Apparently, I'm leaving for a place called Indianapolis on Sunday for a trade show. Anybody have tips on where to go, particularly at night? Also, what things are good to eat there?
Conversely, what places (that hotel concierges/travel brochures might recommend) are actually not all that good and should be avoided.
Also, as a Canadian I also have to ask, what areas should I avoid if I do not want to be shot? Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Where will the trade show be? If its on the north side, it can take a little while to get interesting places.
Yeah, the city center is pretty decent, and you can easily get from there to White River State Park, which has the Indianapolis Zoo and White River Gardens in it, as well as some nice places to wander outdoors.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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I know very little about night life, as I've been old enoguh to go in places that are typically called night life, for oh four months. I'd bet your trade show is at the convention center, or somewhere in that neighborhood, and it's really worth a walk around downtown. If your tradeshow is at the state fairgrounds, hopefully you're staying somewhere cool, while I love the fairgrounds, the neighborhoods around it aren't great (my 4-H conference hired us a state police officer).
I don't know much about it, but I've heard the comic book (or possibly just batman) museum is awesome. I think it's in the downtown area, and open relatively late at night (till 10). Just heard an interview about it on the radio.
Circle Center mall, walking up and down the canal, just seeing the exterior of Conseco (where the Pacers, Indy's pro bball team play).
Of course I'm not from Indy, I'm from about an hour away so usually when I go to Indy it is for a purpose.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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Well, the conference is at the Indiana Convention Center, which from Google Maps, looks to be pretty central, slightly west of the university and the aforementioned state park.
The park and comic book museum look like possibilities, I'll keep an eye out for them.
We're staying by the international airport, the surrounding area looks typically industrial.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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Yeah, the airport area is rather boring, I think downtown is more fun and interesting. The convention center is very downtown, and connects to Circle Center Mall (I believe, I get confused in the walk over things and usually just go outside).
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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The Broad Ripple area is a popular nightlife place with younger folk. Not sure how old you are. When my dad recently came out for my graduation we couldn't find much to do/show him in Indianapolis.
After spending four years in Indiana, I must admit that I consider the whole state (with Bloomington excepted...) pretty much a wash as far as culture and cuisine are concerned. The people are nice, and good neighbors if you're into small town living, but I'm very, very glad to no longer be there.
Posts: 2409 | Registered: Sep 2003
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The canal is pretty fun, relatively speaking. Paddleboats, surreys, and people selling concessions. There's a museum right there with an IMAX. There's usually some kind of fair at the state park.
Posts: 159 | Registered: Jun 2006
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You found culture in Bloomington that wasn't in Indianapolis? *blink* I mean, sure, there's a Tibetan restaurant or two, but besides that...?
Posts: 37449 | Registered: May 1999
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While I don't know what Jhai has done here, or in Indy, I have to kind of agree with Tom. I do love Bloomington, this has gotten me into trouble in the past, there are great things to do here, but Indy isn't really lacking, especially now.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I like Bloomington because you can walk to most of the key places; Indianapolis (except for the city center) is more like a suburbia than anything else.
Posts: 2409 | Registered: Sep 2003
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While I find that there are a lot more interesting fun things to do in downtown indy, and Bloomington is much more spread out. Obviously there are parts of Indy that aren't downtown, but there is more walkable downtown.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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I'm 25, but I only really asked about things at night since I'll be attending the conference during the day. So anything (including the Ripple area) would be fair game, I would presume.
Posts: 7593 | Registered: Sep 2006
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The arts scene is better in bloomington, too, I think. Not that there's necessarily more arts (though certain aspects are likely greater, and of higher quality, due to the music school), but that there is a much wider range of high quality, free or low price events. I mean, we have student orchestras on par with the Indianpolis Symphony, for instance, that routinely give free concerts. And one of IU's main performance venues has some of the best acoustics in the country.
Posts: 15770 | Registered: Dec 2001
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The only reason I ever visit Indy is to go to Reily Children's Hospital.
They have a nice Ronald McDonald Room, a decent library and nifty "glass" elevators that my kids love to ride. Their cafeteria is only so-so (would you expect anything else?)
I hope you don't need to go anywhere near it! Posts: 692 | Registered: Feb 2000
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