I am a sucker for the reclaimed/vintage/bluesy cool vibe...and this spot has it! I attended a…read morewedding reception here on a Sunday afternoon, so I cannot attest to the busines or space outside of an event like this -- but it was awesome. Kind of has a spacious, rustic barn feel yet it's industrial, yet it's cozy. Hard to explain. Definitely would consider this space if I were holding an event in Richmond at any time. Only accessible via freight elevator that you HAVE to have an employee run for you...take it to the 4th floor and through a cool old warehouse-y feeling joint, through the doors, and you're there. Go down the hall lined with children's art (at my visit) and straight through another set of doors. Minimalist restrooms in the hall outside just have drawn curtains for doors, so beware. Cool old flyers, pictures, postcards adorned the walls in the restroom. I wanted to read them all. Overall a super sweet space if it's your bag. New Boswell Brewery beers on tap (4 of them!) was the cherry on top for me. Cheers!

If you find yourself leaning toward the Conrad when you think about overnight accommodations, then…read moreyou'll likely want to stay far away from Richmond, Indiana's Quaker Hill Conference Center, a quiet little gem in an area populated by two of the historic peace churches, Friends (Quakers) and Church of the Brethren. For those who are aware, Earlham College in Richmond is a Quaker college, while Church of the Brethren operates their seminary, Bethany Theological Seminary, in Richmond right alongside the Earlham campus. So, yeah, you should take a hint that "Quaker Hill" is very much guided by, but not necessarily limited to, Quaker values encouraging simplicity, hospitality, social responsibility and being, well, friendly. I've stayed at Quaker Hill Conference Center on multiple occasions over the years as a graduate of the seminary and, at least until recently, a Church of the Brethren pastor. As Christina C. noted in her 2014 review, Quaker Hill is run by the "nicest people" and has the "best food" ever. Quaker Hill is mostly geared toward small to moderate-sized gatherings including conferences, workshops, special events, retreats and more. The main building, Evans House, existed as a private home from its construction in 1855 until the 1940's. During World War II, the house was used as a place for refugee resettlement, while it also housed a day camp and a Rural Life Association. Woodard Lodge was added in 1971 and they also offer an outdoor amphitheatre, dining options (up to 60 can be accommodated), meeting rooms for 10-60, and a neat little feature called a Solitude Room for personal retreats. They also have a picnic shelter and even limited long-term apartment options. You are able to have your meals at Quaker Hill - indeed, the food is terrific and typically served buffet style. Prices per meal range from $9-15, though they do offer some value conscious options. While it may sound like Quaker Hill is only for groups, every single time I've stayed there it's been alone while attending classes at the fairly close by seminary. If you require accessibility, this is definitely a place where you want to make that known up front. While they can often accommodate, their buildings are older and if you don't make your needs known you could show up on a weekend with every room booked and you've been assigned an inaccessible room - and yeah, I did this once and learned from it. It was completely my fault. Prices do vary by arrangement - I'm hesitant to cite prices as it can vary between groups, conferences, etc. I would plan on something above a Motel 6 and substantially lower than most hotels. If your body is somewhat requiring of a more luxurious sleeping situation, you may want to visit Quaker Hill first to see if it meets your needs. The room I was in, for example, often had a full-sized bed. They do have different options. Again, communication is pretty important here. So, why a 5-star if I communicate reservations? The people are stellar, the facilities are top notch and you are treated well here. The conference center is set close to a business corridor, but in a wooded area with tremendous privacy. If you're truly treating this is a retreat or personal getaway, this is simply stellar. If you go into it expecting a "motel" type setting, you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. While I'm done with seminary, I wouldn't hesitate to return and I find myself often recommending Quaker Hill to friends visiting Richmond.

Nicest people and best food ever!…read more I have to come every other year a couple times for work training. In Woodard Lodge, the rooms are always clean and come with two twin beds. There is a nice common area where you can hang out. There are rooms in the main building too, but I've never stayed there. We always have our training in the large room int he main building and it fits about 35 in a circle around the edges. It is historical looking, which is a nice change from the modernity of most buildings. The reason I love coming here is because of the food. I think everything is made from scratch with love. I always joke that I gain 5 pounds every time I'm here. They always have multiple dessert options with lunch and dinner. I would recommend coming here for the food alone. They also have a great tea selection. There is a nice wooded area right next to the conference center where you can hike to a small waterfall. It is a nice escape from daily life.

