Robert Scheer

robert.scheer@indystar.com

I called it Operation Cougar Bait. The idea involved going to Ike and Jonesy’s with a good-looking male friend in his 20s and chucking him out on the dance floor.

In case you’ve been in a cave, a cougar is a confident middle-aged woman, often divorced, who has a thing for younger men. Some people use the term derisively, but I don’t. The assertive confidence of a woman north of 40 can be pretty hot.

I asked some friends for Indianapolis’ best cougar bars, and Ike and Jonesy’s came up repeatedly.

On a recent Friday night, fellow journalists and drinking buddies Jill Disis, Brian Eason and I rolled up to Ike and Jonesy’s like rock stars in an Uber Black Car.

After ponying up the annoying $5 cover and ordering terrific ale from Evansville’s Carson Brewing, it was clear the cougar vibe was strong that night. The sun had only been down for an hour, but a college-aged kid who looked like a working-man’s version of Justin Timberlake was busy smiling and circulating among a half-dozen women on the dance floor.

Another young guy was busy bumping and grinding with two pretty women easily 15 years his senior.

Ike and Jonesy’s has a blue-collar vibe and throwback decor filled with kitsch familiar to those of us born before 1980. I had to explain to my Millennial friends what the Spuds McKenzie statue was.

At the table next to us, a quartet of dolled-up women nursed chardonnays and pink cocktails.

One called me over and quickly shot an iPhone selfie of us. She explained that she and her friends were competing to see who could take the most “photo with a hottie” snaps by the end of the evening. I didn’t have to press her before she admitted that she and her three 40-something girlfriends drove to Ike and Jonesy’s a couple times a year from out-of-state to flirt with young men. I loved their confidence, but I hit the eject button on our conversation when I spied wedding rings on at least three of the women.

After about an hour of anthropological study, we headed out. No, we hadn’t gotten Brian a date, but we had a fun time people-watching. I don’t know how much I’ll be back — I got tired of hearing ’80s pop tunes. But I’m hoping a few of you enlightened young men quit chasing fickle youngsters and embrace the allure of older women. You may end up learning a lot about yourself.

While I’m still working full time as an Indy Star photojournalist and occasional columnist, be sure to read Amy Haneline, The Star’s terrific new full-time beverage reporter, who will give you much more expansive coverage than I do. In the meantime, please email or tweet at me if you want to talk wine or other local goings-on.

Twitter: @winedude

Email: winedude@indystar.com