I attended an Indy Rainbow Chamber After Hours event at Gallery Forty-Two. The building dates to…read more1830 and has been loving restored. There are new owners who are just getting into the art and event space business, their passion for the building and potential for the space shone through when we were talking to them. Bill gave us a tour of all 4 floors, explaining some of the art on display and detailing his plans for the spaces not yet finished. Gallery Forty-Two is going to be the perfect venue for weddings, its so close to Monument Circle it provides the perfect backdrop for weddings pictures downtown. There are lots of details and textures such as exposed brick and original doors that make for amazing photo ops inside also. The staff were all friendly and welcoming. This makes me want to renew my vows so I have a reason to book an event here. They do events on 2nd Fridays (instead of 1st Fridays to avoid competing with so many other downtown events) from 6-9pm. Go check out this stunning piece of downtown history, and enjoy the art at the same time!

The pictures tell it all. I know I have reviewed this before but for some reason the pictures fell…read moreoff so I wanted to add them back. I would have to say that service is the number 1 one thing you can expect from this place besides location and the jaw dropping beauty of it. All the brides I have talked to for referrals say: Bill will find a way to make your wedding dreams come true.

While I've talked a lot about my recent journeys through Hendricks and Putnam counties, I've not…read moregiven as much time to my frequent trips through Speedway on the way to my parents' home following my father's death. I'd seen the Speedway Artist Collective multiple times as I pass 16th and Lynhurst just about every time I make my way to US 36 (Rockville Road). The Speedway Artist Collective is a permanent program coming out of the Mars Hill Arts Center. MHAC has the mission of encouraging, supporting, and promoting local artists by giving them a place to sell their works. The founders of MHAC are from the Speedway area and have been committed to really promoting Indy's west side. Located in the end spot of a small strip center, Speedway Artist Collective is open limited hours. It's a non-profit shop featuring art from local artists. Speedway is obviously a racing-centered community, however, you can find much more here than racing themed items. The art has a diverse price range and you can easily find affordable art that also supports local artists. There are also classes here and I kind of fell in love with the "Free Little Art Gallery" out front (think "free library" but with art!). I might be exaggerating a bit to go 5-stars here, however, I don't think I am. I love the art work. I love the vibe. I love the community. I love the fact that you can introduce yourself to local artists and snag some art for the home. The sidewalks have curb cuts here. there's street parking alongside the building. You can enter through a single glass door that's level to the ground. Yes, there's a lot inside, however, I found it immensely workable and worth the effort. Given the limited hours, I'd be sure to check that they're open (hours may vary with special events). However, once I was finally able to stop in I fell in love with this little gem in Speedway.

Nonprofit shop full of affordable artist creations, including t-shirts, pillows, paintings, etc…read more Owner is very welcoming and knowledgeable about Speedway history and lore. My sister loved some coasters, but there were only 3 left. The owner called the artist and arranged to have more made to my sister's specifications. Above and beyond!

Firstly, Charles was super kind and super helpful. He instantly put in the F1 race without a…read morehesitation, which my partner was very happy about. The simulator moves you around and there are so many different options as far as tracks and cars go. If you of someone you know is into simulator racing, this is the place to be! It's wasn't crowded (we were here on a Sunday post-colts game) so we got into a room immediately. They also have signs to tell you to call if the doors are locked when you get there and you need to get on because the office building that this place is it has different hours than they do so it's really important that you call if it says they're open, but you can't get in because there is someone here and you will have a blast!

If you're looking for something to do in Indy that won't break the bank The Paddock is a solid…read morechoice. We took our 13 year old here on a Saturday after making reservations online a couple days before. When you get to the building you call and they come to get you. After you pick your car and your course from the list you get set up and are ready to go. You can also change your car and course through the experience. The entire set up moves through sensors and hydraulics. There are three 40 inch (?) TVs that show a 180 degree terrain. The kiddo said he could even feel pressure on his back and it moves from side to side. He had a great time.

