Went to the Chicken & Beer Festival at Monon 30 and it was the first time in the space. Everything…read moreis brightly decorated with lots of outdoor seating and is a nice space for a smaller, ticketed event. The parking is kind of iffy - there's a gravel lot next to it and it could use a little upkeep. I was slightly scared there would be a nail or something that would put a hole in my tire, but everything turned out fine. I didn't know this space was here and am curious what else they might have here so I'd definitely come back to another event.

An urban oasis in the middle of the city. Monon 30 is an initiative to revitalize the neighborhood…read moresurrounding the Monon Trail and E. 30th St. There are plans for a community hub, housing, and a grocery store. Admittedly, the area is somewhat dilapdated with old industrial buildings, but they are starting off on the right foot with The Cradle. The Cradle at Monon 30 is meant to be an art/culture and culinary hub. They used the industrial backdrop and turned it on its head. They used cargo containers to build a performance stage and food booths. The venue is made more inviting by using bright colors and live plants. There are canopys and umbrellas for shade, and toward the back there is a game area. Several food vendors are usually on-site, and they just received a license to serve cocktails in addition to beer and wine. For the last few weekends, there have been live music of different genres. There are some seating in front of the stage, but really you can enjoy the sounds from anywhere. You are welcomed to take a seat or meander around the venue as you see fit. Monon 30 is such an unexpected place in a neighborhood you are probably not accustomed to. Don't let the zip code deter you and check it out yourself. The Cradle is just a first step, and I am curious to see how the rest of Monon 30 unfolds.

So spacious and modern inside! This was my first time going since ownership changed hands from when…read moreit was Brownsburg Bowl. Friendly staff who helped us with getting our lane and then served us drinks and snacks while we bowled. Excited to go back to the speakeasy I've been hearing about!! You can also find duckpin bowling and arcade room that looked intriguing to the kids in me and I've heard that the chef whips up amazing food! We will definitely be back to this bowling alley with an upscale feel!

I loooove that pinheads took over this bowling alley. It was always nice to be ducked off because…read morethey never carried a crowd before (I can't remember the previous name). BUT NOW, there's a full bar, suite life reservations upstairs, live music on the patio on Fridays while the weather permits, full service restaurant, arcade with well stocked gift shop, etc. talk about a makeover! My only issue was the servers are all younger (I would assume inexperienced with fast paced environments) so service was extremely slow but when I issued a complaint about our pizza never having come out, the server was apologetic & immediately had the manager comp it and come to apologize on behalf of the kitchen staff. Thats all people want when there's a somewhat negative experience, take accountability! So good job Pinheads & thanks for making my little cousins birthday party so enjoyable. *** I will be returning with just adults and partaking in more cocktails (my sweet & spicy was so good) and perhaps the Friday night live music on the patio before it gets too cold. Oh, makesure you guys get some heaters out there so the experience can last into the fall season.

I have a really mixed relationship with Broad Ripple Village, located six miles north of downtown…read moreIndy and the longest established of Indy's seven cultural districts. The area was established by Jacob Coil (which is where the recently established Coil Apartments got their name) in 1836 - Coil actually did name it Broad Ripple because "the ripple in the river at this point was the largest and widest in the country." Legend had it only one man, Isaac Simpson, could throw a stone across it. The area has nearly 17,000 residents and is known for its diverse population. It played host to White City Amusement Park in 1906 and The Vogue opened in 1938. The Broad Ripple Village Association was founded in 1969 to promote life in the area. Of course, many who've lived here for years will testify that the area's "village" vibe has lessened over the years as ramshackle buildings are replaced by high-rise apartments and indie shops are replaced by corporate chains. Crime is higher these days (though overstated in my opinion). The bar scene has always been pretty heavy in the area and the introduction of parking meters continues to be an unpopular decision. I find accessibility to be hit-and-miss in the area, though it has improved with recent construction efforts as curb cuts get better, accessible parking improves, and at least some stores have made an effort to improve access. Some of the older buildings continue to be difficult in terms of access including one-step spots right on the strip and those places in some of the older residential settings. Broad Ripple continues to be a great area for dining, the still under development Riverwalk, a handful of great coffeehouses, nightlife, and a general artsy vibe. The Broad Ripple Art Fair continues to be popular, the Vogue is still a great spot for indie acts, the farmer's market is great, and Broad Ripple Park (and family center) remains popular (Personal Note: It's also where I was baptized!). In terms of parking, there are quite a few businesses with lots, the parking garage at 62nd and College, parking meters, and the Red Line goes directly to 62nd and College. Despite lamenting some of the commercialization of the area, I still have a soft spot for Broad Ripple and spend quite a bit of time here. To catch everything available, check out the Broad Ripple Village Association website as there's an awful lot to do including the Monon Trail and the Indianapolis Art Center.

