I love a good roadside attraction and this one has been pinned on my map for a little while. We…read moretraveled from Wisconsin to Ohio for a wedding and made the detour to set a world record (even if it was for only an hour and a half). Everyone was a little weary about it as it added some time to our trip, but after everyone was happy we did it and it became a conversation topic for the weekend! We called on our way (be sure to pay attention to the time change if you're doing in a day) and Mike didn't seem like he wanted to chat, but we let him know about when we were going to be there and when we arrived, he was ready for us. He went through the story, getting into the world record book, then we picked out our color and got to painting. As we painted we chatted more and he told us some stories of all the different types of people that have visited, weird and unique paint jobs, and more. I am assuming he gets paint donated or he has paint that has been around a while, because it did have a unpleasant smell so we rolled quickly. Don't be too worried about getting it on your clothes unless you are reckless, there are long handles on the rollers, the most you'll get is on the bottom of your shoe. Its awesome you get to be a small part of a world record and worth the detour if you're in the area. He does accept donations through cash, venmo, or credit card. I recommend a stop!

I totally understand obsessions and the need to be first at something that many consider odd or…read moreunusual. Having the most reviews on Yelp would certainly be an obsession and that's where I am. So I went out of my way to stop here at the World' Largest Ball of Paint which is located in Indiana. Arriving during business hours, I was able to meet up with the painter himself, ask Mike some questions, see the wet paint and understand a bit about this pretty awesome piece of Americana. It is a bit out of the way but worth it. The Ball of Paint is free to visit and they do accept donations. You can also contribute to the paint ball. [Review 1313 of 2024 - 189 in Indiana - 22336 overall]

The Twisted House is a whimsical, quirky sculpture in the ArtsPark. The house is the 2005 work of…read moreJohn McNaughton. McNaughton was a founding member of the Art Department of University of Southern Indiana. He passed away in 2022. The Twisted House is typical of his fun-loving approach to art. The wood sculpture has a storybook appearance. I can imagine that kids (and maybe even a few squirrels) would have fun visiting and playing in the structure with the crooked door and roof that curves over into the ground. The sculpture brought a smile to my face. The Twisted House worth a visit if you like art. There is no charge to walk through the quiet and serene park. There is free parking at the east side of the park.

It was a cold crisp day in late November when I visited the house. I knocked on the door but…read morenobody was home. Just kidding. It is a piece of artwork. It reminds me of the nursery rhyme about the old woman who lived in a shoe. It is just one piece of outdoor artwork and sculptures available on the grounds of the Indianapolis Art Center. I found plenty of parking available at the Center's parking lot. Then it is short walk from the lot.

I don't know what's going on with this, but Coco mantis is big giant bug that hangs out on the…read morecorner of the street and kokomo Indiana. It was pretty cool to see. Don't know why it's there but it's there.

I've been to Kokomo, Indiana multiple times on my Tenderness Tour events and I discover new things…read moreeach time. Kokomantis is one of the more unusual tourist attractions you could ask for, but it's even listed on Atlas Obscura. Scrap artist Scott Pitcher crafted Kokomantis in 2012 and it's proudly placed in downtown Kokomo at the corner of Sycamore and Washington Streets. The torso and wings were crafted from World War II fuel pontoons, while the legs were crafted from traffic light poles (I wonder if that would work for me?). Construction took a reported 220 hours to both create and position this remarkably unique structure. Truthfully, I'm surprised I don't see it pop up in more horror movies. The sculpture is 22' long and 17' high. Kokomantis includes a sign that reads "please do not climb me; I'm ticklish!" and at one point had its own Facebook and Twitter accounts. I believe the Facebook account is now inactive. The Twitter page still exists, though there have been no new posts since 2016. You've got to love a city that would embrace a giant praying mantis. While the love doesn't seem to be quite as passionate as it used to be, it's like any oversized sculpture - if you are going by it, you're going to stop for a photo op. Seriously.

Meh. It's a wonderful idea and a great way to support a wonderful local nonprofit. However, it was…read morejust a "meh" event to me. I love the many different options that they have available, but at the same time, it might make more sense to have some activities that involved a lot of people (ie a bigger/better dance floor or something of that matter). Overall, a good event, but I would like to see more next year, something that would make the ticket worth the money spent!

I left Adult Swim with one question: How many people work all night long to get the smell of beer…read moreand food out of the museum before they open the next morning for the public? I can't even begin to imagine how they go about this task! Adult Swim is a benefit event held at the Children's Museum. Only in its second year, someone decided the first year was a smash hit because tickets increased by $15 this year (or maybe that was the surcharge for cleaning). All tickets sold out though, so that's a good sign! I'm not really sure who the benefit was for though.. maybe some additional information about that next year would help raise even more money Unlike other events I've been to, this one didn't FEEL like the event was sold out. Lines for some of the food and drink tables had a few other people in them, but the event planners did a great job of making sure there were enough tables and enough room that everyone could have a good time. Really, the night was about being a big kid in the museum into the night, and everyone I was with had a blast! Here's hoping next year is just as great (and not about $15 bucks more expensive per ticket!)

