I just want to give praise to the employees of the Hamilton County Assessors office in Noblesville…read more Every time I call regarding a question or issue I have with my property taxes they are very friendly and helpful. I'm a disabled veteran and I can always use the help when trying to make sense of how my property tax is determined and what is deductible. The Indiana legislature just modified how deductions are calculated for disabled veterans and honestly I was not able to discern how the modification affected me. They took the time to explain the changes and that made all the difference. I only hope someone in that office sees this review and tells the others. Your kindness and compassion makes a challenging life a little easier. Thank you.

I got that dreaded letter in the mail recently: I was being summoned for jury duty! Because I'm a…read moreresident of Hamilton County, I had to report to this particular court house. My experience being called for jury duty was fine. The people who work here are very professional and efficient. The building itself is beautiful. If you do have to serve on a jury and spend some time here, there are lots of restaurant options to choose from. I ended up being dismissed before lunch. Keep in mind that they don't allow you to park outside of the courthouse itself. There's a free parking garage a block away at which jurors are instructed to park. I would add an additional 10 minutes to your trip to find parking and walk to the courthouse. It's not far away, but there's a traffic light that takes a while. Also keep in mind: Before you enter the courthouse, you have to walk through a body scanner and empty your pockets. It's very easy but also kind of a pain, but I guess it's necessary in these strange and unpredictable times.

I don't spend a whole lot of time up in Hamilton County, however, a recent work conference gave me…read morethe opportunity to spend some time at Hamilton Town Center. Hamilton Town Center is essentially an open-air mall. Developed by Indy-based Simon & Associates, Hamilton Town Center opened in 2008 right on the cusp of when the more traditional shopping mall was starting to wane in popularity and developers were exploring options. Hamilton Town center features over 85 shops/restaurants and is designed to resemble a streetscape. Some of the dining options, in particular, are free-standing buildings in outlots. While I think it's pretty common to associate Hamilton County with a more affluent clientele, one of the things I like about Hamilton Town Center is that it has a nice diversity within its shops - from definite high end options to more "ordinary joe" type outlets. Hamilton Town Center also hosts Emagine Theatre (the former Hamilton 16 IMAX). I suppose a minor quibble would be that the vast majority of the options here are national chains, though I noticed a lot of the national chains tend to be smaller chains that might surprise you they're a chain. Being a Simon Mall, Hamilton Town Center has a rewards club and there are some online shopping options. Like most malls, Hamilton Town Center tends to host holiday events and has a Santa every holiday. Generally speaking, accessible parking is plentiful and curb cuts are well done. There's at least one very nice greenery area that seems to draw the kids quite a bit with its various playground-lite equipment. There's a definite "sprawl" here in terms of the landscape. If you have mobility issues, you may have difficulty if you want to go to several different stores at opposite ends of the "mall." In terms of accessibility, it works. It's just a bit tiring. I considered going a 4-star and a 4.5 is probably more accurate, however, the real clincher for me is that I like the diversity of shops more than Castleton and I like the economic variation more than Fashion Mall. I just feel like there's something for everyone here. While the mall generally opens at 10am, I do kind of wish they had a decent breakfast/brunch option. However, that's pretty easy to find within a mile of this growing area. If we're being honest, Castleton is okay but has definitely declined. Fashion Mall is just fine, and I definitely like the food options, but it's more than a wee bit pretentious. Greenwood Park Mall is probably the closest comparison, though Glendale Town Center is weaving together the hybrid experience these days. Washington Square and Lafayette Square? Um, yeah. No. While Central Indiana has other options, this is definitely one of the better mall experiences in Central Indiana and it's an easy drive from pretty much anywhere in Marion and surrounding counties.

This is a good place to go if you want to shop but don't want to leave your dogs behind! A lot of…read morethe stores allow dogs, you can find the list online and I heard they also have it in the mall office. We took our fashionable dog to American eagle, francescas, bath and body works, and of course three dog bakery. All of the staff at the stores were really nice to us and our dog and we felt comfortable in the stores. I also appreciated all of the safety measures at the stores like masks and outside lines. This is also just a pretty mall to walk around on a nice day. We rounded out the day with lunch at Pies and PInts in the mall which is dog friendly as well! We had an awesome sweet corn pizza and the dog was given some water and they were really kind to him.

Unfortunately came on a Sunday when everything was closed but this is such a cute little square!…read moreThere's a fountain, lots of shops, and plenty of parking! Great place to walk around and spend some time outside. They have a gym, intimate apparel store, toy store, homewares store etc. Plus a steakhouse and sushi restaurant! There were even more dining options too. They have rental bikes if you want to cruise around! Wish I came when things were open, but if you're looking for a place to do some shopping or even just window shop, it's a great place to get some steps in and enjoy the atmosphere.

Carmel City Center is ideally located pretty much smack dab in the middle of Carmel with direct…read moreaccess from the Monon Greenway. Within one complex, you've got the Center for the Performing Arts, Carmel Farmer's Market, Christkindlmarkt (during the holidays), Hotel Carmichael, and a number of other retail options, restaurants, and entertainment options. It's all, quite literally, within walking distance (well, unless you're like me and don't have feet. But, you know what I mean). Because this is a central area, a good number of the Carmel festivals will happen around here. You've also got live music and theater (including Civic Theater also housed within this complex). Accessibility is pretty strong since so much of this area is new. I've had my quibbles with accessibility involving the Center for the Performing Arts, though in talking to current Mayor Sue Finkam there's a definite effort to go beyond ADA and to truly become more accessible. Free parking is abundant in this area and the arts district is about 1/2 mile north. Dining options include Aroma Experience, Divvy, The Old Spaghetti Factory, The Cake Bake Shop, Eggshell Bistro, Lone Pine, Graeter's Ice Cream, and others within walking distance. Retail options include Kits & Kaboodle (a great toy shop), 317Home, A.D.A. Vintage, Addendum, Baseline Social, and a host of others. I will note that most of these shops lean toward the more premium experience. There's definitely no Dollar General to be found here. There's definitely a lot to offer here and it's nearly always crowded. I also like that the website will tell you which stores are closed on bad weather days. As accessibility continues to improve, I may very well move this up to a 5-star experience. For now, it's a definite 4-star experience and it's definitely a place I can easily spend the day once I arrive and also enjoy some time on the Monon.

