Whenever I drive through the area near Perry Crossing Mall (formerly Metropolis), my eye is always…read moredrawn to this large sculpture by native artist, Matthew Berg. Berg is originally from Indianapolis and now resides in Valparaiso. While in Indy, he was commissioned by Galyan's sporting goods in 1997 to make sculptures for some of the Galyan's businesses. Since there is a pond on site, it seemed fitting that the sculpture tie in the water to sports. Berg created a fish that appears to be jumping out of the water. The fish, however, is down to its basic skeletal structure. Although I don't know why it was done that way, it definitely makes the piece noticeable. Though Galyan's is no longer in business, it is nice to see the new tenants of the location have kept the art installation. Berg has several other pieces around the Metro area: "Transcendence" (2002) is an abstract on the Franklin University campus near the arts building; "Children of the World" (2000) for the Kiwanis International near the Pyramids at 3636 Woodview Place is a globe with children holding hands forming the continents; and "Bear" (1997) at 56th and Eagle Creek Reservoir (west bank) that looks like a two-story cookie cutter of a bear made of oxidized steel. Review #1223

This is a nice mural that is facing the Plainfield Dairy Queen and on the side of Al's Donuts. It…read moreis the work of Kylin Brown and commissioned by Main Street Plainfield and Duke Energy. It was completed in June 2021. It is is you typical Welcome to (fill in the blank) style with a pretty basic design and concept. It is in nice shape and even though it is pretty basic, it still has some nice art work. Brown has work all over the state that is worth checking out. She is definitely a rising star in the mural game. The mural has the word "Plainfield" with each letter containing a scene that is native to the town. They are not overly detailed, but you get the picture. I like the color usage in this mural. Parking to get a closer look at this mural is simple. I just pulled into Al's back lot and checked the mural out. This is not a destination piece, but something to see if you are in the area and driving by. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at other attractions or restaurants in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

As downtown Plainfield transforms from old run down buildings to a growing and people friendly…read morearea, I was pleased to see the town follow the example of numerous successfully transformed towns/cities in the area by adding public art to make the places that might be prone to graffiti and shadows sprout with planned images that promote the local businesses. On the west side of downtown, local business Al's Donuts has allowed two walls of the business to be enhanced by artwork from local artists. The largest of the murals (easily seen by those east bound on US40/Main Street) Simply states welcome to Plainfield. It was painted by Kylin Brown. A smaller second mural on the south wall by a different artist shows a full sized gorilla carrying an oversized donut from Al's by artist JD Coles. The large mural is colorful, while the smaller is somewhat whimsical. I am more familiar with the work of Brown. She has at least two other murals in Mooresville that I have also reviewed on Yelp for those who are interested. I might have given the Plainfield mural a slightly higher rating if it had more artistic flair than such a literal main street appearance. Personal note: my wife and I tried hiring Brown for a mural on our own property, but after several attempts to hire her, she failed to show up at a scheduled meeting and did not return further calls/attempts to reschedule. Her pricing is more affordable than some of the other local artists I've seen getting a lot of work around the metro area. I understand that not all artists are great business people, but if you have a paying customer contacting you, I think it is worth a call back. Review #3958

Beautiful mural that wraps around the building! Butterflies, cone flowers and a shout out to the…read morestate of Indiana. Located on a church building in downtown Plainfield and really brightens up the alley it's in.

