Indianapolis
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Please Note
This page was began by IndyBrian on Aug. 16, 2008 and is currently under major editing. Indy's great hosts are welcome and encouraged to help create/edit this piece.
A big Thank You goes to Michael for editing and adding more information to this page!
Thanks to Kim, Mindy and Michael, Leigh and Steve and everyone else for their contributions!
Stay Tuned.
General Information
Indianapolis is the largest city in Indiana and it is the capital.
Indianapolis, also known as Indy, The Circle City, The Crossroads of America, The Racing Capital of the World, Amateur Sports Capital of the World, Railroad City, Naptown, Capital City has a population of approximately 795,000 people, making Indy the 12th largest city in the United States.
Indianapolis is located on the White River. Indianapolis has many parks, paths and trails which are easily traversed by foot or by bicycle. There are bicycle rental places near White River State Park where the Downtown Canal begins.
IMCPL Ask a Librarian at Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library!
Indianapolis Star (Daily Newspaper)
Transportation To/From Indianapolis
By Plane
- Indianapolis International Airport (IND)
- Mt. Comfort Airport (MQJ)
- Greenwood Municipal Airport ()
- Eagle Creek Aviation
By Bus
- Greyhound serves the entire US, Mexico and Canada and has many daily trips to/from Indianapolis
- Megabus trips begin at $1.00 depending upon when you book your trip. Daily services to Chicago and other midwest cities.
By Train
Amtrak serves Indianapolis from/to Chicago daily. Other days service continues to/from the East Coast.
By Car
Indianapolis is connected to the rest of the US by US40, US31, I-65, I-69, I-70 and I-74. I-465 is the outer loop of the city.
Indiana Department of Transportation
Transportation Around Town
Cars
Most everyone in Indianapolis drives a car. Once you've driven a bit in Indy, you'll find it easy to navigate on your own. Our city is laid out in a grid, with the starting points at Meridian and Washington streets.
Indianapolis is known as the "Crossroads of America" for a good reason. Interstates 65, 69, 70, and 74 intersect here. The city's outer belt is I-465. Travel directly through the city on I-70 or I-65.
Public Transport
Public transportation is run by IndyGo. Buses typically run every 30 minutes from morning to night. Limited service at night and on weekends. Further information can be found on their website IndyGo. Medicare cardholders are eligible for half-fare.
Rapid Transit
At this time, Indianapolis does not have a rapid transit system, train or light rail. There are plans to bring those to Indy in the future.
Couchsurfing in Indianapolis
There is an active CouchSurfing 'scene' in Indy. Indianapolis is popular with visitors so there is strong demand for couches, luckily there are also lots of good hosts so if you make enough good requests you shouldn't be disappointed. The Indianapolis CouchSurfing Group is also somewhat active and there are occasional meet-ups and activities. It's recommended that you join the group in advance of a visit to Indy; the friendly members will be able to help you get the best out of your visit.
Be sure to read How to be a Good Guest and How To Write a CouchRequest prior to making a Couch Surfing Request, especially if you are new to CouchSurfing. Hosts should also read How To Be a Good Host.
Local Ambassador(s)
Should you find yourself in an emergency situation, or wanting additional information, please feel free to contact the following ambassador(s) for assistance:
Indianapolis City Ambassador: Arkman421
Indianapolis City Ambassador: IndyBrian
Neighborhoods of note
Some Neighborhoods, and what you will find there (More thorough list here or visit the Nuvo Neighborhood Guide).
Downtown Indianapolis
Downtown Indianapolis is a thriving and active area. There are several major attractions that anyone should see on their first time to Indianapolis - such as:
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art
Indianapolis Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Indiana Avenue-Madame Walker Theatre
Circle Center Mallis a spectacular shopper's paradise with Nordstrom
Carson-Pirie-Scott, clothing and specialty stores, restaurants, a food court and movie theater.
Indiana War Memorial Plaza and Soldiers and Sailors Monument (Monument Circle)
Visit Historic Landmarks site for Indianapolis architecture info.
Lockerbie Square historic neighborhood
James Whitcomb Riley Home (The Hoosier Poet)
Midland Arts & Antiques Market
Stutz Building - Auto Collection - Artists Studios
IUPUI - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Fountain Square
In 1835, Calvin Fletcher and Nicholas McCarty purchased a 264-acre (1.07 km2) farm to plat what became the Fountain Square neighborhood. Although the earliest settlement was sparse and primarily residential, substantial settlement and rapid commercial growth occurred in the area beginning in the 1870s. Much of the development was fueled by a large number of German immigrants settling in the area. German and German-American merchants helped to establish much of the character in this neighborhood.
