Indianapolis, colloquially called Indy, capital of the state of Indiana is home to the world’s largest single day auto racing event, the Indy 500. Indianapolis has the distinction of being the most populous city in the nation and the diversity is evident. It notably is home to five universities, numerous museums including the world’s largest children’s museum and outside of Washington D.C., has the largest collection of monuments dedicated to veterans of the United States.
WHERE TO STAY
Downtown Indy has no shortage of 5-star hotels, however for a more moderate ‘quieter’ experience, yet one within an easy walk of downtown and the Cultural District along Massachusetts Avenue (Mass Ave) consider the Hampton Inn Indianapolis Canal IUPUI. As an added bonus, there’s a Starbucks right next door. Housed in what was originally the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Bethel Church from 1787 through the early 1980s. The original church structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991 which provides a verification of the presence of Black people there, at a time when the majority of buildings with historical value pertaining to blacks had been moved out of downtown. The hotel provides a full free breakfast and offers paid valet or self-parking. Its location directly across the street from Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis makes this a perfect location for executives coming into town for a few days to attend classes. One thing to be aware of; although the street view rooms offer magnificent views of the University and pretty sunsets through the picture windows, the traffic noise of the very busy West Street is enough to keep light sleepers from getting any shut eye. The hotel sits adjacent to the Canal; an ideal place for a walk, jog or even kayak or gondola ride if that strikes your fancy. Be sure to walk up the stairs in the tower, to take in the history of the old Church and its founders.
WHERE TO EAT
Even though the hotel offers a free full breakfast every day, one breakfast or brunch at Café Patachoux is a must. Indulge in one of their mimosa cocktails and for an alternative to omelets, French toast or waffles, consider their avocado toast. Although they are most known for their cinnamon French toast.
For well-crafted cocktails and comfy Southern cooking, look no further than The Eagle. This restaurant shows up as the #1 non-sponsored restaurant in the area, and with good reason. For a boozy refresher, try the Maple Bacon Old Fashioned, four roses single barrel, gran marnier, maple, pepper ginger bitters, glazed bacon, or the Blackberry Lemonade – vodka, house-made blackberry syrup, fresh lemonade, elderflower liqueur, need something nonalcoholic, ask them to hold the vodka on the Blackberry Lemonade. The Eagle is known for its fried chicken and that will not disappoint. Served with spicy honey, it is perfectly seasoned, perfectly crispy on the outside, tender on the inside meat, with the ooey-gooey-ness of the spicy honey is something out of this world. It is such an explosion of flavor and texture. Be sure to try the biscuits house made honey butter and blackberry jam. However, the trick here is to drizzle some of that spicy honey on the biscuits. For traditional southern fare, consider the sides of Shrimp and Grits and collard greens. Blackened shrimp, white cheddar grits, pickled peppers, andouille sausage and New Orleans gravy. Everything works harmoniously together, yet you’ll have no trouble picking out the individual flavors. The tang of the pickled peppers, the crisp of the perfectly blackened shrimp, the creaminess of the grits and the pure magic of the New Orleans gravy. No one thing overpowers the other. It is true gastronomic harmony. The collard greens, stewed with ham hocks and bacon are a good foil to the rich creaminess of the grits; perfectly cooked, not too limp, with the delicious flavor of ham hock and the smokiness of well-cooked bacon. Even though these are appetizer size portions, they are more than adequate for one person’s meal.
If you’re with a group of people with differing appetites, head to The Garage Hall, a trendy food court set in an old Coca-Cola bottling plant, with a variety of food options to satisfy the pickiest palate. Here you’ll find foods from all areas – Indian/Pakistani, British fish and chips, Venezuelan, East Asian noodles, Argentinian and others.
Less than a five-minute walk from the Hampton Inn Indianapolis Canal IUPUI, sits an Italian eatery called Fresco on the Canal. This is the perfect place to perch for an early (or late) evening drink, gelato or pizza to people watch. You might find a family out on a swan-shaped paddle boat, students on a kayak or even a couple taking a romantic gondola ride, complete with singing gondolier.
WHAT TO DO
The Eagle restaurant sits at the intersection of Delaware and Mass Ave which is considered the start of the one of six Cultural Districts in Indianapolis. Here you’ll find an assortment of pride-friendly restaurants, coffee shops, gift stores, ice-cream shops and gastropubs. Be sure to check out Brick Head, a sculpture made of 550 individually cut ceramic bricks with an internal element activated by motion sensors. Enjoy the illuminated dancing walking signal girls as you walk along Mass Ave. The Indiana War Memorial, the larger-than-life sized statue of a sitting Abraham Lincoln, Scottish Rites Cathedral, St. Mary’s Catholic Church are all in the same general vicinity and worth checking out, the latter two for their beautiful architecture. Along the way, be sure to admire the public art – you might find some painted on tree stumps, the Pathways to Peace Garden and the big mural of Black jazz musicians. Another area worth checking out is The Glick Peace Walk. This reflects outdoor sculptures of glass, steel and light reflect the lives of 12 people who improved humanity through peaceful pursuits. People such as Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and Booker T. Washington are among those reflected along this beautiful linear garden along Walnut Street.
Need to do some shopping? Head to Central Circle Mall but take the Canal path which will takes you toward the Historical Museum and pay homage to the Indiana 9/11 Memorial. Four granite blocks show the times of the four events on September 11, 2001, that rocked our Nation. This poem is etched in marble, and given the current divisive nature of our Nation, it bears repeating:
We Are
One Color
One Class
One Generation
One Faith
One Language
One Body
One Family
One Soul
One People
We Are the Power of One
We are United
We are America
- Cheryl B. Sawyer ED.D.
On the steps of the domed government center building, you might find a peaceful protest underway, or a group of citizens needing to take a stand against hate and evil.
At Circle Centre Mall, consider a trip to Rhythm! Discovery Center, the world’s only interactive drum and percussion museum. Here, the history of percussion is preserved and celebrated. Spend a few minutes at the Indianapolis ArtsGarden – a glass domed area at the center of the Circle Centre Mall which gives you a bird’s eye view of the street below and houses art exhibits from different local artists. One can imagine how wonderful it would be to take in a classical pianist or a jazz quartet in this very artsy space, while enjoying a cocktail seated at the artistically painted cocktail tables in the midst of the mall. If time doesn’t permit a show, be sure to at least stop by and admire the intricate architecture of the Indianapolis Repertory Theatre. See if you can spot Shakespeare?
If your intention is to hang out in downtown Indy, then do yourself a favor and forgo the rental car. Parking is upward of $22 a day and is truly not necessary. Everything is within an easy walk or a short taxi ride. The weather seems to change constantly; sunny and hot one day, overcast and rainy the next. Summers tend to be hot and humid. The Indiana University, Purdue University Indianapolis campus is sprawling and great for adding some walking or running miles to your day. Whatever else you do, be sure to carve out time to walk along the Canal. There is something magical about being near water. Especially in a landlocked city like Indianapolis.
