Georgia Street was remodeled when Indianapolis hosted the Super Bowl in 2012. The street is used to…read morehost parties and other events during football season at really any time when the city is wants to attract people downtown. The street runs between the convention center and Banker's Life Fieldhouse - six or seven blocks. The here are a handful of restaurants and bars along the route including Harry and Izzy's. There are lots of restaurants and hotels on the side streets along the street as well. To the south one block, the railroad meets Union Station. The median of the street is decorated with metal arch structures and lights. During events, various businesses and food trucks will offer beverages and street foods. The street is a lovely walk after a late night basketball game. I like to go down early on a Sunday morning when no one is around and enjoy the magnificent architecture along the route.

Stand alone heaters, area heaters from above and lots of tents set up for the college football…read morechampionships. Big problem was that all the tents were selling the same thing and local brewed beers were not available. A band was playing songs from the 80's to a crowd of college kids. It seems the only time heaters are active along this street is when our convention space is booked. It would seem like restaurants along this stretch would benefit from a little glamping on weekends just for us Indy folk. It's a great stretch of nothingness most of the time. I wish the city would do more to promote this space on weekends throughout the year.

One of my favorite events of the year! There's about six pizza vendors and about six beer vendors…read moreand all of them have multiple types of brews and toppings. I love the size of this event, as it leans to the smaller size and feels super cozy and personal. We got to know a few business owners and ran into several other nice people in the crowd too. I love that you can wander around without worrying that you might lose your group, as you can see everyone in the room. We had a fun Yelp Elite Squad photo booth at the event, but it was the first year I got to walk around and sample as an attendee. This event raises money for Arts 4 Learning, who books artists to attend schools, jails, etc to expand kid's horizons. Very cool! They also had games for the first time this year. You could use tickets to play them and then got to snag a fun prize for extra tickets. I got a succulent to take home and my friend got a to-go beer cup. Great night with wonderful people!

5 stars. We paused…read morefor the cause on Friday night and had a wonderful time sampling pizza, beer, pie, and kombucha! We arrived about 45 after it started and the room was pretty packed. Vendors lined the walls showcasing their featured items as we made our way around the room. The vibe was very chill, super casual, and comfy. We were given a signature tasting glass and two tickets to vote for our favorite beer and pizza vendors. For me, The Missing Brick took the top spot. They offered a crab and shrimp pizza served with a garlic sauce that was yummy and sophisticated! Plus, they shared that they have a 21+ vibe on weekends with music and al fresco dining throughout the spring and summer. I can't wait to join them for the fun when the weather warms up! They ran out of their brisket pizza before we arrived - so I would recommend getting the at the very start. Being fashionably late will leave you cute and hungry! And the pizza was cold...but everybody knows pizza is good hot or cold! Bronzini has won the past couple of years...and I could see why. Their homemade ricotta was a showstopper and the generous portion sizes were appreciated! But still not enough to stay in front of The Missing Brick. I was fortunate enough to cop tickets through Yelp - thanks y'all! My plus 1 and I don't drink beer, so we didn't vote for one of those. Thankfully, one vendor had some bottled water to wash down our samples. We were told there were soft drinks available for purchase, but don't believe that was true. Instead, we enjoyed sampling a variety of kombucha from Circle City. The mango turmeric and pomegranate were my favorites. Gut health has been linked to brain health - probiotics are my jam! We bought a few tickets to play the games, too. Why not? It's for a great cause... we played Plinko and Beer Pong. My handsome plus one did well on both, but challenged me. And I rarely back down from a challenge! Of course, I got the gold cup on the first try! It was a very impressive showing, as I received several compliments from the crowd. Yes, women are better at most things IMO! We took the tickets and traded them for some pretty neat brewery themed prizes. After about an hour or so, we headed home. No idea who won, but I'm looking forward to posting my review for The Missing Brick and stocking up on some mango turmeric kombucha from Circle City. Fun! I'll certainly recommend it to others for next year's event.

Is the City-County Building itself a bit dated? Yes. It was built in the 60's and that's not going…read moreto change. BUT it is a centrally located, easily navigable hub. As mentioned in others' reviews, the public observation deck is a great lookout point to get your bearings in the city and explore some cool artifacts of Indy history. Many of the services offered from our local government can be accessed on the new city website: my.indy.gov. There is plenty of signage in the building letting you know this, so obviously save yourself a trip if you can. Otherwise reasons you might visit: to vote or to vote early (electronic and even easier this year!), marriage license, court hearing, jury duty, attend a City-Council meeting. Also of note for your planning purposes, the City Market is directly across the street and is a great place to grab lunch. The Original Farmer's Market happens right outside on Market St. every Wednesday in the warmer months. The Lugar Plaza just opened, so if you enter the building from Washington Street now, you're in for a real scenic treat with new public art pieces, swings, and more, with programming scheduled to begin in the spring. It completely transformed that entrance. As for rating the entire City of Indianapolis, that's pretty tough to consolidate into one review. However, when I think of all the beautiful parks and trails with innovative programming, booming restaurant scene, competitive sports teams, the legendary Indy 500, the award-winning international airport, interesting and photographable landmarks and historical sites, thriving art and music culture, fantastic shopping, and good ole Hoosier hospitality, the Circle City absolutely gets 5 stars from me. It's affordable, it's underrated, it's not pretentious, and like any good Midwest city, it's got all 4 seasons. I especially appreciate that Indy is a planned city, so navigating downtown is super easy. Is the city perfect? No. But what city is?! Indy is home. And that's perfect for me.