This mural(s) is part of Jiffy Lube's mural program in conjunction with Indianapolis Art Council…read morewho commissioned local artist Megan Jefferson, with the assistance of her husband and a few Avon High students to paint them. It is a two-part mural, one on each side of the building. The first mural was painted in 2019. The second mural was painted in June 2022. The murals were painted directly on textured cinder block, making painting the surface with a brush tedious work. So, Jefferson, used exterior latex paint with a paint sprayer to complete the mural. I must admit that the two murals kind of resemble each other. Which is by design because Jefferson wanted the two pieces to complement each other. I like the layered color scheme that Jefferson uses in the murals. The original mural was completed in a day by Jefferson and her husband. For inspiration, Jefferson drove around rural Avon taking pictures of interesting scenery. This mural depicts a rural area set against a setting sun. The second mural depicts some birds against a colorful sunsetting sky Flying in formation high above an Indiana corn field, or at least I assume it is in Indiana. I like this mural. It is very pleasing to the eyes. As I mentioned earlier, the color scheme is awesome and the art work is on point. The murals are very colorful and somewhat basic, but I like them. I also like that Jefferson used her platform to help students learn the craft. I saw an interview that they did and they were so stoked. Parking here to get a closer look is pretty simple. You can pull into the Jiffy Lube's parking lot or the mall's big parking lot next door, get out and look as long as your heart desires. I pulled into the big lot and the mural was right there. Anyway, as with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. So, you may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip.

By now, folks around central Indiana are noticing more and more Jiffy Lube locations with larger…read morethan life murals. As part of the "Every Part Matters Mural Project", Jiffy Lube has been seeking artists to bring art where people go, and sometimes, least expect it. Begun in 2016, the art project has all types of images and will add five new ones in 2019. The first to be completed is this Avon location. Inspired by her travels through the rural area surrounding Avon, artist Megan Jefferson created this beautiful sunset landscape of rural Avon as the subject. The Arts Council of Indianapolis has helped the owners of the Jiffy Lube stations to seek out artists. The project has become so popular now that Jiffy Lube is getting far more submissions than it has stations to paint. It's nice to have options! Review #2658

Here on Plainfield there are a series of very nice parks. I spent a few minutes in the afternoon…read morerelaxing at the friendship gardens. Technically, I took my son here to work on photos for his photography class. There are many interesting features to take picture of such as the waterfall and gazebo. You can walk in the park and it is connected to other parks and trails. Also good for bile riding too.

This is a very tranquil park. It is one way in and one way out, with a designated entrance and…read moreexit. There are a lot of parking available between three separate areas. The park has a very nice and soothing waterfall near the entrance. The park also has a small area with some picnic tables and there is a lot of shaded areas here. I was surprised to see a bathroom facility here, but it is under renovation at the time of this review. The park is a large garden composed of many smaller gardens such as the Memorial Veterans Garden, and the Enabling Garden. The center piece of the park is a triple gazebo that is very picturesque and can be rented. Even though it is not park of the park, I found another picturesque spot right off of it, a historic iron truss bridge. It spans the White Lick Creek and runs into the White Lick Creek Trail. The park is home to a veterans memorial and a statue that depicts a man holding a child, with two older children playing with a dog at his feet.The sculpture titled "a Celebration of Family values", is meant to signify The Dura builders family dedication to the town of Plainfield. You will also find many dedications and memorials in this park by some of the trees and in areas like the small fountain near the exit and the sundial sculpture across from the gazebos. The park has nice paths that run through it and are connected to a larger network of trails such as the aforementioned White Lick Creek Trail. This is a nice refection park that has a calming peace about it and is very soothing, even though it is located right off of a main thoroughfare. It does not have a shortage of benches. It feeds into some nice trails and offers some nice backdrops for pictures.

