Carmel has a dang cute selfie station on Elm Street just east of the Monon. The mural looks like a…read more1960's postcard and stamps with scenes from around Carmel. There is even a mark on the sidewalk to tell you where to stand to take your selfie. This is one of several selfie spots that I saw in the area. I used to call the area downtown Carmel, but the City has rebranded as "Midtown" and Midtown Plaza. The colorful mural was the brainchild of Wilkinson Brothers Design and was unveiled in March 2021.

The mural is the work of Carmel-based Wilkinson Brothers Design and was placed in 2021. It faces…read moreElm Street and is opposite the side of the BIG SCREEN at Midtown Plaza. This mural gives the appearance of a vintage post card and reads "Greetings from Carmel, Midtown Plaza". There are scenes from the city in the cutout letters that include the Monon Trail, Sails, the Coxhall Gardens Clock Tower and City Hall. The card is against a colorful cityscape background cutout with other cityscape silhouettes on it. You will also see stamps of local attractions around the area on the mural including Hotel Carmichael and the Palladium. It is a gorgeous mural that is Instagram ready. The city intends it to be an interactive piece that affords visitors the opportunity to take a selfie. To make sure that visitors get the best possible selfie, there is a decal that tells you where to stand. It is located just outside Java House Coffee Bar and Penn & Beech Candle Co. I love interactive art. This mural is no exception. I was excited about seeing it and I am sure it will be a popular attraction in the area. I will say that it is off of a somewhat busy street, so use caution when approaching. There is free street parking and a garage available to park within a very short walk. I know that this is probably not going to be a long stop, but I still recommend checking it out. You may want to consider planning out additional stops at many of the other attractions in the area, or making this stop part of a larger itinerary to maximize your time and trip such as the Monon Trail or the Sails sculpture that is right down the street.

I truly just enjoy interesting surroundings and the ability to just stroll around and visit the…read morelittle shops lining the street. Takes me back in time when this was the norm. Gives you a bit of that nostalgic small town feel, even so we all know how much Carmel has grown and become so much more like the big cities.

There's a wonderful mural that was created by the Art Department from Carmel High School. The mural…read moreis located just off Main Street in Carmel and was created in 2007. The mural is entitled "Cityscape" and depicts images from the the Art District with some modern twists. I was touched to see faculty and students given the opportunity to express their creativity in their community. The names of the artists are listed on the south end of the mural. The mural is slightly faded with age. There is a small, lovely garden with benches at the base of the mural with a plaque that honors donors.

It made my tiny heart glad to see the indoor Fishers Farmers Market so bustling with people and…read moreactivity, especially in winter and especially because the temperature in the morning was a frosty 18 degrees. I anticipated being the only person walking around the market while all the vendors stared at me, but no. Lots of shoppers, lots of produce and bread and tea and honey and sweets and meats and goods, and lots of samples. What I love about farmers markets in general (and this one specifically) is that each person selling their goods is super excited to tell you all about them, how they made them or grew them, what to eat them with or how to use them. On this visit, I bought some tea from the Tarkington Tea booth, a boule of French bread from The Bearded Baker, honey sticks from Dragonwood Honey & Maple and a dried cow hoof for my doggie from Becker Farms. I was eyeing the pea shoots at another stall, but I'll have to come back and buy those another time -- the guy was busy and had a line of customers. This indoor farmers market is located at Roy G. Holland Park, in the community center just off the parking lot. It's nice and warm inside, so don't let the cold temps of winter deter you from visiting the farmers market!

This is a nice winter option for fresh produce. There is a decent selection of vendors at the…read moremarket; organic produce, baked goods, honey, organic dog treats, coffee/tea, bread, and Mathoo's egg rolls. Everyone is friendly and helpful, most take credit cards, some with limits but because they are small businesses I try to use cash. They moved from the big baseball park to a smaller, slightly harder to find park in a neighborhood. The parking lot isn't as big but the building seems about the same. Because it's inside you don't get any issues with weather but because it's inside you also get a concentration of voices and smells that have nowhere to go. It can get a little loud inside. There isn't a hot breakfast option so don't plan on eating here like you can during the summer. If you're looking for fresh delicious produce this is a good market, if you also go to the summer one for entertainment, this is not the same as that market.

This little, off-the-beaten-path place is hard to categorize. It's part retail store, part wellness…read morecenter and part classroom. Most would probably call this a "new age" store for lack of a better term. We like to shop here because we love their selection of very affordably-priced crystals - especially the large ones that have been hollowed out a bit to create natural lamps. We've now purchased two of BE's amazing white selenite beauties, one for keeps and one that we gifted. There is something very spiritual and uplifting about this particular crystal, especially in a large size - that even a non-granola type can appreciate. The store also have a nice selection of jewelry - most of it appears to be handmade, some books, and various other "alternative" supplies. There are numerous classes on wellness, spirituality and what Oprah would call "living your best life" topics available here, as well as meditation and yoga. Individual intuitive readings, massage and other healing modalities are also offered. We personally love to see something like this taking root up here in Carmel and we like the friendly, family feel of the store. The only thing I think is unfortunate with BE is its name....I get it and a lot of people in my circle of friends would get it, but from a PR standpoint, I think the owners should have chosen something else. The store was quite busy on our visit, which is good to see - we love little places like this that swim against the tide and we hope BE succeeds. Look for an update soon, as we plan to take a few classes here and see if we like them as much as our rocks :-)