It looks very forboding, but in reality, it's very easy to get in and out. My review might be a…read morelittle higher than others because I don't have to go through the security line (the guards will honor IDs from state employees as well as city employees). I have been able to get my marriage license and marriage certificates (separate visits) in under 15 minutes which is amazing. Marion County early voting here is also a breeze.

This festival has some strong points, but also some areas where I think they could improve…read more The website noted there would be 20+ food vendors. It seemed like there were fewer than 10 even if we counted the fair grounds concession stand and the table where they were selling Doritos and other snacks. The ones that were there, however, were excellent! I had some pierogi that were definitely made with fresh dough and were authentic and delicious. The Filipino combo plate was a ton of food for $10 and included adobo, rice, noodles and an eggroll. It was all delicious and fresh. The Korean, Turkish, and African food looked amazing too, and the people selling the food were clearly the ones who prepared it. The entertainment on stage was great! There were adults and kids dancing, doing martial arts demonstrations and singing. They all did an amazing job! I wish there would have been a schedule on the website. The booths were kind of hard to figure out; no one was really walking around the booth areas so it felt a little awkward. Some were selling things and others had information about their country and culture. Maybe those who are more extroverted would have felt more comfortable just diving in without any other visitors to diffuse some of the pressure to be social . A map or listing of booths would also have been helpful. Most of the people in attendance seemed to be those with family members performing and so it seemed a lot of people left after each group performed and then others came in for the next performance with no one really walking around. The cost to get in at $12 cash only at the door seemed a little steep. In fairness the advance price was $8. Parking is $8 at the fairgrounds. The fairgrounds website said to enter gate 3 due to construction, but that was closed...we checked the lots across the street, but those were blocked off...we then drove around the perimeter of the fairgrounds and finally got in gate 6, paid our $8, but then found no signs directing us where to go...we found a worker who was able to direct us, but then found the lot to be full...we finally did get a spot, but some signs would be helpful along with a plan for overflow parking. Better information on the website and better (any!) signage at the fairgrounds would help greatly!

Attended the Indianapolis International Festival, on the last day of this 3 day celebration. This…read moreyear was the 43rd event hosted at the Indiana State Faurgrounds in the Elements Financial Blue Ribbon Pavilion. To get in cost $8 in advance or $12 at the door. More than 50+ ethnic groups represented in Central Indiana gather to share their rich cultural histories and traditions. There are from 20+ food vendors, music performances, and dances. There are cultural booths hosted by volunteers where visitors could connect with learn more about the culture and depending on the booth participate in an activity. I went to see some friends, who were volunteering in the food court area selling Filipino food. I got to try some of their desserts and some of the Korean food. Had a good time seeing the performances and cultural representations.

Living in Indy for over 10 years, I've experienced a lot of beer + food festivals (or a combination…read moreof the two). I had never tried out 12 Chefs of Xmas at the City Market, so I was happy to go this year. Basically, it's 12 locally made beer and food pairings. You get a sample of each, but many vendors were able to give more than one if you loved something so much. My favorite pairing of 2019 was the Ash & Elm Beetlejuice cider (the best cider ever) and Liter House's goat cheese arugula salad. It was a perfect combo. I thoroughly enjoyed most of the other dishes, minus a few that just didn't tickle my fancy. I also loved that only 2 of the dishes were meat-based. It was nice to see a diverse group of pescatarian/vegetarian dishes. That being said, I couldn't reason spending the amount for a ticket as I couldn't enjoy everything at the event. We also took the time to get a free portrait from a local artist. That was a pleasant added bonus and gave us time to slow down so we didn't rush and consume everything. The lines died down too, which was nice. Suggestions for City Market for future years: - market this event more. I'm all over social media and I hardly ever saw this event. - figure out the line/ticketing. It was a mess, to be honest. Our names weren't on the list; one person told us we had to check in again and another said we didn't. I got a ticket, my +1 didn't. It was a mess so figuring that process out would be better. - More seating. No one likes to stand up and have a drink in their hand and have to somehow figure out how to also eat at the same time. - less waste. Give everyone one plate, cup, and eating utensil. There was entirely way too much waste produced from this event.

