixieMales were cute but at first I had a difficult time telling them apart.  I didn't want to jump into another relationship just so I would have a guy to show off and shut my Mom up.  There's this pressure, you know.  I dated around for 2 years before I finally met Tad Miller at the gym doing curls. He's a Purdue alum and I knew he was the one right away.  We got married in Maui last spring.
   
BRTS:    How has your Society membership helped you achieve your social goals in life?
BRTS:    Kristin?
Kristin:  Yeah, sorry. Uhh, what was the question again? Sorry, I thought I saw my best friend Melinda out the window over there with her new dog.  But I think her puppy is a chocolate lab, not that brown mutty-looking thing over there.
   
BRTS:    How has your Society membership helped you achieve your social goals in life?
Kristin:    Well, there's Tad for one.  Oh, I don't know. I think it's so empowering to finally realize that there are other girls out there that I can relate to, socially and demographically.  I'm not alone anymore, and that's really helped my confidence.  Once I realized I could step on toes and get away with nothing more than a smirky smile, it became much, much easier. I guess that's the same as everything in life... you do it once, and you can do it over and over. You kinda become a pro.
   
BRTS:    Well, that's a common thought among Society members. Where are you living now?
Kristin:   Brad and I just bought a new house over near the Food Emporium around 49th & Illinois, just down the block. There are lots of classic, really big houses over there. We couldn't afford anything like my Sunset Lane dream home, so we just got a two-story Tudor on one of those cute little side streets. I've been spending all my time and our money decorating over the past three months, and it's finally becoming such a cute place! I even learned to paint the walls myself! In fact, last week we held a cocktail party for Brad's boss. It was a big success and hopefully it'll keep him on the fast track!
    
   
BRTS:    Uhm, I thought you said your husband's name was Tad. Who is Brad?
Kristin:   Oh, his middle name is Bradley, so most of his beer buddies call him Brad. You see, he's a trader, so he comes home at about 3 o'clock and ends up drinking and chain smoking with his buddies at any one of the Northside Irish Pubs…. you know, places like Claddagh, Conners Pub or Union Jacks on Broad Ripple Ave.

BRTS:   That's good. Well, I was going to say, I admire you for hosting the cocktail hour you mentioned a minute ago. The Society always encourages Trixies to become friendly with each of their boyfriend or husband's managers and direct reports. It means so much in the long run for weaving intricate social connections into a web of trust, style and support!   
Kristin:    Yeah, I really think it's important to get to know your husband's boss. Trading is a cutthroat business with an uncertain future, and I think Tad knows how important it is to have someone special like me.  Image is important -- and he needs to come off as someone smart but down to earth.  That's why he bikes to work instead of taking our Land Rover Defender.  That's also what 90 minutes at Cardinal Fitness is for.  And with me at his side, no one will question whether Tad is repressed or bisexual. I have no problem with that, but it would be the kiss of death for him in the trading wars each morning.
   
BRTS:    I see you're back to calling your husband Tad. Which do you prefer anyhow?
Kristin:  Oh, whichever. I think they are both cute. Of course, Tad is a cooler name, but sometimes Tad himself says that by going by Brad, he can seem more like all of his buddies.  Blending in, that's what it's all about, right?
    
BRTS:    Right. So, right now you're 28, correct?
Kristin:  Yeah, I feel like I'm getting so old. But we've accomplished so much that I'm not really afraid of turning 30.  Though I really want to pop one out before then.
   
BRTS:    Pop one out?  Do you mean have a baby?
Kristin:  Yes, definitely. Everyone else has one of those things so why shouldn't we?  We've set aside the extra bedroom for a baby, and although Brad doesn't know it, I already had my Mom get my first SUV stroller from BabyBjorn online!  (Everyone back home in Louisville thinks it's a Go-Kart or a sulkie, ha ha!)
    
BRTS:    Well, Kristin, I think we should stop the interview now ... It's so good to hear another village success story.

• Back to the Trixie Lifestyle Guide

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60 Seconds with Our Membership!

Take 60 Seconds out of your day to catch up with a busy Society member (or other interesting individual) on the move!