With a capacity of 600, the Starr Gennett Building is one of Richmond, Indiana's most unique and…read morewonderful spaces now available for event use and private rentals. The Starr Gennett Building falls under the umbrella of Richmond Parks and with its unique interior and exterior features is an ideal location for those who want an event with that extra something special. The architecture of the building is incredibly unique. It looks and feels like the historical building that it actually is. The grounds around the building offer picnic tables, abundant parking, benches, a historical sidewalk, and a surprising amount of greenery considering this is actually located in the heart of Richmond. The Starr Gennett Building does not have air conditioning and this should be considered, though it has quite a few grated windows offering a consistent airing out and breeze. However, having just officiated a wedding in extraordinary heat this is definitely something to be considered. There's a Gennett Records logo on the building indicating the building's history. The inside has a strong industrial vibe. I thought of the Circle City Industrial Complex here in my hometown of Indy as a comparison. However, it's just such a wondrous space. It almost makes me want to get married. Almost. Starr Gennett is considered a historic site and a certificate of liability is required to rent it. You also must rent it from 2-182 days in advance. It's available 7 days per week, 8am - 10pm. In case it's not obvious, the building was originally built for the Starr Gennett Records Company and is part of the legacy of Starr Piano Company and Gennett Records. There's a Starr Gennett Gallery and Walk of Fame also located in Richmond. As is nearly always true of historic sites, accessibility is not perfect here. However, it's surprisingly solid and it would be super easy to facilitate a meaningful event here that was accessible to all.

We listened to a folk artist at fun farm festival at LM Sugarbush farms. March of 2020…read more He was interacting and did sing along. Very entertaining. We had a wonderful time. listening. Highly recommend

Tranquil setting with modest accommodations. Lovely place to heal and hold spiritually-centered…read moreretreats

Enjoyed my stay at the Oakwood Center. It is about an hour an a half from Indianapolis. Their…read morefacilities are very well furnished with tasteful Victorian to mid century and themed decor; well maintained, neat and clean. Their community is very friendly. They have a community building with a professional grade kitchen, ping pong, and a gift shop. There is a community pool, labyrinth, chanting circle?, and children's play structures outside. There are several different buildings that hold retreats. One of which is the Sanctuary Lodge, which they have a massage room. They have names for each building and its rooms. We stayed at the "Farmhouse, which is on the second floor of the "guesthouse". The decor was rustic and oh so cute! The amenities included a fully functional kitchen with a dining and "living" area to be shared with guests with rooms. There are 6 rooms in the "Farmhouse": Orchard View", "Iris Room", "Fairy Bunk Room", "Lodge Room", French Connection" and one unnamed Room. There are 2 full baths on this floor. They provide a towel for each guest and closet space. You can bring your own groceries and drinks and place them in the shared kitchen. I would love to stay here again if I get the chance to. Indiana is a lovely place. And apparently creator of Garfield, Jim Davis lives close by.

Clean restroom. Landscaped grounds. Picnic tables. Parking for Tractor-trailers, RV's and autos…read more Water bottle filling station was out of order.

