Hotels near Conseco Field House

I will be attending a concert at conseco field house. I am traveling alone and am nervous about walking at night after the concert. I want to stay in a hotel that is in a safe area. I also want to be near shopping during the day. What hotel would fit being close to Conseco and close to shopping

Hotels near Conseco Field House

Pretty much all the hotels in downtown Indianapolis are walkable and downtown Indy is safe. The Hampton Inn is about a 2-3 block walk to Conseco, it%26#39;s at Meridian and Maryland Streets. As far as shopping there is The Circle Centre Mall in downtown. It is an enclosed 3 level mall with just about any thing you could want. There are also plenty of restaurants and bars all located with easy walking distances of that area. What concert are you going to? If it%26#39;s during the holiday season be sue to take a walk up and around The Soldiers and Sailors Monument (aka The Circle) It will fully decorated. Any particular type of restauarant you would be interested in?

Creature Sightings at Indiana Dunes

Creature near Indiana Dunes State Park 11-22-2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbFx4_5WH9U

Anyone else seen anything weird?

Creature Sightings at Indiana Dunes

I looked in the mirror this morning

Downtown Indianapolis

Hi all.

We will be staying at the Doubltree in Carmel. I heard that downtown Indy has a nice area with restaurants, bars, etc.

A couple of ?s:

Is it easier/better to get on a hwy to get to downtown from Carmel or go another way (not familiar with the area).

Any nice wine bars and/cigar bars. We like a lively scene but won%26#39;t stay out much past 9pm.

Is there a certain main drag that houses most of these places--what streets or cross-streets should we look for? We%26#39;d like to park the car, then be within walking distance to places to go.

Thanks!

Downtown Indianapolis

I believe the DoubleTree is on Highway 31/Meridian St? The best way to get downtown is just drive south on Meridian (hwy 31). It will take you right downtown. You will go around the famous Monument Circle. There are restaurants in this area. Everything downtown is pretty much within walking distance. There is a cluster of restaurants near Circle Centre Mall. This is around the intersection of Washington and Illinois (Meridian will hit Washington after you go around the Circle, and you go west on Washingotn to hit Illinois). The Circle Centre garage is a good place to park and walk to places.

Downtown Indianapolis

Meridian St. is the nice, scenic way to head downtown - particularly during the holiday season (the large, old homes on Meridian usually have pretty nice decorations). It%26#39;s not the quickest way, though. From where you%26#39;ll be, taking I-465 west and then south to I-65, and taking I-65 east into the city will shave off at least 10 minutes driving time - well, presuming there%26#39;s no new construction going on - which there wasn%26#39;t as of last Friday ...

As mentioned above, the most dense concentration of good restaurants is in the Circle Center Mall area (mostly chain restaurants). But there are very nice locally owned restaurants along the Mass Avenue (Massachusetts Avenue) corridor on the very near northeast section of the downtown area, and in the Broad Ripple area about 20-25 minutes north of downtown. As well, the Fishers/Carmel/Zionsville areas have many very nice locally owned restaurants.

Thank you both so much! Any input on a nice wine bar, tapas, cigar bar in downtown?

There is a tapas restaurant which hasn%26#39;t been getting good reviews. Wouldn%26#39;t chance it unless you really want to dine at a tapas style restaurant. Smoking is not allowed in restaurants or bars anymore. I do recommend the downtown area for dining and shopping. It is very compact meaning everything is within walking distance of hotels , restaurants, and shopping. Also recommend the Broad Ripple area on the way to downtown turn left from meridian onto Kessler Blvd. Stay on the left and turn left on Westfield Blvd. follow to the Broad Ripple area which begins at College Ave. Lots of small very busy bars and restaurants. Our version of a very small Coconot Grove type area.

Sorry, don%26#39;t know much about wine bars or cigar bars in the city. I think Sullivan%26#39;s has a cigar bar (they are, as you may well know, a chain steakhouse - and are located at Keystone at the Crossing, which is at the next exit east of you on I-465).