The Virginia Avenue corridor began to emerge as the South side's commercial center in the 1860s. When the Citizen's Street Railway Company laid tracks down Virginia Avenue and located a turnaround at the intersection of Virginia Avenue, Shelby, and Prospect Streets in 1864, the neighborhood began to be known as "the End" by local residents. Fountain Square - Wikipedia
Discover Fountain Square (Info on other popular Indianapolis areas too!)
Fountain Square - Two duck pin bowling alleys, retro dining and theater
Santorini Greek Kitchen on Prospect St.
Old Northside
The Old Northside is a residential neighborhood near downtown in Indianapolis, Indiana, and located between 12th and 16th streets, and Pennsylvania and Bellfontaine Streets. Old Northside was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and is home to many residences from the Victorian era.
President Benjamin Harrison Home
Herron High School (former site of Herron Art School now on IUPUI campus)
Woodruff Place
Woodruff Place is a neighborhood in Indianapolis located about a mile east of Downtown Indianapolis. It was established in the 1870s as an early suburb of Indianapolis. Woodruff Place's boundaries are: 10th Street on the north, West Drive on the west, Michigan Street on the south, and East Drive on the east. This community was an independent municipality and maintained autonomy, even as the City of Indianapolis grew and expanded around the neighborhood, enclosing the community well within the city limits. Woodruff Place was incorporated in 1876 and remained an independent town until 1962 when it became one of the final municipalities to be annexed by the City of Indianapolis prior to the merger of city and county governments in 1969.
Woodruff Place was once considered to be one of Indianapolis's more affluent neighborhoods before beginning a gradual decline as the automobile led to the development of newer upscale subdivisions beginning in the late 1910s. By the 1950s many of the grand homes had been subdivided into apartments; previously, the neighborhood had only a modest collection of duplexes and smaller apartment buildings which were added beginning in the early 1910s. The neighborhood reached its lowest point in the 1960s, prompting community organizing in the early 1970s to encourage neighborhood revitalization. The 1980s and 1990s saw extensive neighborhood rehabilitation, and Woodruff Place is now considered a highly desirable historic inner-city address. Its design reflects the developer's plan to build a prestigious enclave. Most of the homes in Woodruff Place are expansive, Victorian style homes from the late 19th century. The layout of the neighborhood is simple; three drives that run north-south (appropriately named East, West, and Middle) and a cross drive (not surprisingly, named Cross Drive). The streets are lined with magnolia and oak trees and have a central median. A fountain sits at each one of the intersections. Smaller fountains line the medians. Woodruff Place - Wikipedia Indy.Gov Woodruff Place Website
Broad Ripple
Broad Ripple Village is one of six designated cultural districts in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. Located about seven miles north of Downtown Indianapolis, Broad Ripple contains many of Indianapolis' premier up scale restaurants, art galleries, and the Monon Trail. Originally an independent municipality, Broad Ripple was annexed by Indianapolis in 1922. It currently hosts an active social scene, fueled by the near presence of Butler University. A large number of private art galleries, bars, and independently owned restaurants line the Village's streets. Broad Ripple High School, one of the earliest Indianapolis Public Schools, is located within the Village. Broad Ripple Village, Indianapolis - Wikipedia Broad Ripple Village
Butler-Tarkington
Butler-Tarkington is a neighborhood on the north side of Indianapolis with the following borders: 38th Street and Crown Hill Cemetery to the south, the Central Canal and Westfield Boulevard to the north, Michigan Road to the west, and Meridian Street to the east.
The neighborhood began as a farming settlement in the 1840s near what is now the intersection of 38th Street and Illinois Street. The settlement was called Mapleton due to the large number of maple trees in the area. 38th Street which now forms the southern boundary of the neighborhood was originally called Maple Road. The settlement was connected to the railway system of the City of Indianapolis in the 1860s. In 1890, the city's electric street car system ran a line up through the neighborhood. Mapleton was annexed by Indianapolis in 1902, and most of the rest of the neighborhood was annexed by 1906. Residential development took off in the 1910s and 1920s. By the end of WWII, the neighborhood was built-out.
