Found in Fishers

Our Can't Miss Indy Hits

Seems it's about time we start expanding Found In Fishers to include some of the great things to see and do in around our little neck of the world. So without further ado...and in no particular order...here are some of our best recommendations for things to see and do when you find yourself in the Indy area next time.

Canal Walk: Dating back to the 1800s, the Canal Walk in downtown Indy is home to walkers, runners, lovers, sight-seers...well, you get the idea. The walk stretches north from White River State Park to 11th Street. You can walk, rent a paddle boat or take a ride in a old-fashioned gondelier. Be sure to check out the USS Indianapolis National Memorial which is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Just a short walk from the memorial you can enjoy a bite to eat at the Creation Cafe & Euphoria. Other sites to check out along the canal include the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial, Indiana History Center and the Indiana State Museum. Be sure to bring your camera for some great shots of downtown Indy from all along the walk.

Mass Avenue: Known as the city's Arts & Theatre District, Mass Ave (Massachusettes Avenue) features an eccletic mix of shops, restuarants, pubs and performing arts venues. Beginning at the intersection of Delaware and New York streets, Mass Ave takes off at a  45-degree angle...giving the street it's marketing tag line of "45 degrees from ordinary". We like Comedy Sportz, a family-friendly comedy club...except for its late-night shows and adults-only holiday show.

And for those who'd like to avoid the city you might want to check out downtown Noblesville. Unlike so many of Indiana's small downtowns, Noblesville's downtown district has managed to attract and maintain a vibrant business environment that includes galleries, a wide variety of dining establishments, antique stores and much more. During the summer and fall you'd likely to catch a live music performance on the historic downtown square, take in a parade or enjoy a street dance. Among our favorites is the Noble Tea & Coffee Company where you can sit indoors or out and enjoy a fresh-brewed beverage and free wifi, or Matteo's Ristorante Italiano, where we guarantee you'll be blown away by the food, service and ambiance. And I'd be remiss without mentioning one of my favorite spots in downtown Noblesville: Carmack's Cigar Shop where we regularly solve the problems of the world while enjoying a wide variety of top-quality handmade cigars.

If you happen to have a favorite Indy-area destination or activity be sure to share it with us. And check back next week for more of our can't miss Indy hits.

Monster mayhem

We're suckers when it comes to helping out. "No" often isn't in our vocabulary. Such was the case this past week when the president of the band boosters at the high school (remember now, both Mark & Liz have graduated) sent out two urgent pleas for help. The boosters run the largest concession stand at Lucas Oil Stadium...the Oil Can Grill. For the effort they get a generous 10% of sales. It's a great fundraiser, and we put Mark through 4 years of band without ever writing a check! But it meant lots of hours at Lucas Oil and the former home of the Colts...the RCA Dome. Besides raising money the games are great for people watching and building relationships with other band parents.

So the chump that I am responded to the plea and yesterday afternoon/evening I found myself selling burgers and beer at Lucas Oil Stadium. Besides, Flora was out of town. The event: "Monster Jam"...a night filled with big, loud, noisy monster trucks. It's not exactly the type of event I'd pay to attend. But geez, the folks who were there were rabid fans...and dropped a nice chunk of change in the process. They bought food and drink, shirts and flags and um...hats. Interesting hats, one of which was left on the counter at our stand. While cleaning up I couldn't resist joining in the Monster Jam mayhem. For those of you who don't know that's an official Grave Digger chapeau I'm donning. Here's a better look at Grave Digger, a Monster Jam fav. 

All night long when I'd ask, "What would you like?" I was afraid someone would respond, "A mullet" or "Well, I could squeeze in another tattoo on my body..." But the best exchange came late in the evening when another volunteer with a non-profit organization who was selling t-shirts nearby walked up and asked, "Do you what time this thing ends?" Me: "Not soon enough!" We both laughed. So I'm not a monster truck fan; sue me...