Thursday, June 14th, 2007  »  Family Fun

Indianapolis, Part II

It occurs to me that it would be sacrilege for any treatment of Indy to omit mention of perhaps its loudest claim to fame—the Indianapolis 500. Actually Indianapolis is home to the two largest one-day sporting events in the world, the biggest Formula One race and the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) U.S. Nationals. The city also lays claim to the world’s largest children’s museum and the largest water clock in North America (at the children’s museum). Steve McQueen, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr, Eli Lilly, David Letterman, Oscar Robertson, James Whitcomb Riley, Benjamin Harrison and Jane Pauley have all called Indy home.

Six cultural districts

Although they existed long before, since 2003 Indy has officially recognized and has been formally promoting six separate cultural districts in the city.  Broad Ripple Village is about six miles north of downtown. It’s artsy with intriguing restaurants and shops and a vigorous night life. During our 2001 Mystery Trip here we had some of the best pizza I can remember in an old converted gas station called Bazbeaux’s. Reminiscent of a European village, Fountain Square is an historic neighborhood crowded around a town square and a central fountain.

I’m betting the third district will be the favorite of families. The Canal and White River State Park is a corridor of museums and cultural draws, including the world-class Indy Zoo, White River Gardens, an IMAX theater, the Indiana State Museum, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the NCAA Hall of Champions and Victory (baseball) Field. It’s all near downtown and spread out along beautiful waterways. Mass Ave is Indy’s primary arts and theater district. Live theater, galleries and restaurants—plus lots of creative energy.

The Wholesale District encompasses downtown’s Circle Centre mall, great eateries, entertainment, cultural events/performances, historic architecture and a choice of hotel accommodations all concentrated within a compact and easily accessible area. Indy’s sixth and newest cultural district, Indiana Avenue, includes the commercial district for the city’s African-American community. It’s known for music, history, restored neighborhoods and the Madame Walker Theater Center.

But wait—there’s more

Indianapolis also boasts the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra with its year-round schedule of more than 200 classical, pop and seasonal concerts and performances. The centerpiece of its downtown Monument Circle, Indy’s 284-foot Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Monument is a tribute to Indiana’s finest who fell during the Civil and Spanish-American Wars. Those who lost their lives on the last ill-fated voyage of the USS Indianapolis—the last U.S. ship to sink in World War II—are remembered in another memorial on the east bank of the city’s Central Canal. In fact, Indianapolis is second only to Washington, DC, in the number of memorials honoring service men and women, firefighters, law enforcement personnel and Medal of Honor recipients.

I personally don’t think you can go wrong with a trip to Indianapolis. It literally has something for everyone, and in two posts, I’ve barely scratched the surface. The city’s slogan is “So easy to do so much.” So true. If you visit www.indy.org, you can get all the info you need to plan a day or a week in Indianapolis. If you don’t have access to the Internet, call 800-323-4639. For hotel information, call 800-974-4639.

 

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