The neighborhood was almost exclusively white up until the mid-1950s when African-Americans began moving into the southwest portion of the neighborhood. The Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association was formed in 1956 to help foster community and ease the tensions resulting from racial integration of the neighborhood. Today the majority of residents are white; however, approximately one-third of the residents are African-American. The community continues to be seen as an example of successful neighborhood integration.
This neighborhood consists mainly of working to upper-middle-class households, but one finds wealthier individuals inhabiting the much grander homes along the western edge of Meridian Street, and also portions of Illinois Street north of 40th Street. Butler-Tarkington is known for its attractive residential architecture. Butler-Tarkington Wikipedia Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association
You can hike the canal towpath from Butler University's Holcomb Gardens to the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Irvington
Irvington is located on the city's Eastside. Founded in 1870, Irvington was originally created as a suburban town of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Irvington was built long ago with the idea of it being a place of refuge for inspiring artists. That is why Irvington is named after Washington Irving who wrote the “Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and the streets are named after Hawthorne, Leland, and many other artists. But that was over a century ago and after all this time and through all the changes Irvington has experienced, she has still held onto her beauty and charm. And deep beneath the present and future, there lies quietly the spirit of this vision just waiting to be unleashed once again. Irvington------the community of artists. Irvington Historic District - Wikipedia Historic Irvington Historic Irvington Community Council - Offers a voice on issues such as public services and zoning and works. Check out the Interactive Irvington Map.
Little Flower
The Little Flower Neighborhood is located on Indianapolis' Eastside bounded by 16th Street, Emerson Avenue, 10th Street and Sherman Drive. The neighborhood was developed in the 1920s; the majority of homes were constructed in the 1930s and 1940s. Homes were built around St. Therese, the Little Flower Catholic Church and School founded in 1925, which continues to be the anchor of the neighborhood.
Little Flower Neighborhood Association Little Flower, Indianapolis - Wikipedia
Emerson Heights
The Emerson Heights neighborhood dates to the 1910s, when developers purchased farmland on the edge of Indianapolis’s east side, divided it onto parcels, and began building Arts and Crafts-style homes on the lots. The developers established the boundaries of Emerson Heights as Tenth Street to the north, Michigan Street to the south, Linwood Avenue to west, and Emerson Avenue to the east. These remain the neighborhood’s boundaries today. Emerson Heights Neighborhood Association
Meridian-Kessler
Meridian-Kessler is a residential neighborhood located about 4 miles north of downtown Indianapolis. It is bounded on the north by Kessler Boulevard, on the east by the Monon Trail greenway corridor, on the south by 38th Street and to the west by Meridian Street. Meridian Street forms a shared boundary with the adjacent Butler-Tarkington neighborhood.
Beginning in the very late 1890's, a few wealthy individuals built a smattering of country estates along Meridian Street and neighboring streets north of Maple Road, which is now called 38th Street. However, the area remained mostly open farmland. Currently, a handful of the original area farmhouses still stand--with the oldest one dating back to 1832.
Meridian-Kessler, Indianapolis - Wikipedia
Meridian-Kessler Neighborhood Association
Other Neighborhoods of Note
Nearby areas include Castleton and Castleton Square Mall, Speedway, Zionsville, Carmel, Westfield, Avon, Greenwood and Greenwood Park Mall, and many more.
Universities and Colleges in Indianapolis:
IUPUI - Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Indy's Nearby Neighbors
Bloomington
Indiana University-Bloomington
Lafayette
Journal & Courier Online, Lafayette-West Lafayette
Local Blogs of Interest
- Check out the following local Indianapolis Blogs of Interest
- Indy Scribe
- Worth Your Attention
- Indianapolis Bloggers
- Feed Me/Drink Me
Events & Activities
Nuvo and Indy.Com are good resources for things to do in Indianapolis. Also, check out Couchsurfing Events for local CS Events that may be going on.
Annual Festivals/Events In Indianapolis
Jan:
Feb:
Mar:
April:
June: Italian Street Festival, Vintage Indiana Wine & Food Fest
July: Indiana Black Expo, Indiana Microbrewers Festival
Aug: Feast of Lanterns, Indy Theatre Fringe Festival
Sept: Greekfest, Penrod Arts Fair, Fiesta Indianapolis, Indy's Irish Fest Oktoberfest (formerly held in German Park on the southside, 2008's was held on the State Fairgrounds - and yes, Oktoberfest is held here in September)
Oct: Oktoberfest (See Sept.)