Stunning- also, not surprised…read more I had heard for awhile that we would enjoy this library so on a recent day date with my four year old, we ventured north to check it out. We spent a majority of the time in the children's section which boasted several interactive play areas, a private room for events, a STEAM focussed room for workshops and hands-on learning and well-organized book stacks. I appreciated how many book covers they had easily on display and their shelving system. They also have a pet gecko in the kids area. We could have easily spent an hour plus here. Next time, I'll set up for remote work and check out the coffee shop and other seating areas in the library. They have free onsite garage parking, in true Carmel fashion

The Carmel Clay Public Library is as fabulous as you'd expect from Carmel. Think an upscale version…read moreof the Louvre with books and you are getting close. And they've got so much more than books. I visited today and was offered a tour of their Digital Media Lab. Patrons of the library can take advantage of several 3-D printers and only pay for supplies. Cricut machines and software are available to create card, paper products, tee shirt transfers, mugs and more. A state-of-the-art video studio and several audio studios are available for aspiring performers. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and proactively helpful. I got inspiration for an upcoming project that I am working on for a family reunion. One of the staffers printed off information that I needed for my project. The children's area of the library is huge, filled with books, discovery lab, reading areas and an activity room. Toddlers were playing with a few toys during my visit. Upstairs, I found a massive collection of videos and adult books. Several banks of computers were buzzing with patrons taking advantage of the free service. The staff was friendly and happy to show where to find specific books. Comfy seating and work spaces are scattered throughout the facility. Several conference rooms can be reserved for community use. The building is beautiful with a modern architecture that lets in lots of natural light. There is a featured art wall in the lower level. A bookstore and coffee shop are available near the main entrance. There is a parking garage on the south side of the building complete with EV plug stations. Restroom facilities are upscale and immaculate. The library is an easy 5 stars and sets a high standard for libraries.

Now this is a mall! So many stores with high quality products. The mall was clean and well…read moremaintained with great options for clothing, food, and good security! Would definitely go broke here if I lived in Indianapolis lol

1/21/26 Took an Uber…read moreto kill some time and check out the mall and a lunch. Didn't spend too much time but liked seeing different retailers. I appreciate the smaller food court- makes it easier to decide food options.. So glad I stopped in.

Clay Terrace is an open-air shopping center/mall that I frequent. There are lots of shops,…read moreincluding but not limited to, DSW, Dick's Sporting Goods, Whole Foods, Old Navy, Bath & Body Works, Soma, Moe's Southwest Grill, Pies & Pints, Hand and Stone, Sur La Table and Kona Grill. There are too many to name them all. The ease of convenience is one of the main reasons that I like it. I can run several errands all at once. The overall experience has been positive for me while shopping here. The sales and service representatives are all friendly and helpful, and the center is well-maintained and clean. They even have umbrellas available for use via the honor system, on rainy days. I like that there are high-end options mingled with basic options as well.

Clay Terrace is a really great place to walk and shop... I do wish there were a few more "grab and…read morego" type restaurants other than just Jimmy John's but there are a great handful of sit-down options. Game Stop, Old Navy, Loft, DSW, Dicks and more... all great places to shop. Nice vibe and great pedestrian crosswalks with the lights so cars don't mow you down. It's a safe, nice place to walk and enjoy a few hours... :)

The historic Hamilton County Courthouse in Noblesville is one of the older functioning courthouses…read morein the state, dedicated in 1878. The building was designed by famous Indianapolis architect, Edwin Mays, but completed by J. C. Johnson. (Mays went on to design the Indiana Statehouse, but became paralyzed during the project and died in 1880.) The courthouse is French Second Empire and I think the French influence is evident from grand facade outside. The clocktower has been replaced due to failure of the original structure (similar to the Montgomery County Courthouse clocktower). Inside, the staff is friendly. The deputy welcomed me, told me where to find courthouse artifacts and encouraged me to peek inside the courtroom. Other staff members also asked if I needed assistance. The courthouse has undergone numerous renovations throughout the years and offices are 1990's "modern" while the halls are original. Most notable are the twin staircases with short bannisters and steps. The floors are a mix of marble and mosaic tile. Some of the original cabinetry stands in the halls. Lovely leaded glass windows crown entryways. Unlike other Indiana courthouses, there is no grand dome that can be seen from the inside. The original bench of the courtroom has been maintained, while seating was updated at some point. A plaque notes the 1925 historic conviction of Klu Klux Klan leader, D. C. Stephenson, for the brutal attack that led to the death of Madge Oberholtzer. Stephenson's conviction contributed to the demise of the Klan. A cabinet on the third floor holds interesting artifacts such as one of the original hands of the clock and photograph of the original building. Today, a tunnel runs from the basement of the courthouse to a government complex across the street. The original sheriff's house and prison sits on the Square, now housing a museum. There is limited parking around the square. The building is accessible through an entrance ramp and there is an elevator inside. I recommend visiting on a Thursday or Friday, when the Sheriff's House/Museum is opened. Around the Square are several good restaurants and antiques shops. Worth a visit, for sure.