INDIANAPOLIS POINTS OF INTEREST AS SEEN FROM THE INTERNET On May 12 I posted a note to four Usenet newsgroups asking for information about Indianapolis, Indiana. Since I've never visited the 12th largest city tin the United States, I decided to ask a few questions. They included: local brewpubs, good restaurants, nightspots, and what makes Indianapolis special. To my surprise I received 20 replies. The last reply was dated May 21. I've learned the city is very clean but has practically no public transportation. The citizens are very friendly. Sounds very appealing! The suggested places to visit included: 1) Union Station - best bet for shops; converted into a mall with several restaurants. 2) Hollywood Bar and Filmworks - $1.99 movie admission. 3) Children's Museum - largest in the country; even adults like it. 4) Indian Museum. Another respondent called this wonderful museum of Southwestern and Indian art by the name of "something like Eidelhorn." Actually it's the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. 5) Broad Ripple Brew Pub, 840 E 65th (Just off of college) 317-263-2739. A converted auto parts store that you swear you were walking into Merrie Old England. They make half a dozen of their own brews including an excellent Porter. Offers good solid pub food. Owner is from York. 6) Laughner's - a superlative chain of Indiana cafeterias. Rated as the best family of cafeterias in the USA by the New Yorker some years ago. 7) Indianapolis Museum of Art - first rate; beautiful grounds. 8) Indianapolis Zoo - The zoo is special in part because it is not tax supported. Rebuilt about 7 years ago. 9) Broad Ripple area - Italian, Cajun, French, Chinese, Indian, Lebanese restaurants. 10) Bangkok - a good Thai restaurant on Keystone Ave (on north side of town) 11) Northeast side of town - a Korean neighborhood and the Bando Restaurant. 12) Milano Inn (Italian) - downtown. 13) Peter's restaurant - far northside, 86th Street. Especially good, but on the expensive side. 14) Speedway Museum. 15) St. Elmos - THE place to get a steak. They have an outstanding selection of wines and spirits. 16) Spats - has very good ribs. On the Northeast side in Castleton, 82nd St. & Allisonville Rd. 17) Keystone at the Crossing - nightspot, on the north side of town, 86th & Keystone. 18) Something Different - REALLY good gourmet restaurant. On Keystone. 19) Corner Wine Bar - excellent menu; much fancier than the Brewpub but same owner. 20) Provincial Kitchen - food is excellent; in Broad Ripple area. 21) Eden - a three story nightclub; decor is awesome; new place in Broad Ripple area. 22) Vogue and Patio - two nightspots for dancing. The Vogue offers live bands although on Saturday nights it's alternative music. The Patio is a little more industrial. 23) A drive down historic Meridan Avenue - which runs straight from the circle north down past beautiful old mansions including the Governor's. 24) Bazbeaux - good pizza. Two sites: downtown and Broad Ripple area. 25) Mezza Luna - eating place in Broad Ripple area. 26) Night life spots: downtown on South Meridian Street near Union Station; Broad Ripple area - jumping in the evenings until the wee hours. 27) Shapiro's - a Jewish deli/restaurant, cafeteria style. 28) City Market - downtown; quite a few interesting specialty food stores there. 29) The Slippery Noodle Inn - a truly incredible blues bar the likes of which are hard to find outside of Chicago. On Meridian Ts & South St. (372 South Meridian) Perhaps the oldest bar in Indiana. Wednesday is Jam Night. 30) Zionsville - town just northwest of the city; brick streets with a colonial look. 31) Greek Islands - restaurant on South Meridian; belly dancers on Friday & Saturday. 32) Barrelhouse Blues Supper Club at Keystone at the Crossing (86th & Keystone) for blues and great cajun food; reservations on weekends are recommended. 33) Babushka's - authentic Russian grocery store/deli; Old Town Shopping Center, near Ditch on 86th St. 34) Kabul - excellent Afghan restaurant; 86th St. One person suggested looking for a copy of Indianapolis Monthly on the newsstands. It carries a substantial listing of possibilities. Or pick up a NUVO (free weekly paper.) I would like to thank everyone that responded to my posting on the Internet. The unofficial welcoming committee included: Paul Neel, Jim Bowden, Brian Gilp, Dana Wickes, Bonnie Irwin, John Grout, Dea DeWolff, Doug Grover, Mark Shaw-Dallas, Eric Stauffer, Sharen Rund, Cassandra Gray, L. Mark Finch, Bruce Wright, Rick Stroud, Jim Miller, James Harvey, and Ronald Feldstein.
Indianapolis, IN