Nov: International Festival (Indiana State Fairgrounds), Don't miss Circle of Lights, the lighting of the "Christmas Tree" on Monument Circle the day after Thanksgiving!
Dec: Visit Indy.com for long list of holiday-related events in December
More to come. (To be placed by date order, eventually.)
Casinos
Indianapolis, itself, does not have any casinos, but there are two about 20-30 minutes away.
Indiana Live Casino - Shelbyville
Hoosier Park Racing and Casino - Anderson
Sports
Indianapolis is home to:
The Colts (NFL football) Indy plays host to the Superbowl in 2012.
Indianapolis Indians (baseball)
Indianapolis Fever (WNBA women's basketball)
NCAA Hall of Champions (Note: Oct. 2008 - Closed for renovations, check website for updates)
Circle City Classic - African-American College Football event
Indianapolis Tennis Championships
IU Natatorium - IUPUI Sports Complex
National Institute for Fitness and Sport
Free Things To Do In Indy
Place an image here to show Free Items and then list items in regular cateogory with free image.
To be placed: The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA), The Lilly House and Oldfields Gardens, Downtown Canal Walk are all free. More to come.
Arts, Parks, Trails and Greenways
Indy has many Greenways (for walking, jogging and bicycling), the longest and best known being The Monon Trail, and Parks.
For all things Arts in Indianapolis, check out the Arts Council of Indianapolis website. Nuvo and Indy.Com are good resources for things to do in Indianapolis.
Eagle Creek Park - Northwest Indianapolis:
Eagle Creek Park Foundation site
Fort Harrison State Park-Northeast Indianapolis
Movies/Music in the Parks
From the Symphony to Movies, there's almost always something to enjoy in Indy's Parks. Nuvo and Indy.Com are good resources for things to do in Indianapolis.
Symphony on the Prairie, the ISO at Conner Prairie
Visit Indianapolis Museum of Art site for Summer Nights Films shown on the IMA grounds.
Music and Culture
Blues: Slippery Noodle Inn.
Jazz Clubs: The Chatterbox. Jazz Kitchen.
Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra: ISO.
Indianapolis Theaters:
Indiana Repertory Theater(IRT)
Footlight Musicals Hedback Theater
Concerts/Large Venue:
Events Calendar at Conseco Fieldhouse
Verizon Wireless Music Center (Outdoor Concert Venue), Noblesville, Indiana
Clowes Hall on Butler University campus
Indy is home to many museums including:
Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA)
Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
Indiana Medical History Museum
Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art
For a comprehensive listing of events in Indianapolis, check out:
Eating & Drinking
There are great bars and restaurants in Indianapolis. Again, Nuvo and Indy.Com are good resources. Indianapolis Monthly magazine publishes a Dining Guide.
For a complete list search: Indiana Restaurant Association's site
Want a deal? Check out: Coupons 4 Indy and Indy Dining
Citywide
Indy's CouchSurfers' Favorite Asian Eateries
White Castle (for those who've never experienced an original slider)
Cafe Patachou (Upscale omlettes, breakfast/brunch)
Le Peep (Breakfast/Lunch Cafe - specializing in eggs)
Original Pancake House (Great Place for Crepes Northwest Indy and Fishers!)
MCL Restaurant & Bakery Formerly known as MCL Cafeteria. If you want a home-cooked meal out. You can probably adopt a grandparent or two while there too!
Indy Ethnic Food Restaurants Great website for international eateries all over town.
Indianapolis Monthly magazine's Dining Guide.
Downtown
Rathskeller (Bavarian Fare Downtown at 401 E Michigan)
Yats! (Cajun Creole cuisine on Mass. Ave. and in Broadripple)
Scholar's Inn Great food and atmosphere $$$, Thursday evenings are popular for 1/2 price martini's!
Old Spaghetti Factory (S. Meridian)
Shapiro's Deli (S. Meridian)
St. Elmo's Steakhouse ($$$$)
City Cafe for breakfast Downtown
Bazbeaux Pizza (Downtown and Broad Ripple location)
Hoaglin To Go cafe (2 locations Downtown)
Columbia Club on Monument Circle Harrison Bistro 121 offers reasonably priced lunch in an elegant setting. Business casual attire recommended.