I'm not always a fan of Carmel's roundabout art projects, however, I will acknowledge I'm a fan, a…read morebig fan, of the "Classic Cars of Indiana" project. This sculpture, Marmon Wasp, is part of that collection. It was completed in 2023 and sits in the roundabout at East 96th Street and Priority Way. The entire collection sits along East 96th Street. I think this is a great sort of bridge between Carmel and Indy; it's also a tremendous acknowledging of Indy's history. For those who don't know, the Marmon Wasp was the first car to win the Indy 500 way back in 1911. The sculpture's black and yellow colors are the same colors from the original car. The sculpture was completed by Arlon Bayliss. The base of the sculpture is made of Indiana limestone and brick, the latter reflecting the "Brickyard." The car slants forward with the front wheels raised, a tribute to speed. Bayliss was born in England and is an emeritus professor of art at Anderson University. He's known for public art installations around Indiana, though he's also known across Europe for both studio glass and factory art glass. I'm always struck by the size and power of this sculpture whenever I drive by it. I wouldn't call it quite a destination piece, however, it's a tremendous piece to admire when in the area. I'm a fan of the entire collection - this and the Stutz sculpture are probably my two favorites. If you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend checking it out.

Again: I know nothing about art, just what I like and what I don't like…read more This is the first roundabout sculpture you see when you are coming leaving 465 and heading east on 96th Street. It is one in a series of roundabout sculptures that line up along 96th Street. Honoring the Marmon Wasp, one of the earliest race cars on the Speedway track. I not only love that it lights up (and yes I have a thing for sculptures that light up at night) but also that it is painted in yellow and black. How befitting a wasp. I glimpse a bit more of it each time I drive through this roundabout. One day I shall stop and take a really close look.

This mural is massive. It not only covers Big Hoffas BBQ's main building, front, back, and sides,…read morebut it bleeds over to the building next door. It uses every inch of the building and incorporates flag masts on the buildings roof. It was painted in 2019 by Jackie McCracken and Robert Schaefer. The mural wall is not flat or smooth. It has ridged, kind of like a tin roof, and overlooks Big Hoffas' parking lot. The mural theme continues on into the restaurant. I am not sure of the tie in with Barbecue and pirates, but Big Hoffas is all in and seems to make it work. The mural is very colorful and has a lot going on. In the center you will find a couple of pirate ships sailing off the coast. The front door of the restaurant is used in the larger of the ships. The left side of the mural (as you are facing it), is very interesting. It is actually kind of 3D and has cutouts of a pirate scene with a swashbuckler bursting out of a window of a building and and 4 more pirates down below sitting by a campfire. There are also a set of white angel wings in between those pirates that are like those that are starting to pop up all over the place and where people can takes pictures in front of and make look like they are wearing them. They seem kind of out of place to me, but no big deal. The rest of the mural is mostly a coastal image. I love the artistry and use of color and can only imagine how long it took to paint it. You can not help but be "wow'ed" by this mural. You probably wont spend too much time checking this mural out. It is a lot to look at a digest. I was there about 10 minutes. So, I recommend coupling it with a visit to Big Hoff's to eat some of their delicious "Q". Since it overlooks their parking lot, parking here is easy. I would also recommend checking out that entire mural that includes the patio area and a whole other building next door.

Wow! What a statement piece mural has been added to Westfield. On the east walls (and wrapping…read morearound three other walls) of the Big Hoffa's BBQ and the Main Street Shoppes is one of the largest murals I've seen. The entire length of wall has been turned into a Pirate's Cove with multiple sailing ships, pirates, and even a few skeletons. The north ends of the buildings continue the mural to add images of an island paradise and a cloud covered sea. The mural was created by Rob Schaefer and Jackie McCracken in 2019. There is so much detail to see, I will pick just a few to highlight here. Ship's masts - Not only is there a giant mural, but some construction was done to turn the largest ship's masts into actual wooden structures with crow's nests that stick up above the wall of the mural. As you approach from the east, it makes you think it is a real sailing ship! Pirate theme - For anyone who has dined inside Big Hoffa's, there already existed a pirate theme, so kudos to the artists for taking that and making the entire building a not so subtle advertisement. Insta-worthy - If you can get here when there isn't a crowd, there is a section of the wall with a pair of angel wings where you can take a selfie while surrounded by pirates. This is one of those pieces you have to see for yourself to appreciate how much skill and effort went into creating the mural. The surfaces aren't smooth, but unless you look carefully, you can't tell that there are raised ridges that run vertically which add even more challenge. Although I am rarely a fan of other murals being painted over, (the space used to have a giant village painted in a somewhat primitive style), I can't deny that the visual appeal of this new mural is much greater to me. The next time you are in Westfield, make a point to stop by these shops! Review #3360

Urban Vines is the place to be on a nice summer evening!! This is a great spot to gather with…read morefriend's and family, beautiful vineyard view and cutie little pond with ducks and we even saw a deer! They offer indoor, outdoor covered and outdoor picnic tables. We ordered pizza and charcuterie for our book club gathering tonight - everything was delicious! Service was great! If you havent checked them out we highly recommend for you next wine night! Cheers!