This sub-division on Indianapolis is a happening spot. It was established in 1836 by Jacob Coilis…read moreand currently has a population of approximately 17,000 residents. It is an artsy kind of place that is filled with public art. You will find some awesome murals here. You will also find some nice shops, art galleries, boutiques and restaurants here as well. Some cool restaurants include 317 Burger, Union Jack Pub, Rise n Roll bakery, Sun King Brewery, Broad Ripple Brewpub, the Egyptian Cafe and Hookah Bar, Hoagies and Hops, and Brickhouse Dueling Piano Bar, just to name a few. And some cool and notable shops to check out include Indy CD and Vinyl, Monon Plant Company, Uptown Pup, Prairie General, Indy Urban Flea, and the Indianapolis Art Center. It is also home to the 62 Acre Broad Ripple Park. Most of the area is covered with metered street parking with a few commercial lots also available. It is a relatively clean area that has a high class feel. It is very close to Butler University and is a popular spot for many students. This is a beautiful place that holds a large portion of the Monon Trail and runs some of the White River Canal. They host a farmers market every Saturday, year round, in the Glendale Town Center. This is definitely a place to check out and spend some time at if you are visiting. It is a cool place for locals to come to as well. I thoroughly enjoyed checking out the shops and wonderful murals in the area. This area is full of life and packed with history and culture.

An awesome event that gets better every year! This summer it was held at Banker's Fieldhouse which…read moreoffered lots of great space as well as ample parking. As always, entry is FREE but you could opt into a paid ticket which allowed pre-entry an hour before the public. I always enjoy the variety of merchant vendors, but this year there were so many interesting businesses represented! Sierra Club Indiana Chapter, Hoosier Environmental Council. Upland Peak Animal Sanctuary, Pet Friendly Services, Commuter Connect...to just name a few. It's a great way to learn more about environmentally friendly businesses and the services they offer. There was even a vegan dietician on hand to answer any questions guests had about living a healthy vegan lifestyle. I came hungry and wasn't at all disappointed by the variety of food vendors available on the floor level. Many sold out of their goods by the end of the event. I had an amazing bbq jackfruit sandwich from Union Jack's Pub, pistachio ice cream from Moo Over and took home some amazing soy Gouda cheese from the Vegan Cheese Lady. Also purchased some amaretto flavored maple syrup and a sampler pack from Dragonwood syrups...yum! There was a cooking demonstration by Sea Salt and Cinnamon that I unfortunately missed. A variety of alcoholic beverages were also available at the fieldhouse bars. All in all, I had a great time as always. My thanks go out to Katelin and Joseph for all their hard work in organizing this fantastic event! There's something for everyone regardless of whether you're a veg-head or not.

I knew this event is a wild success each year, but I'm not a vegetarian or a vegan. I fully…read moreexpected to simply check it out and then eat elsewhere. NOPE. I ate DELICIOUS food from amazing vendors - many that I didn't even realize serve vegan options. Located at the Biltwell Event Center this year, the first floor consisted primarily of food vendors (both cooked-to-order and pre-packaged options). Bizs included: -Three Carrots -Ezra's Enlightened Cafe -Union Jack's -Mama P's Bakery -Duos, BRICS -Circle City Kombucha -Tlaoli New, amazing businesses I encountered for the first time: -Sea Salt & Cinnamon -Simply Divine Cupcakes -Roamers (delish beet hummus) There were a TON of people at this event. My tip would be to come towards the end so there's less lines. It's a great spot to learn about your food and also try amazing local options.