Checked out this event for the first time yesterday and it was a lot of fun! There are 12 local…read morechefs paired with 12 local breweries to come up with some amazing food/drink combos . I am normally not a beer drinker at all BUT the pairings were made wonderfully that I had a great time trying a lot of beers I would not normally have! I would never go anywhere near a dark beer like a porter but Big Lug Canteen paired it with a creamy Mac & Cheese from Team Indiana and it was absolutely delicious! I loved it! My favorite combo I tried yesterday was this egg roll from Mambos Cheesesteak Grill and The Devil's Trumpet Brewing Co's Pilsner. We were told the creaminess of the beer calms the spicy kick of the egg roll and they were not wrong! I loved everything about this and wished I could have had many more! My friend and I imagined it was one of those come and go events and there was no way we would need 3 hours to try all the food..... but we were WRONG! The food portions were about a bite or two and the beer, they filled up about half way in the cup that was provided. Don't let that fool you! It was a good amount of food and beer by the time you work your way around. We came about an hour after the event started and made it to 7 out of the 12 pairings. Now we know for the future.... come early! It was nice to just find a standing table and chat, eat, and drink some beer

Zionsville, Indiana is a comfortable town just Northwest of Indianapolis. It's a growing town,…read morethough I'd say most folks consider the "downtown" area of Zionsville to be the heart of the community with Main Street having some great shops and restaurants. Strangely enough, for those who know of my Tenderness Tour events I've actually only wheeled through Zionsville once. I stayed at the beautiful Brick Street Inn (which I highly recommend), though I will admit I found the cobblestone around it a bit obnoxious. The mayor is John Stehr as of 2024. Many from Central Indiana will know Stehr as a longtime anchor at WTHR. Zionsville actually goes all the way out to US 421 - a definite part of the town that feels less like "town" and more like city. The population waas just under 31,000 in 2020, a significant boost from 14,000 in 2010. Zionsville is definitely considered a more affluent community, and I definitely sometimes get that vibe when I visit. It's not obnoxious, but I was in Zionsville recently and kind of felt the "We don't allow Kias in our town" vibe. The schools in Zionsville are among the state's best. What do I enjoy doing in Zionsville? Hitting Brick Street is a must. Starkey Nature Park is a terrific visit. Sullivan Munce Cultural Center is a great stop. My Sugar Pie is a definite winner. The Carpenter Nature Preserve is getting ready to officially open just next week. Main Street parking is free. I wouldn't quite call it plentiful, however, for most days it's fine. For festivals, you may have to look around a bit. Oh, and as an avid trail user I'd definitely recommend the Big 4 Trail that goes through Zionsville. As an older town that leans into that vibe, I'll acknowledge there are some definite accessibility issues here including businesses with steps and the cobblestone paths around Brick Street. However, I still can't possibly go less than a 4-star review for this lovely little town.

Love the old town feel and flair. Especially the heart of Zionsville, along Main Street with all…read morethe fabulous little shops and delicious restaurants. Love the street festivals and that there always seems to be a reason to celebrate something. Love the free parking. Sometimes a bit hard to find, but even if you have to park a bit further down the road, you will enjoy the walk to your destination. So much to see, shops, gardens, old buildings, nice people and it's all just so relaxing somehow. I know this review probably makes no sense, but you'll get it once you visit.

What can I say? Ann is an easily recognizable icon of the city. You know you are on Mass Ave, a…read morevery happening area of Indy. She has been swaying her hips from side to side over 20 years now and shows no signs of slowing down. First time I saw her she reminded me a bit of a streetwalker with the come hither movements, but she has grown on me. This street corner would not be the same without her.

It's hard to believe that Ann has been dancing and greeting visitors to Mass Ave for nearly 20…read moreyears. This LED electronic sculpture brings movement and fun to downtown and is a fixture of Indianapolis. Ann is a perfect photo opt for visitors. (I've taken photos of my granddaughter dancing with her.) Artist, Julian Opie. produced the piece in 2007. The Crystal Dehaan Foundation underwrote the project according to a nearby plaque. Opie is well known for his simplistic examples of human form. "Ann" is one of several public art pieces on Mass Ave. She stands where the Cultural Trail intersects Mass Ave, probably by design. I found early morning, nearby street parking so that I could enjoy her. I love her!!!

Indiana got all kinds of cool murals and stuff. There's another example of it. The Indy butterfly…read moremurals right there pretty close to the Pacers stadium fun spot to check out.

This mural is located on the downtown CVS. It was painted by Kelsey Montague in 2019 and…read morecommissioned by the developers of CityWay2. Montague painted a few other murals in the Cityway complex while she was here. This is an interactive piece that has been following a national Instagram trend. There is a set of big wings for adults and small wings for the littles. So, this mural is not very unique as you can find similar pieces all across the country. The mural is meant for you to stand in front of and give you the appearance that you have wings. I almost posed for one of those then I remembered I was a grown man with a little self dignity. Just kidding, the wings make for good photos. There are also a large mural of Indy native butterflies on the adjoining wall titled Shadowbox Butterflies. It is a very nice piece and goes well with this one. As with most murals I have visited, this is probably not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. If you are quick, you could probably park in the CVS parking lot. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other wonderful murals in the area to maximize your time and trip. Luckily there are a lot of other interesting murals in CityWay to view.