The absolute best place for cocktails and cigars in Indy, I%26#39;d say, is Nicky Blaines, just south of Monument Circle on Meridian.

http://www.nickyblaines.com/

I want to clarify what someone said about smoking laws. Smoking is still allowed in bars, but not in restaurants. Now, the fuzzy gray area comes in with age. If the restaurant allows minors then smoking is prohibited (in the restaurant and bar). If it%26#39;s adults only, then smoking is okay in the bar and restaurant. (This applies to 18 and older, bars are still 21+).

the new airport

Did anyone go to the open house over the weekend? What were your impressions?

the new airport

We went to the new airport. It reminds me of the Denver Airport - a smaller version of course. It%26#39;s bright and open, lots of glass and natural light - the opposite of our current airport. There%26#39;s even moving walkways, which I never thought I%26#39;d see.

The local touches are what sets it apart. There is beautiful art from local artists. Many restaurants are local - Harry and Izzys, 96th St. Steakburgers, Patachou. I can%26#39;t wait to fly out of it!

the new airport

I agree with Tina%26#39;s assessment. I also think the enter %26amp; exit roads are better designed %26amp; easier to navigate. The free cell phone parking lot is nice too.

What is a free cell phone parking lot?

Can%26#39;t wait to see it when I fly back home in November! Looking forward to hearing everyone%26#39;s remarks about it!

Also, what are they going to do with the current terminal and parking structure?

Hi, Gabby. It is my understanding that both the old terminal and parking garage will be demolished.

A cell phone parking lot is where you can wait in your car for someone coming in on a flight. They call you after they get their baggage %26amp; then you can drive up to get them. Saves money %26amp; you can always multi-task in your car while you wait. Or nap. :)

What a great idea! When I used to pick up someone, would get there early a lot of times and then after doing a couple of loops to see if they%26#39;d come out yet, I%26#39;d end up parking at the Holiday Inn while waiting for them.

I%26#39;ve heard that getting a rental car is a lot easier now, no shuttle busses needed to get to the cars.

I am going to the airport this Wed. Nov 6 from Terre Haute. Is the new exit opened or do I just enter the old way? thanks

You will use to old way until Nov. 12

I get for ease of explanation that they would give directions form 70 to exit 68, but does anyone know a better route from the west, coming across from Illinois on I-74? Does the Ronald Reagan Parkway stretch north all the way to I-74? It would be great if there was a good route on the west side to avoid going around on 465. Any thoughts?

Yes, You can use the 267. Brownsburg exit on the 74.

Head south through Brownburg, Avon, and then through Plaifield and then get onto the 70 at the south end of the Airport.

Hope this helps

Congrats to Ball State...

football team. A perfect season!

I hope you get a bowl game.

I am looking for Polar Express tickets!

I desperately want to take my 7 year old on this train ride. If you have tickets to sell, please email me at smcollins99@hotmail.com

air makeup

Greek food

My wife and I went to The Greek Islands Restaurant for the FIRST time Saturday night. he food was fabulous. I had the stuffed grape leaves, she had The Around the Islands plate. It is a fairly small place so it would be wise to make a reservation. The atmosphere is great and there is even belly dancing. To top it off as we were leaving, the owner came rushisg to the door and made sure everything was good. A lot of people there seemed to be regulars as he seemed to know many who came in and greetd them with handshakes and hugs. As noted above I siad last night was the FIRST time we were there, it certainly won%26#39;t be the last. They do have a website, www.greekisland restaurant.com

Greek food

Greek Islands is great, my co-favorite spot for Greek food along with Santorini%26#39;s on E. Prospect St. in the Fountain Square area SE of downtown.

Greek food

Out in the western suburbs, The Mediterranean Grill is also excellent. Located on US36 (Rockville Rd) just across the Marion/Hendricks county line in Avon, in the strip mall across from the superTarget. Since we live in Avon, we get takeout from there at least twice per month. Dining is good also, if you do, try the Jerusalem sage tea as an after-dinner drink. Overall, I would put the food ahead of Greek Islands and siightly behind or even with Santorini%26#39;s.

I%26#39;ve heard people rave about Santorini%26#39;s and will try it. I%26#39;ve seen The Med Grille I think. It%26#39;s in the same strip mall of one of our favorite Mexican places, Cazuela%26#39;s