SWING is a fun new charity hosted by Victory Field x Indianapolis Indians to raise funds for their…read morecharity which supports local youth groups, family groups, educational programs, and neighborhood development. The SWING event was a roaring good time with the best drinks from St. Elmo Cocktails, the best food from the best restaurants all around the city, and great live music. Some of my favorite highlights from the night were St. Elmo's Old Fashioned, Mimi Blue's Mashed Potatoes, Clancy's Fries, Tinker Coffee was much needed, Simplicity cocktails were delicious, and the DeBrand Chocolates. The Infield was a giant party with live music, bourbon tastings, a 360 Video stand, and so many more cool things. And the best part of the night we $400,000 for Indianapolis Indians Charities and its 2024 grant recipients!

I haven't had the pleasure of attending their flea market yet, but I drive through here often and…read morejust love this neighborhood. If I ever win the lottery, I would love to buy a house here. The divided streets lined with mature trees. The statues and fountains in the median. The great yesteryear houses, smelling of old grandeur. Yeah, I would love to live here. But of course only if I have enough money to hire folks for the upkeep of house and yard. A girl can dream

I look forward to the Woodruff Place Flea Market every year. I love looking at the beautiful homes…read moreand browsing through what's for sale. Residents and businesses participate in the Flea Market, selling their wares. There are also food and beer trucks. It makes for a fun day! This year, there didn't seem to be as many residents participating. And some of our favorite vendors from past years weren't there.

Last year the wait was over and hour and I didn't end up getting any strawberry shortcake because I…read morehad to get back to work. So, this year we did the pick up order for 10. Two of us walked over around 9 am to pick them up. Mind you a line had already formed outside and people were already enjoying their strawberry shortcake. So, we go inside and down to the basement of Christ Church Cathedral. So, we're thinking they had 10 shortcakes in a bag, a tub of strawberries in a container, same for the ice cream and whipped cream. So, when we got back we could make our own when we got a chance. NO!!! We get there and we don't even know how long the shortcakes had been sitting on the tables already made!!!! They had so much juice in them that transporting them was a mess in those flip containers they were in. By the time we got back it was mushy. Some of us didn't even eat them they just weren't fresh like you would get if you had them in line. Next year we won't be doing that. I wish they had them separated. My other coworkers were like why were they already made if you weren't even there yet? We were the only customers down there. No one was in the basement picking up orders. :-/ Hopefully next year will be better by going and getting in line. So, if your company or group of 10 want to order ahead know that they might be sitting for who knows how long....

Omg!! It was like heaven on earth. The event was pretty nice even though the weather could have…read morebeen better. It was my first time attending and I must say, the Strawberry Shortcakes are beyond delicious. I am not a sweets person but I really enjoyed it. The treat was a strawberry short cake (short bread cake, strawberries w/ syrup, ice cream and whipped cream). The shortcake needed just a little bit more ice cream to even the portions. $7 well spent. And the money goes to charity :)

Omg I live this place! Its reasonably priced. And its so family friendly. The concessions stand is…read morethe ultimate set up. They have it set up to run so smoothly. I loveeeee it. Every place should definitely take notice. The staff was friendly. And we just really enjoyed it. I used to take my boys to the drive in in Ohio all the time but had not been since moving to Indy but I will definitely go again!

We went to Tibbs for a school fundraiser so it was considered a private event. They organized and…read morehad workers to help with parking and other aspects. The drive in was clean and the staff were friendly. It was raining considerably so we took refuge under an outside awning. When a concession staff member spotted us she had us come inside to eat, even though the concession was from our private event. Very kind! It was a fun experience and totally new for the kids. We learned a bit about drive in etiquette and the best views. For sure we would prepare our car with cushy blankets etc for next time, or go with lawn chairs. It was a fun event and we would go again. The screen was perfectly visible and we didn't have trouble with sound as brought a 'boom box'! We plan to go again this summer!