Wednesday morning and the hustle is real. I'm back on the road just tryna make a dollar…read more.. So, this little rest stop is really a 3 or 4 star establishment. 4 stars because it's always pretty clean. 3 stars simply because it's small and doesn't offer a lot. BUT... both Indiana and Ohio decided to work on their rest areas at the same dang time, and apparently, my opinion did not make it into the docket of either state's government. 200 miles with no rest area. Awesome. So, guess what little buddy?? You're getting an upgrade! 5 stars because you are actually open for business. Well, done. (Update: Ohio's welcome center on I-70 is back open after months, but I didn't know this at the start of my trip.) Ok, today's playlistbecause you can learn a lot about a person not only from the type of music they like, but their road trip mix. That's not always the same thing! At least not for me, I listen to some random shiz that pops into my head when I'm on the road. I digress. I started with O.A.R. I am not a big "jam band" person, but I've always liked OAR a lot more than Dave. If you're curious, listen to the XX album. It's basically a greatest hits and has some of my favorite live tracks (Night Shift that leads into Stir It Up with an actual member of The Wailers). That lead me to a theme: songs with strings, horns and/or piano. I love rock with strings! And horns take me back to my love of ska music in the early 2000's. (I refrained from listening to any ska today because that would lead down a different rabbit hole). Led Zeppelin's Kashmir (just a perfect mix of strings and guitar. Led Zeppelin is also my favorite rock band of all time) Some of Metallica's S&M album. I'm not the biggest Metallica fan, but the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra on Nothing Else Matters is perfection! I seriously got goosebumps listening. For horns, I went with Paul Simon's You Can Call Me Al. A goofy little ditty with infectious horns. One of my favorite piano-heavy songs is Feelin' Alright by Joe Cocker. Whenever I hear this song, it makes me want to take up piano, again. At some point in my life, I WILL learn to play that breakdown at the 2:20 mark. Mark my words! Then, my mind went blank! Four decades of music knowledge, and I couldn't think of any other songs that featured strings or horns or piano that I wanted to hear. So, I took a hard left and turned to Dinosaur Jr. and somehow that led to Bush. I really love Bush! (Yep, the band, too) They were one of my favorite late 90's rock bands and Machinehead was my favorite modern rock song for a long time. Alright, that's my 15 cents for today. I need it back so I can get that dollar!

It is difficult to describe the creativity and entertainment value put together by the talented…read moretrio of twisters comprising the Greenfield, Indiana based Balloongenuity, a family of creative artists specializing in unique balloon sculptures, jewelry, paintings, costumes, and other fun items for special events, fairs, private events, and available for all kinds of settings. I have primarily encountered Balloongenuity through our mutual participation in an event known as Rocc-a-Thon, a free event held in downtown Indy as part of National Crime Victims' Rights Week. It's a fun event about a serious subject and the women behind Balloongenuity have consistently added an entertaining, fun, and uniquely inspired aspect to the event that makes me believe they are the absolute best in Central Indiana at what they do. My most recent encounter with them occurred just this past week during the most recent Rocc-a-Thon, where I watched them create some of the most inspired balloon sculptures and art I've ever seen and they do so with a sense of compassion, humor, and an incredible ability to relate to both adults and children across the diversity spectrum. This past week, I also experienced one of their costumed characters for the very first time - Cinderella, I'm a 50-year-old hardcore cynic and she had me practically feeling like I'd stumbled into Disney World despite actually being on Monument Circle in downtown Indy. I watched Cinderella interact with everyone from the Indianapolis mayor to individuals who were homeless to children to individuals, including myself, with disabilities - she was impeccably awesome with all of them. The kicker for me was when she spotted a school group doing a field trip tour of the Soldiers and Sailor's Monument and she rushed up to greet them and provide them a five minute delightful diversion that was met with squeals of delight from the kids. You should have seen her rushing up those steps in glass slippers in her flowing dress - it was quite beautiful - when wind gusts started to move that dress a little too much, quick assistance arrived and she never broke character. Balloongenuity offers birthday party packages, event entertainment, balloon decor, workshops, costumes and much more. They also have an Etsy shop (look under "Art With a Twist"). I couldn't find a physical address for them, but I know they are Greenfield based and their website contains all their information and contacts. I would unquestionably give them a thumbs up - comprised largely of a mother and two adult daughters, Balloongenuity stretches what you thought were the limits of balloon sculptures and art and they do so with entertainment value, compassion and top notch professionalism.

Attended a conference at Horizon with some co workers recently. The convention hall and the other…read morelarge room is very nice and well lit. The bathrooms were very clean and the "break out" rooms were located upstairs on the second floor with about 8 rooms broken down into smaller rooms for classes. The overall setup and cleanliness were great, but the catering for the banquet at the end of the conference was where the standards stopped. My chicken dish along with my coworkers were raw and after multiple attempts to give us new plates the chicken was still pink. We ended up refusing the plates and settled for the chocolate cake and rolls on the table. After the meal I could see countless plates going back to the kitchen with the chicken still on them. I don't know if I will ever be back for a conference but I do know that catering department needs some work. I also want to point out that the server working our table was yelled at by the cooks when she took our plates back multiple times for something that was their fault not hers.

The staff is A+...helpful and courteous. Horizon is a very nice place for meeting and small to…read moremedium sized convention. Located adjacent to Courtyard by Marriott. Facilities are clean and well kept