Like many other courthouses in Indiana, the Hendricks County Courthouse sits prominently on a grand…read moresquare surrounded by Victorian era commercial buildings. Danville was named the Hendricks County seat because the city sits directly in the middle of the county. The neoclassical style courthouse was designed by Clarence Martindale (Indianapolis) and constructed by P. H. McCormack Co. (Columbus, Indiana). The exterior is made from Indiana limestone. The building opened in 1914. The interior features Italian marble throughout, including the spiral staircases that ascend three levels. The stained glass in the beautiful dome and other glass features was fabricated by Indiana Glass out of Kokomo. Victorian-era light fixtures were imported from France. A War honor roll lines a wall in the center atrium of the courthouse. The Deputies that monitor the building standout from other courthouses in Indiana. The deputies are intensely proud of the courthouse and willing to share information. One of the deputies gave a me fabulous tour of the closed Circuit Court. I was humbled by her kindness. The County has done a remarkable job of preserving the Circuit Court in the original 1914 condition. A priceless and moving mural by Edgar Alvin Payne and Elsie Palmer Payne of George Rogers Clark's 1779 Liberation of Vincennes hangs in the rear of the courtroom. The original Victorian piano used for weddings sits under the mural. Benches and chairs are all original. Outside the main entrance is a replica of the Liberty Bell. On the northeast corner of the square stands a modest War Memorial listing the names of those lost in combat. A lovely fountain stands on the northwest corner of the square. There is plenty of free parking around the square. The public entrance is fully accessible. This is one of my favorite courthouses that I've visited. The fabulous deputy staff and the amazing interior put the building at the top of must see list for anyone that lives history.

Danville was selected as the county seat of Hendricks County in 1824 after it was formed in 1824…read more As is usual, the first courthouse was a log structure that was built in 1826 and the second was a brick structure. The current courthouse is the fourth to be constructed. It was completed in 1914. The three story building is constructed with Indiana limestone and faces north. The center sections have a portico with an arched entrance and two large columns that rise from a balcony on the second story. The interior has a large rotunda with a stained glass skylight. There are a number of other interior decorations in the courtrooms but those were closed on this Friday afternoon. Maybe I'll visit next time when it's open! [Review 1304 of 2024 - 181 in Indiana - 22327 overall]

It really reminds me of a cloudy sky. Clouds preceding the coming rain. A sky related art piece is…read moreabsolutely fitting for an airport. It is really worth looking up towards the ceiling while you are in the airport's main hall. I think Tank has already covered all the technical data and artist information available, so I am not even going to elaborate on it.

This very intriguing piece is located high above the main atrium in the Indianapolis Airport. It is…read morea permanent piece in the Indianapolis Airports Art Collection, in conjunction with the Indianapolis Art Council and the Indianapolis Airport Authority. This piece has an interesting story. It was the brain child of Rob Fisher, who envisioned the aircraft of the future as being silent, hovering, feather-light machines for "dirigibles." However, Fisher passed away unexpectedly, after only two weeks of learning that he had received the commission to do the piece. Ultimately, the piece was completed by his wife, daughter, and studio manager, in 2008, using his plans and vision. The piece spans 200 feet in diameter and is constructed of 118 pieces of teal-colored, perforated aluminum and stainless steel. Each piece weighs about 10 pounds and are hanging from aircraft cable. It is intresting to note that The teal color used on the project's vessels is a custom blend that is only used on Fisher's projects. It has become known as his signature color. At first glance, for me, I thought the pieces resembled jelly fish. They have the beauty of a smack of jellyfish. I will admit that I have passed this piece many times without even noticing it. I never took the time to look up because I was so focused on getting to my gate. I am sure that I am not alone either. After reading the vision though, I can easily see it and I am here for it. So if you are in the airport's atrium/food court, located outside terminal A and B's security screening checkpoints, slow down and look up, and treat yourself to some nice public art. I totally understand that this is not a destination piece being located in the Airport. It is hard to get to and impractical to just make a special trip to see. The vast majority of people seeing this sculpture will be flying in or out (to some extent) of the airport. Or some may be meeting someone at the airport and did not feel like waiting in the car for them.

I'm very impressed with this venue! Hendricks Live is a Plainfield gem. It's big and new enough to…read morefeel spacious, but small enough to feel intimate and friendly. I visited Hendricks Live to see a children's play. I should say, the venue is officially called Hendricks Live! With an exclamation mark. As a rule, my fingers will not let me type any word or phrase containing extraneous punctuation. So, henceforth, I will be writing Hendricks Live without an exclamation. I really like that they let you eat inside the theatre. I mean, I didn't eat in there, but I like that they give you the option. They have a concession stand with things like frosted cookies, popcorn, candy, wine, beer and soft drinks. The seats have cup holders. The theatre seems relatively new and well-taken-care-of. The seats were comfy, and even though my son, who is on the shorter side, sat in back of two adults, he could still see the stage. The people who scanned our digital tickets and showed us to our seats were very friendly. The whole experience was pleasant, and we had a nice time at the theatre.

