Indianapolis?

[Geoff_M]

Heidelberg Haus is also locally and family owned. Great place for desserts. It's actually a cafe and gift shop with limited seating and they encourage sitting with strangers and making friends.

The best Black Forest Cake I've ever had in my life comes from there!!!

 

[Kae]

I love The Broad ripple area try the Broad Ripple Brew Pub great food. Downtown Palaminos is wonderful. Indy has a great zoo.

Kae

 

[Grumpy&Me]

Hey Indy folks!

Does anyone remember the King Cole restaurant? My DH, who was my boyfriend at the time, took me there when we were dating about 24 years ago. It used to be downtown, I think, and was a classy, grand old restaurant.

I beleive it is now Nicky Blaine's cigar and martini bar. Cool place if you can stand the smoke.

Also, this is a chain in the Chicago area, new to Indy. Weber Grill in the Claypool Court. Went for lunch a couple of weeks ago and the food was great.

 

[btass]

Cool place if you can stand the smoke.

You can smoke in restaurants and bars in INDY?

 

[Deb in IA]

Thanks, Grumpy&Me! I always wondered about that place . . .

cteddiesgirl has an EXCELLENT post, but here are a few other things you may want to check out:

The Indianapolis Children's Museum is great, and is one of the best in the country. It's not just for children, either; there's plenty of interesting things for adults: http://www.childrensmuseum.org/

Also, the home of the famous Indy 500 is worth a visit: http://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/museum/
We have a bit of personal history there. My DH's grandfather worked for Tony Hulman, the owner of the Indy 500, and collected many of the old race cars that are now displayed in the Museum there.

Have a great trip!!

 

[cteddiesgirl]

There is also the historic Fountain Square area.
There is some shopping in the area and some art galleries as well as a few restaurants such as Deano's Vino Restaurant and Wine Bar, The Fountain Diner and Fountain Room and The Luxor Restaurant featuring Egyptian, Italian, and Greek Cuisine.

If you like performing arts, Indy has:
American Cabaret Theatre which offers cabaret style seating, in an intimate setting, complete with a cash bar, concessions, and a gift store in the upper lobby.
Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre - It's dinner and theater at the same time. Oklahoma is being performed during your time here.
Dance Kaleidoscope is our comtemporary dance company.
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is also alway a treat. They are also located right on the Circle.
Madame Walker Theatre Center celebrates the arts from an African American perspective.
Pretty much, if you like the arts, we have something for you.
Find lots more here.

As for how safe Indy is, I think it's fairly safe. We are the 12th largest city in the country, so we do have some problems. But, very little compared to other cities of the same size.
As long as you use common sense and take care, you should be relatively safe while visiting.

You can smoke in restaurants and bars in INDY?

There is smoking only in bars in the city limits. Because Nicky Blaines is a bar, there is smoke. To allow smoking in restaurants, they cannot admit children. If they will admit & serve children, they have to be smoke free by law.

I also concur with Deb. The Children's Museum is great. The Speedway museum is too. All museums, bars, restaurants, etc can be found at www.indy.org.

 

[mrsklamc]

Fair warning- there will be a LOT of HS marching band kids in Indy that week. Also, before we send out guest to the canal-- does anyone know when the scheduled draining and cleaning is?

 

[btass]

Fair warning- there will be a LOT of HS marching band kids in Indy that week. Also, before we send out guest to the canal-- does anyone know when the scheduled draining and cleaning is?

OH CRAP! Every time I go somewhere, there is a huge amount of marching bands and/or cheerleaders! (well, I guess I should have known, it is me going there, isn't it!?!)

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

You can smoke in restaurants and bars in INDY?

Only in bars--not in restuarants THANK GOD!!!!

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

The children's museum, IMA, and Eiteljorg all close at 5 as do White River Garden so that may not be conusive to her training. I thought of mentioning them to her earlier in the day but didn't want to tempt her with something fun that she couldn't do due to her circumstances. We love going to all of those with or without our children however. We also like going to the Zoo without the children. It has the new touch tank which is cool.

 

[btass]

Only in bars--not in restuarants THANK GOD!!!!

I am actually a smoker and I thank god there is no smoking in restaurants! I am a picky smoker I guess!

 

[Grumpy&Me]

You can smoke in restaurants and bars in INDY?

Bars - Yes

Family Restaraunts where children are allowed - No

 

[profdsny]

Don't know if it was mentioned in the other responses, but you are very lucky. The Bands Of America Grand Nationals, which are the finals for the best high school marching bands in the country is taking place then. Make sure you get to the RCA dome to see it.

 

[btass]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I will hopefully have a good time when I am not in classes! It is my first trip anywhere alone in about 10 years so I was a little nervous but I knew I could go to the DIS and find some great things to do!