L.S. Ayres Tea Room at the Indiana State Museum
Eastside
Golden Ace Inn (bar - a St. Patrick's Day favorite on the eastside)
Papa Roux - Great Cajun Restaurant on the Eastside
Harold's Steer In - 1950's drive in restaurant
Heidelberg Haus (Pendleton Pike and 465, NE side of town) Fabulous kitschy German bakery, with great food!
Jockamo's Upper Crust Pizza in Irvington.
Mama's House Korean Restaurant Also on Pendleton Pike.
Search this site for retro restaurants and motels along US 40, "The National Road" (it was the expressway for covered wagons): Route 40
Southside
Peppy Grill 24/7 (a great dive in Fountain Square; lots of local color if that's what you're looking for)
Thai Spice (Across from Greenwood Park Mall on County Line Road)
Fountain Diner
Long's Bakery For your locally-owned donut.
Westside
Ginza Japanese Steakhouse Affordable sushi!
India Palace (near Layfayette Square)
Search this site for retro restaurants and motels along US 40, "The National Road" (it was the expressway for covered wagons): Route 40
Northside
Yats! (Cajun Creole cuisine in Broadripple and downtown on Mass. Ave.)
Ambrosia (Italian) in Broad Ripple
Aristocrat Pub (Love their patio in the summer!)
Cafe Patachou (usually small and can be obnoxiously busy)
Asaka Japanese Restaurant (Castleton next to Hooters, sushi happy hour is 5-7, but all the food is great!)
Bazbeaux Pizza (Downtown and Broad Ripple location) Sawadee on 86th Street.
Out of Town
Go to the Bargersville Flea Market to have some of Mother Shucker's corn on the cob roasted in a husk. Then brush butter on it and then cover it in Parmesan cheese and hot sauce.
Coffee
We have plenty of coffee houses to get your java fix. Of course we have Starbucks and Seattle's Best Coffee, but we have a lot of non-chain coffee houses too:
The Abbey Coffeehouse (Across from new downtown public library on Pennsylvania)
Henry's on East (East St. off Massachusetts Ave., next door to OutWordBound bookstore)
Hubbard and Cravens (Locations in Broad Ripple and near 49th and Pennsylvania - Meridian-Kessler neighborhood)
Lazy Daze in Irvington
Mo'Joe Coffeehouse (near IUPUI campus)
Monon Coffee Company (Broad Ripple)
Northwest of Indy:
Eagle Creek Coffee Co. in Zionsville
Tips
Indianapolis is home to several conferences and conventions including GenCon, one of the largest gaming conferences around.
LGBTQ Tips
Located in the heart of the Midwest, you may be surprised to learn that Indianapolis has a thriving and active GLBT community. A sometimes vocal minority political opposition notwithstanding, Indy residents in general are friendly, welcoming, "live and let live" types. Hoosier hospitality does not discriminate!
And less than an an hour's drive south is Bloomington, Indiana, considered one of the country's gayest-friendly cities (the Bloomington Convention and Visitor's Bureau is one of the first in the country to specifically target the gay and lesbian traveler.)
Indy Gay bars include: Greg's, Talbott Street, The 501 Eagle, The Metro (Serves Food), The Varsity (Serves Food), Downtown Olly's (Serves Food), IndCosmos (Serves Food), Illusions (Serves Food), and English Ivy's (Serves Food).
Lesbian bars: The Ten.
Male Dancers: The Unicorn Club
Bathhouses: Club Indianapolis. The Works.
More information can be found at: GayIndy.Org. The Word Online. Gay Bar Maps.
Outword Bound Bookstore: Outword Bound.
HIV/AIDS Health Information: Statewide HIV AIDS Information Network (SHINE).
Emergency Information
Should you find yourself in an emergency situation, See the Ambassadors Section for details.
Police
For life or property-endangering emergencies, or if you witness a crime, dial 911 from any land-based phone. 911 may work with some mobile carriers but not always. 911 is a free call from pay phones and other land line based phones. For non-emergencies, please check the Non-Emergency Contact information.
Hospitals
Check here for a list of Hospitals in Indianapolis.
Local Hostels
Located in Broad Ripple, Indy Hostel is in a quiet neighborhood and close to lots of night life.