Confession: I'm not the biggest fan of Indiana wine. (This isn't actually a confession or a secret…read more I will gladly tell anyone who will listen that I don't like Indiana wine.) It's usually way too sweet for my palate, even the dry wine. But the wine I tasted at Urban Vines was really good! Could it be that I can no longer say that I don't like Indiana wine? If you like dry wine like I do, I suggest sticking to the Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah. Those were the red wines that I chose for my wine flight, plus the Pinot Gris from the white wine section. These were all delicious and dry enough for me. (If we're really quibbling, they were still slightly sweeter than I like, but I realize Indiana wine can only go so dry.) Mostly, though, Urban Vines is ideal for people who like sweeter wines. The people who see "cotton candy" on the wine bottle and think, "Yes, this is what I want. I want my wine to taste like liquified sugar." That said, I did taste a sample of the Wine-A-Rita, which is a sweet wine infused with agave and lime, and served on ice. Whoo! That's a nice little sippin' drink. I could see killing a couple of glasses of that on a hot Indiana summer evening. I should also mention: The pours that they give you for the wine flights are generous! More than generous, actually. I am no wine lightweight, and I could feel the sweet and bitter fruits flowing nicely throughout my bloodstream by the time I took my last sip. Luckily, Urban Vines has food to offset all of the wine. I came for a pizza flight, but they weren't offering them when I visited, so I got the margherita pizza instead, which came with torn pieces of basil, marinated and roasted tomatoes, and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. It was very tasty! They also offer things like boards (veggie boards, breadstick boards, cheese boards, meat boards), plus salads and desserts. They also offer brunch on the weekends. This is a pleasant little place to hang out and enjoy wine and food. It's also family-friendly -- they have a small playground that's near the patio seating, so you can relax and also watch your kids play. Urban Vines is a nice place to unwind with some wine and food, and just enjoy the day.

Whenever we come to visit friends here we try such fun local spots! They have some good local food…read moreand coffee shops and lots of different Middle Eastern inspired cafes, which I love (having lived in the Middle East). It's a cute city!

Continuously expanding area. Living in Indianapolis, I tend to come for a visit to enjoy some of…read morethe many restaurants in the area. Higher median income and more available space makes this a reasonable choice for new restaurants. Also more parking opportunities. I also love to shop at IKEA. Or attend Fisher Parks events. I do however think that the extra parking fees for out of towners is ridiculously high. Way to be elitist. Unfortunately the continuing construction in this area just makes for a horrible commute anymore.

This is one of my favorite roundabout sculptures because the rose is massive and exquisite. The 41…read morefoot tall structure of roses is fabulous to see during the day, but at night the sculpture is magnificent. I had to pull over and take photos last night because I was in awe. The lights on the roses lit up the sky and glistened on the wet pavement. As Yelper Ken N. stated the piece was the work of Arlon Bayliss. If you go to Bayliss' website, there are interesting photos of the sculpture being assembled. Baylis studied in London and became a professor at Anderson University, where he established the glass program. Today, Bayliss is world renowned. He has commissioned works throughout Indiana including at Circle Mall and the Indy Airport. I did not know about the bee until I read Tank's review. I can see the bee in my photos and in the lovely daytime photos by Ken N. Note: the Yelp listed location for this fabulous sculpture is wrong. The sculpture is featured in a roundabout east of IN-31 at the intersection of Old Meridian and Pennsylvania Streets. I'm trying to have the location fixed, but sometimes it's impossible. I found parking on the east side of the roundabout to take a closer look and photos of the sculpture.

This is a tall sculpture located in the center of a Carmel roundabout. I saw it both during the day…read moreand the night and in my opinion, it is far more impressive at night than during the day. This piece stands 42 feet high, and is made of aluminum and steel. It is the work of Arlon Bayliss, who created the piece in 2019. It depicts 3 roses towering over the roundabout. It is very detailed and looks very realistic. I love the pink pedals and how they look like they are made of some type of sheer material. The sculpture also includes gold stems and silver leaves, wrapped in a ribbon. It is illuminated at night and looks amazing. It is rumored that if you look closely at the sculpture, you may find a bumblebee hidden among the flower petals. There are a few parking lots off of the roundabout that you can pull into, park, and get out to take a closer look. That is what I ended up doing. Just be carful doing so, as it is a very active roundabout. This is obviously not a destination piece or a long stop, but if you are in the area and near by, then it may be worthy of a quick visit. As with most sculptures (especially those located on roundabouts) that I visit, this was not a long stop. I was there about 5 minutes and I was out. I came across the sculpture by chance, driving to an appointment. I recommend making this part of a larger itinerary or a stop on your way somewhere else.