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.

Cool winery with plenty of seating and a playground for the kiddos to burn off some energy…read more The pizzas were delicious. Thin crusts with the right amount of sauce, cheese and good quality toppings. Fair warning, specialty pizzas are only available during weekends. Simple topping pizzas on Mondays and Tuesdays. The highlight of our meal was the baked Brie. Warm, creamy and gooey cheese that was complimented well with a fig jam and baguette slices. The drink selection was great. Lots of variety and even frozen alcohol slushies. Service was great at the counter and very helpful in selecting food and drink items.

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.

This piece is part of the 2020 Jiffy Lube Mural project, in conjunction with the Arts Council of…read moreIndianapolis. It is the work of Artur Silva and Shaunte Lewis and is not your typical mural. It is not painted directly on the building wall. The image was printed on vinyl and installed on the building. This is the first digitally-created artwork in the Jiffy Lube mural program. So, obviously it is on the side a Jiffy Lube. The mural is abstract. It goes from color in the center to black and white as it gets toward the outer edges. The left side of the mural is a mirror of the right side. It mainly consists of a lot of colorful hands. There is also a heart thrown in for good measure. The hands are based on Silva's friends' performing various actions with their hands. He also used screenshots of films highlighting the role of hands in telling a story. I will say that it is an interesting piece that I found very intriguing. I was trying to figure out which each hand was doing in the mural. I like the way the color portion of the mural contrasts with the back and white portion. They both really pop. I just pulled into the BP gas station that the mural overlooks to park. It was very easy. As with most murals that I have visited and reviewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. 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.

As part of the ongoing commitment from the local owners of many Central Indiana Jiffy Lubes,…read moreanother new mural was added to the south wall of the Jiffy Lube on 151st in Westfield. The artists for this piece were Artur Silva and Shaunte Lewis. The artwork is a mixture of bright colored pieces surrounded by black and white "sketches". There are many images of hands that I haven't had a chance to understand what they represent. It is a definite eye catching mural as I noticed it from 151st even though it was just beyond a BP gas station on the south wall of the Jiffy Lube on Thatcher Lane. For more information about the artists and Jiffy Lube art program, see the link to the Arts Council of Indiana that I have added to the Business page of the mural. This piece was added in 2020, so something good came out of that year! Review #3861

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

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.

In the roundabout at 151st and Carey Road in Hamilton County, a gleaming stainless steel sculpture…read moresits atop a pedestal. Hoosier artist Steve Wooldridge (from Sheridan) created the piece in 1999 and it was installed recently in this location. From the front and back (north and south views I think), the piece is very narrow with two long and slightly angled support columns reaching up to a cluster of arcs attached where the columns meet. The attachments not only form arcs when viewed from the side, but also are curved away from the supports at the top and bottom of the arcs to add the effect of wings when looked at from the front. There is also a smaller attachment at the back of the arcs that could be interpreted as the body of the dragonfly. There are three shapes which could creatively (if not biologically accurate) represent the three body segments of the insect (head, thorax, and abdomen). On a clear day, the piece is truly eye catching as it rises above the landscaping in the center of the roundabout. Review #1292

Beautiful, love when the sun hits the sculpture. So impressive & it makes me smile as it does look…read morelike a dragonfly!

Lots to be found in the Town of Westfield! Have fun exploring one of the many coffee cafes,…read morerestaurants, or shopping venues. I love the combination of big city food options yet also the mom and pop establishments that are strung along throughout town. Friendly faces, and smooth flowing traffic is what's to be found when you explore Westfield, so what are you waiting for!? Get going!!

I am not a big fan of the 'burbs (save the quaint downtown squares), but I've noticed progress in…read morethe past couple years to make Westfield a more pedestrian and bicycle friendly and I applaud that. My Mother lives in the area and I enjoy using the greenways to make my visits. There is also a creepy baby graveyard on Union St that is worth a visit.

You will find this piece on the side of a the Carmel's Jiffy Lube. It is the work of local artist…read moreJustin Cooper, with assistance for community members through community celebration paint days. It is a positive mural and is intended to pay homage to Carmel-born artist and illustrator Franklin Booth. It was painted in 2016 and is the product of a partnership between Jiffy Lube and Department of Public Words, a group dedicated to spreading positive messages through art. The message here is to just pause, take time and just "breathe". As most community murals are, this is a simple design. The colors of the mural are dull, almost pastel like, but it is still in great shape. The mural depicts a blue heron flying, against a blue background, flying through a whimsical sky. It is not a very detailed piece, but I love its message and it being a community project. As with most murals that I have visited, this is not a large consumer of your time, nor a destination piece. I was just there briefly while on my way to another nearby attraction. I would say that I was there about 5 minutes. I highly recommend visiting here on your way to somewhere else or making this part of a larger itinerary.

Love, love, love Jiffy Lube's new art initiatives! They have murals on their different locations…read moreall over the city. It seems to not only connect the Jiffy Lubes to the community more, but also distinguish each one as fun and unique. This mural was painted by Justin Cooper in 2016 (just searched the Internet - definitely didn't know that off the top of my head!). This mural is peaceful and just says the word 'breathe' on the side. Great reminder. The light colors are pretty, but it is hard to read from far away. Regardless, I just love the initiative to spread public art and have learned a lot about how great Jiffy Lube is as a company. This is evidence of it!

This is a very eye catching piece of art located in one of Carmel's many round a bouts. I really…read morelike it and as fate would have it, it is located right off of the Carmel Access Bikeway. The sculptures at this round about depicts 4 colorful biking figures, 3 in a group and one by their self. It is the work of Florida based artist Jorge Blanco and is made from Powdered-coated aluminum. It was made in 2017 and is 198.5 inches high 46.5 inches wide and 16 inches deep. The abstract characters used in the sculpture are Blanco's signature trademark style. The piece, along with two other Blanco pieces, Kick, Home Run, were commissioned by the City of Carmel at a cost of $165,833. This piece is in great shape and I really liked it. There is not a real easy way to park and get a closer look without blocking traffic. I ended up parking in a nearby neighborhood. It was a little bit of a walk, but well worth it. This sculpture is not a large consumer of time, nor a destination piece. I was just there briefly. I would say about 5 minutes. I highly recommend visiting here on your way to somewhere else or making this part of a larger itinerary. Flowing Well Park is just right down the road. You can get some free water.

The roundabout art is getting wild up in Carmel. At every (literal) twist and turn, you don't know…read morewhat you're going to get. At this roundabout in particular, you'll encounter huge, colorful sculptures of bikers. It's funky, it's fun, but it definitely is a little random. Enjoy!