High Frequency Arts was once located in downtown Fishers' Nickel Plate District, but it's since…read moremoved to the new Hub & Spoke building near 106th and I-69. Hub & Spoke is a mixed-use development with a design center, retail showrooms, coworking space and makerspace. High Frequency Arts specifically is an artisan gift shop featuring dozens of local makers. This would be a great place to buy unique holiday gifts - ornaments, coasters, prints, mugs, etc. but I'm not sure how much foot traffic it gets being inside a larger building.

New art gallery and event space in the heart of Fishers. High Frequency Arts provides access to…read morecontemporary artwork to individuals and businesses. The gallery also serves as a space for exhibitions and pop-up events. During a visit to the Grand Opening exhibition, I was impressed by the variety of displayed artwork. There were 13 or so artists that were represented, and the work was curated in a way that they all fall in their own categories and genres. It was a feast for the eyes to be able to see a little bit of everything. The gallery itself is located in a modern space with an industrial feel. There are walls on wheels that provide flexibility on how the space is used. Some events (workshops, dance lessons) are already scheduled to take place at the gallery.

I absolutely love City Gallery! A small space that packs a punch. Have seen some wonderful shows…read morehere and love the connection usually shown to urban neighborhoods. The staff is super friendly and there are lots of resources here as a first step for those looking to move into the urban core. It is open during the week as well, and it seems I always see students and artists working there. A great connecting neighbor to VSA and Harrison Center for the Arts.

TVG is a ton of fun for the kids. They have seven little VR zones and maybe 60 games covering the…read morespectrum from petting baby dragons to post-apocalyptic FPS. If you're not playing, they have monitors so you can see what's going on from the player's POV which is pretty interesting. They also have some food options that are geared towards kiddos and teenagers with things like nachos, hot dogs and cheese fries. I'm so glad that this place survived. The staff is SO PATIENT with all the children. Seriously, I love my children but the stress level in there could get pretty high with a bunch of little dudes all needing something at the same time and the teenagers working there were awesome. Their areas were spaced out anyway so they were already social distancing before it was cool. For two kids, an hour each, came to $70 which sounds like a lot but I don't have to buy a gaming computer and a VR kit and I don't have to get pissed when the kids scuff up the drywall playing Job Simulator at my house.

A new option for vr entertainment. No need to buy an expensive computer and be set. All games are…read moreavailable in 15 minute sessions with one, two, or three game packs at different prices. The facilities are brand new and in tip top shape. They offer a variety of food, snacks, and drinks. We didn't eat while we were here. But my son checked out one of the VR games for 15 minutes. He loved the kid friendly player vs player shooter. They have a large catalog of games to choose from. They do divide the games for older kids and adults vs younger players. There was plenty of staff on hand to assist and answer questions as well. The location is next to the movie theatre if you are trying to find it. I also heard they offer birthday parties as well. My son says he liked it a lot and had a good time playing the game.

What an inspiration! They encourage so many local artists. My daughter and I did the tour which was…read moreFREE. It was interesting to see actual artists workshops like their "brain". Each month they rotate the various art in there MULTIPLE galleys. It also included a karaoke elevator and bouldering rock climbing wall on the roof. Loved it!

I used to attend First Friday events in Indianapolis, but I've never attend the events at the…read moreHarrison center until now. Oh boy was it an experience! 10/10! There were so many different artist on display and the energy was on point. I attended the event with my 1 year old and she even had a good time. It was kind of crowded in the hallways, so we opted to let her walk around with us instead of bringing the stroller. There are elevators that go to each floor but we found it fun to go up the stairs. Its seemed like every corner was packed with some form of art display. In the gymnasium there was chili buffet along with a live music. I wasn't expecting that, but a pleasant surprise. They were honoring a fallen artist and it was good to see the community come together. The artists were engaging and the staff was super helpful. I def will be coming back again!