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.

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.

While strolling along the Mississinewa Riverwalk, I discovered this mammoth sculpture of historic…read moresignificance. The sculpture was designed by artist Karl Kendall and recast as a ten foot bronze in 2005. The scene features a soldier, a Native American couple, and a horse following the War of 1812. After attacks on the villages, the remaining Native Americans were relocated to Ohio so that they could no longer assist the British. The soldiers were ordered to surrender their own horses to help the surviving tribe members relocate during the cold December weather. The scene is meant to show the compassion for those who suffered in war. Review #2248

I love when they show our history through art especially sculptures I think it's so wonderfulread more

Amazing swings. I thought my kids wouldn't like it but they really loved it! They are building…read morearound it and it's kinda hard to get to. Great experience though!

Love the idea and love the execution. I had no concept of musical swings, but basically each swing…read morehas a sound/tone they emit as you swing. Swing faster to get a faster rhythm, slow down and the sounds slow down. I could imagine this being either horrible or fascinatingly beautiful when all of them are in full swing. Either way, this adds a bit of interested to swinging and I love it.

I was in the Yard District in Fishers playing Pokémon GO and found a PokéStop linked to this mural…read more I decided to go check it out and even posted a picture of it on my story on social media. I think the art is great and the message is wonderful. I wish it was in a more noteworthy visible spot though!

I love when I find public art when I am out and about in the indy area, I was walking through the…read morefishers yard district and noticed this colorful piece and had to take a snap of it. Upon further research, I found out that it was painted by Nekoda Witske, who is a part of the hue mural group, I really enjoyed looking at this since it was bright and just really makes you happy (if you're into colors) and is a combo of a face and a rose. I'll have to seek out more of her work around!

The irony of allowing humanity to fall so deep into greed that the unhoused population sit on this…read morebench without anywhere to call home. Says lots without saying a word.

This is a very powerful and intriguing piece that is located off to the side of the Roberts Park…read moreUnited Methodist Church. This sculpture is the work of Timothy Schmalz, a Canadian sculptor and devout Catholic, who was commissioned by Roberts Park United Methodist Church to create this bronze sculpture in 2015. It also goes by the name Jesus the Homeless. As nice as it is, this piece is not one of a kind. There are a bunch of them placed all around the world, well over 100. The original was made in 2013 and is located at Regis College, University of Toronto. Other locations that you will find the sculpture include Australia, Singapore, Israel, South Korea, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Columbia and the Dominican Republic to name just a few. This sculpture is very realistic and detailed. Which brings me to a funny story. In October 2020, police in Ohio were dispatched to a report of a homeless man sleeping on a park bench. Ironically, this call was made within 20 minutes of the Homeless Jesus sculpture being installed. Yep, some called the police on the statue. I will admit, I had to do a double take to make sure it was not real when I saw it. And you are certain to be fooled if you are driving by. It should be noted the the sculpture in Vatican City has received the blessing of the Pope. The bench is about 7 feet wide and depicts a covered figure, assumed to be Jesus, laying on it. The only real identification being the crucifixion wounds on the figures feet. For the low price of 99.99 you too can have your own mini-homeless Jesus made by the artist himself. The sculpture is just off of the Roberts Park United Methodist Church parking lot and runs along Alabama Street. There is tons of metered street parking available in front of and adjacent to the sculpture. There is also a commercial parking lot directly behind it that you can pull into, get out and take a closer look too. I guess you could also do a safe and strategic slow rolling drive by and get a a half decent look, but I do not recommend that. You will not get the full effect of the sculpture. As with most sculptures that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other sculptures, murals and attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip. Brickhead3 and Viewfinders would be a great start.

This is a neat mural that depicts a bookshelf. I am not sure if the mural has anything to do with…read morethe library that is so very close to. It was painted by French artist Youri Cansell aka "Mantra"in 2019. It is located in a section known as Library Square, which is fenced off and under major construction. The area is fenced off and private, but that did not stop me from checking out the mural. The pieces uses natural colors and depicts an oversized old-fashioned library shelf with books and curios on it. The building that it is painted on windows are incorporated in the mural and you will find some butterflies on some of the books. I would have liked to see more color, but that is just me. Anyway, There is metered street parking available for you to park and get out and check out the mural. As with most murals, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. It is probably best to plan out additional stops at many of the other wonderful murals in the area.

Fun to see but when I went it was gated and you had to take pictures through the gates. Also all…read morestreet parking so something to note.