The Trixie Society has many interesting and fascinating members darting about the Village picking up Starbucks double-cupped no foam Venti coffees, shopping at Fresh Market for organic fruits and designer vegetables, browsing at Restoration Hardware for industrial strength nickel-plated art deco alarm clocks, or popping into Frankeys for cute little dresses and imported newsboy caps.

Board Member Muffie Exeter-Rawlings interviews various Trixies and shares the fascinating results with you!

• Kristen Parker-Elliott

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Starbucks Demanding Names

Dear Ashley,

I noticed that the Starbucks in at the Fashion Mall has begun a disturbing new trend: they ask for your name when you order a drink, just so they can scribble it on a cup. Apparently this is to help the absent-minded barista keep track of several drink orders at once. But really, isn't that what they are paid to do???

Anyway, I think this is a really bad practice; I felt very odd telling my name to a cashier, just so everyone around me standing in line can hear my name. What if there is some kind of weirdo standing in line behind me??? Frankly, I think the people who work there just need to spruce up their organizational skills. Perhaps a nice Carnegie course would do them good ... then we revert back to the good old days when I could at least enjoy a double-cupped extra-whip skim soy latte in privacy.

Since when has Starbucks joined the government in intensifying it's information collection strategy anyway??? Next time I go to Starbucks, I expect them to publicly demand my social security number!

Also, as an advocate of Trixie Public Liberties, can the Society please do something about rude people working behind the counter at Starbucks?? Normally when I go to the Broad Ripple store at the corner of Guilford, there is this nice young lady with pony tails and a scruffy guy behind the coffee machine.. They are really nice, and sometimes they even remember my order. But on Sunday I stopped in before heading over to Restoration Hardware and Whole Foods, and there was a whole new crew of people working there, and they were totally rude (in addition to asking my name, etc).

Thanks Ashley!
Jill Jacobs



Dear Jill:

I completely agree with you! I think Starbucks should stop hiring angry misfits and start staffing their stores with qualified individuals. There are plenty of unemployed internet people with great experience in organizational behavior and operations. Better yet, hire MBA students from Purdue or Notre Dame to come in and run the latte production lines more efficiently.

I think they're already starting to do this at the Starbucks at 56th & Illinois. The other day I was visiting my friend Leslie and we saw the cutest little boy working at the Starbucks there! He was very tall and blond and stood out from all the other workers in the shop. I bet he's a 2nd year business student at Butler!

-Ashley

• Back to the "Ask Ashley" Column

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Concerned About Humble Beginnings

Dear Ashley,

Is it possible to join the Society if I came from humble beginnings? My dad was a mechanic and my mother was a housekeeper, but I managed to go to Yale and now I work downtown for a PR firm as an Account Manager.

I live in the village near 59th & Norwaldo.

Thanks for your help.
Bridget


Bridget:

The Society is a reflection of all the great things about America. We applaud the occasional member who may have come from families that do the sort of work we now hire out.

The fact that you have taken on such an admirable regime of self-improvement is enough for me to say you have what the Society wants in all our members: discerning taste and a realization that striving for the finer things in life makes our lives that much finer.

Besides, now that you are in our lovely Village and working at the prestigious PR firm you can discard your old baggage for something more along the lines of a Burberry overnight case. If you are ashamed of your background, you can always change the details to something more glamorous ("Daddy was in the oil business." -- Not altogether untrue, but it sounds very enviable and befitting your new-found Trixie status).

Good luck!
Ash

• Back to the "Ask Ashley" Column

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The Trixie Table - Ordering "Off-Menu" at Fast Food Restaurants

The Trixie Lifestyle often includes exquisite dining experiences and brushes with some spectacular alcohol. Our village and outlying Indianapolis neighborhoods are literally overflowing with options to feast on world-class cuisine, and chase it with some of the best-crafted wines, beers and spirits known to man.

I recently left my job as Senior Content Manager for a major consulting company to pursue the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts Program at The Chefs Academy. I have always possessed a God-gifted palate, and I am so excited to share my extensive knowledge and experience with those of you who may not be so fortunate!