What a cool place! My boyfriend and I visited Newfields right when it opened at 10 a.m., and we…read morewere amazed by how much there was to explore. Admission to the gardens, Lilly House, and Newfields Art Museum was about $50, which I thought was reasonable given everything included. We ended up spending four hours there and never once felt bored! We started by walking through Oldfields-Lilly House and the surrounding gardens, which was my favorite part of the visit. The gardens made me feel like I had stepped into another world. There were paved trails, but also sections where you could wander directly through the grass and greenery. The grounds seemed to stretch on forever, with beautiful plants, fountains, statues, and nature-inspired architecture around every corner. It was incredibly peaceful and immersive, and I could have spent hours exploring the gardens alone. While walking through the grounds, we stumbled upon Lilly House and decided to go inside. Since we visited during spooky season, the entire mansion was decorated for Halloween, with each room featuring its own dramatic and elaborate theme. I have never seen anything quite like it! The decorations were incredibly detailed, and the mansion itself was stunning both inside and out. I would especially recommend visiting Newfields during the fall to experience these seasonal displays. Outside the house, the gardens featured enormous pumpkins and fun walk-through tunnels. The backyard also offered beautiful views of the Indianapolis Canal and a large pond near the famous Funky Bones sculpture. After exploring the grounds, we headed into the main art museum. The museum spans four floors, and we made our way through each one. I was pleasantly surprised by how interactive the exhibits were. In addition to learning about different artists and art forms, visitors could create their own art. There were LEGOs to build with, a station where you could design a dress on a miniature mannequin, and an area for drawing and coloring. These hands-on activities made the experience engaging, even for someone who doesn't typically gravitate toward art museums. The fourth floor requires an additional admission fee of about $6 and features Giants, Alicia Keys' art collection. The exhibit showcases a diverse range of work by nearly 40 prominent Black American, African, and African diasporic artists. It was a unique and enjoyable collection to explore, and I thought it was well worth checking out. After exploring the museum, we stopped at the on-site café for a bite to eat. I ordered the chicken salad croissant and was not disappointed! It was delicious, and the customer service was great. Our food came out in about 15 minutes, making it a convenient and enjoyable way to take a break before heading out. Overall, Newfields is a place where you could easily spend an entire day without running out of things to see or do. We spent four hours exploring the gardens, mansion, museum, and café, and the experience never felt repetitive or boring. Even though I wouldn't consider myself particularly interested in art or history, I genuinely enjoyed the visit. Between the beautiful grounds, historic architecture, seasonal Halloween displays, interactive exhibits, and café, there was something for everyone. I would absolutely recommend Newfields, even if museums aren't usually your thing. I went in with no particular expectations and left with a new appreciation for everything the museum and its grounds have to offer!

Newfields is pretty neat. There's a nice little nature trail outside where you can take a brief…read morewalk and there's a small beer garden along the trail. The space is really nice. The staff is very friendly. Admission is $25. Some of the art I dug and some I didn't, but there was a dark room with a video board ceiling that showed a video of the moon and stars on the ceiling that is captivating. I could have sat there for 15 minutes and just gazed at the ceiling. It was beautiful and peaceful.

Our Indy Wine group had an event at one of the art studios in the Stutz Artspace Gallery and it was…read morea very nice experience. I had never been to the Stutz building downtown, so this was a first for me, and was very impressed with the architecture of the building, and the shops on the first floor. The artspace gallery on the third floor is very interesting with quite a few art studios and displays of their work in front of the art studios. There is quite a selection of wonderful artwork, and every first Friday of each month, the art studios have a showcase to the public of all of their artwork and the artwork is for sale. We went to one of the art studios for Anna Akifer. She was kind enough to host our event for Indy Wine, and was very gracious to show us her artwork and explain how she got interested in water colors and drawings. She demonstrated one of her watercolor artwork to us, and explained her thought process when painting stroke by stroke. We all browsed Anna's studio and the artwork that was for sale. I did purchase one of her prints which was a watercolor painting of flowers that was beautiful. Stutz Artspace Gallery is a beautiful venue with exquisite displays of artwork, and I'm glad we have some culture in downtown Indy that we can appreciate on a regular basis. I cannot wait to come back the first Friday of the month for the art gallery showcase. It will be worth seeing.

The Stutz recently had an update and it's fantastic! Tonight was one of the first of the winter…read moremarket events they will be hosting this month. The building will be offering new food options, which I'm so excited about since I work 5 min away from here, including Cafe Patachou, Amelia's and more. The art booths and staff were so welcoming and friendly tonight. I found some great buys from a number of local artists. The decor was beautiful, the vintage cars on display were fun to admire and the vibe was cozy fun. I always love visiting this space and can't wait to come back again!