My husband and I attended the Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty show this past Saturday. Hendricks…read moreLive was easy to locate and they have a big parking structure directly across the street that offers free parking. We were already impressed! Everyone was dressed up and excited for the show. Many of the little girls in attendance appeared to be wearing their Easter dresses. It was really fun to see. The door attendants that were checking our tickets were eager to help and pointed out the entrance doors and restrooms upon our arrival. Concessions were open and running smoothly. The gentleman that assisted us was kind, upbeat and helpful. When I asked about their cider offerings, he happily bounced over to the fridge and grabbed the two that they had and gave me his personal recommendation. My husband asked about the butteriness (a word I made up, apparently) of the popcorn, and he was honest with his feedback. In addition to the cider and popcorn, they also had a nice selection of beer, wine and spirits as well as candy. The volunteers were stationed outside of the theater entrances until 6pm, when the doors opened. One of the gentlemen had his picture up in the lobby as "Volunteer of the Year". I felt honored to be in his presence! There isn't a bad seat in the entire theater. If you attend a show here, I wouldn't worry too much about where you sit. The volunteers were actively walking around and offering booster seats to the children. I thought that was pretty awesome. The show itself was very community theater-esque. It was cute and whimsical and made for a fun night out, but the set design and story delivery were very amateur. For what we paid, it was a decent value. I will read more closely when booking in the future. Reading is fundamental folks, and the listing on Fever stated that the show consisted of 6 local dancers. There just wasn't enough going on to maintain my interest, but that is definitely a personal issue. My husband really enjoyed the show and athleticism displayed by the dancers. Maleficent was my favorite dancer. Her moves were, quite literally, on point!

Who knew we have indoor zip lining, rock climbing, bumper cars, laser tag and obstacle courses all…read moreunder one roof in Plainfield? Not me til recently. I love that is a brand new facility because less germs and everything is shiny and new lol This place is a total body work out--if you want it to be. The trampolines were so fun too! I thought it was hilarious there was an entire row of massage chairs for parents to chill on. Words to the wise: don't sit in a massage chair next to the basketball courts. It will not be relaxing I promise. Go to the laser tag area instead.

My daughter and I had a very positive experience. We went right at open on a Saturday…read more I was able to sit down and rest easily while my almost 7 year old played on all of the attractions within my vision. She loves the zip line and must have went 10 times. The staff were friendly and very attentive. There was one staff member with dark hair and bangs that my daughter wanted to hug because she was so nice today. Got to play Laser Tag, and the arena was very nice for a first time player. If there were any negatives, the arcade games were very lackluster, but we did not care because there was so much to do.

Friendly service, delicious food. Beer was cold. I had the tenderloin. Others in our group tried…read morethe grinder. Highly recommend!

I stopped here on a Sunday afternoon, all by myself, hungry from traveling all day…read more What a friendly place. It was warm but breezy out so I decided to eat outside. Loud trucks aside, it was a good move (and the trucks added "character!) They make all of their beers and they have quite a selection. I even found a Belgian Triple! It was my lucky day. I ordered Mandarin Grilled chicken salad (I realized there were absolutely no mandarin oranges. Come to find out AFTERWARDS they're out of mandarins. The kitchen needs to wake up, even for a Sunday.) It was okay, the feta was definitely not fresh, likely prefab, but the chicken was really good. And the dressing (supposedly homemade) was a nice dipping sauce. I also ordered the Beer braised beef panini. It had horseradish inside. Really nice bread and cooked to perfection. And last, my server, Jordyn. She was friggin awesome. She made me feel like I was just hanging out on her back porch. So friendly and helpful.