From time to time as my busy social schedule allows, I will review a Village restaurant or drinking establishment from the uniquely BRTS perspective and report my experiences back to you. Additionally, being a wine connoisseur, I will from time to time give you the low-down on the best wines for any occasion.

Bon Apetite & Cheers!
Rory

Latest Reviews:

Ordering Off the Menu at Fast Food Restaurants

Starbucks – The Red Eye

A cup of regular coffee with a shot of espresso dumped in?!? Now, I’m not a huge "regular" coffee drinker, but apparently you can even upgrade this to two shots, which is called a Black Eye.  I presume upgrading to three shots is called a Jumpy-Unblinking Eye? I would highly recommend getting creative. Dividends, people ... dividends!!

Ever had a Neapolitan milkshake from McDonald’s?

One where they layer the chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors in the same cup, creating a thick, icy, slow-moving light-brown-swirls-with-pink-flecks taste explo-sensation? Yeah, my friend Chad was a regular customer of those. Of course, when he was working at McDonald’s as a teenager he got sick of the regular menu pretty quickly and started tinkering in the back like a mad scientist with his coworkers, developing exotic, unstable, and unpredictable meal creations with the ingredients on hand.

Yes, there were failed attempts, like the Chicken McNugget Flurry, but sometimes they struck gold and created a new off-the-menu line extension. I guess this is fairly common, because there are reports of online McDonald’s employee communities, where insider recipes such as the McBrushetta and McPancakeBatterFunnelCakes are shared.

Now, my world opened up when I first realized courtesy of Chad that you could order off-the-menu at fast food restaurants. Since that time I’ve learned about a few other secret options around. Like for instance:

Wendys - The Grand Slam

If the single, double, or triple hamburgers at Wendy’s just don’t cut it for you, just go all out and order the massive four-patty grand slam. Also known as the Classic Quadruple or the "Meat Cube".





McDonald’s – Fries with Big Mac Sauce

Lots of people put fries right on the burger, which I agree tastes delicious. But this technique allows you to switch things up a bit and put some of your burger’s best feature right on your fries. Try to ignore protests from your arteries, and just ask for that beautiful little cup of Big Mac Sauce on the side for dipping.





Long John Silvers – Batter Bits

I know a Trixie who was all over these. She’d lean in and guiltily ask in a hushed whisper and the guy behind the counter would nod slowly -- knowingly -- and hand over a wet, greasy paper bag full of all the batter drippings that fell into the oil by accident. Yeah, this is the bottom of the barrel of off-the-menu stylings. It ain’t always pretty out there.

Subway – The Pizza Sub

Apparently this one’s like Sasquatch ... there are scattered sightings everywhere and a few grainy videos that may or may not have been tampered with. Another favorite from Subway, though not technically a menu item, is simply ‘the old cut’, where they dig a trench in your bread instead of just slicing it, leading to better cold cut and veggie distribution. Also known for causing The Wing Effect, where your bologna hangs out the sides of your sandwich for some tasty pre-nibbles.

McDonald’s – Big Mac with Quarter-Pounder Patties

One last McDonald’s fixture — the ol’ bun-heavy Big Mac surgically altered to become a meat-heavy Big Mac with Quarter Pounder patties instead. Now you’re much less likely to get that dreaded All-Bun first bite.

Starbucks – The Short Cup

Even though the smallest size on the Starbucks menu is a ‘Tall’, they do offer a secret ‘Short’ size behind the counter. Perfect for that between-coffee-breaks coffee.

Now, I’m only one woman, so I’m sure there are hundreds of great off-the-menu gems that I’ve never heard of or know about. But that’s the beauty! There are all these little surprises just waiting to be discovered. What possible fast-food Mouth Love will we discover next?

Ordering off the menu at fast food restaurants is a great deal. Maybe you’re the loyal customer looking for that new taste. Maybe you have strict dietary restrictions so it’s either off-the-menu or no-menu-at-all. Or maybe you’re just a grumpy Trixie who makes flippant off-the-menu requests with a deep scowl and a foot-stomp.

But whatever the case, whatever your background, whatever your taste, I think we can all agree that it sure is nice getting a little something special for lunch now and then.

AWESOME!