Latest news with #VisitIndy
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Scan, score, repeat: Indy Hoops Pass turns All-Star Weekend into citywide game
Whether you're a lifelong women's basketball fan or just tagging along for the experience, the Indy Hoops Pass is your ticket to discover the city in a fresh, fun way during WNBA All-Star Weekend. Visit Indy and the All-Star Host Committee are launching a free, citywide challenge that turns basketball history, art, and culture into one giant interactive playground. From July 17 to 20, fans can visit any of the 25+ basketball-themed locations, from iconic arenas to hidden hoop gems, while racking up points to earn prizes along the way. Each stop strives to showcase the city's deep love for the game. Check out the full list of locations at
Axios
26-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
How Indy's chief marketer would spend his Best Day Ever
It's gotten both easier and harder to market Indianapolis over the last 20 years, says Chris Gahl, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer at Visit Indy. Why it matters: Gahl is celebrating two decades at the nonprofit charged with making sure people want to visit the Circle City and coming off a record-breaking year for tourism. Yes, and: We're on pace for another big year, thanks, in large part, to the Pacers' incredible playoff run and the ever-growing popularity of the Fever. The city's next big event, WNBA All-Star weekend, is just around the corner on July 18-19. What he's saying: "It's gotten easier in some ways, and harder in others, because Indy is now kind of in that next level tier of city where, daily, we're competing with Denver and San Antonio and Austin," Gahl said. Zoom in: At our recent live event, we asked Gahl how he'd spend his Best Day Ever in the city, and he has plenty of recommendations for visitors. 🍳 Breakfast: Cafe Patachou, specifically the location at 49th and Pennsylvania streets. Gahl, who grew up in Indianapolis, said he remembers going to this original Patachou location when it first opened in 1989. ⛲️ Morning activity: A walk through Butler University's Holcomb Gardens. A Butler grad and now a member of the Board of Trustees, Gahl said he likes to visit the garden to reflect. "Sometimes when I'm sad, when I'm angry, when I'm mad, when I'm uncertain, it's a place I can meditate or pray," he said. ☕️ Coffee break: On his way downtown, Gahl is stopping at Quill's Coffee at 10th and Meridian streets. "I like a quiet coffee shop," he said. 🏀 Afternoon activity: Shooting hoops at Morris Bicentennial Plaza and — no surprise, coming from one of Indy's top tourism officials — shopping nearby at The Index, the official Indy visitors center and gift shop. "You're in Indiana, you gotta shoot hoops," Gahl said. 🥪 Lunch: The cafe at the Eiteljorg Museum, with a seat on the museum's back patio overlooking the Central Canal. Gahl said the menu is expansive, delicious and relatively affordable. 🏈 Evening activity: A tour of Lucas Oil Stadium. "You go on the floor, you go to the locker rooms. And I love being on the field," Gahl said. "There's something so massive about a facility like that … and all the epic moments that have happened within it."
Indianapolis Star
17-06-2025
- Business
- Indianapolis Star
As the country celebrates Juneteenth, here are 40 Black-owned restaurants to check out
With Juneteenth — the federal holiday commemorating June 19, 1865, when the last slaves of the Confederacy were freed following the arrival of Union troops — fast approaching, many communities across the United States are especially focused on supporting Black-owned businesses. There's no reason it has to be Juneteenth for you to visit any of these establishments, but in honor of the country's newest federal holiday, here's a sample of places to try. VisitIndy and both maintain comprehensive registries of Black-owned businesses in the Indianapolis area, including restaurants. You can find 40 eateries listed below, from upscale lounges to neighborhood ice cream shops and plenty of soul food. Axum Ethiopian Restaurant 825 N. Pennsylvania St., 317.493.1139, This downtown Ethiopian eatery, located right by the Central Library, serves heaping platefuls of spongy injera flatbread topped with stews (wot) and semi-dry meat stir fries (tibs). The berbere-spiced lamb awaze tibs ($23) offer a hearty option for heat seekers, while the atakilt wot ($21) marries chopped Ethiopian greens, potatoes and aromatic vegetables in a mild, vegetarian-friendly medley. INdulge: Spicy lamb at downtown Ethiopian restaurant is best thing I ate in Indy this week More Black-owned restaurants that serve East African cuisine: Abyssinia (5352 W. 38th St., 317.299.0608, Lete's Injera & Café (2927 W. 10th St., 317.667.7587, Major Restaurant (1150 S. Mickley Ave., 317.240.2700, The Jollof Buka 2501 W. Washington St., 317.384.1575, This westside restaurant specializes in the cuisine of Nigeria and Ghana, with a menu full of rich stews, starchy grain dumplings called swallows and the signature spiced rice dish of West Africa called jollof. More Black-owned restaurants that serve West African cuisine: Barry's African Restaurant (4253 Lafayette Road, 463.888.7007, Mega Suya (3081 N. High School Road, 317.672.6186, Bar-B-Q Heaven 2515 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St., 317.926.1667 and 877 E. 30th St., 317.283.0035, This 73-year-old Indianapolis staple sells just about every form of smoked and sauced meat you can fathom, from pig's feet to turkey ribs. Bar-B-Q Heaven's no-frills, all-flavor reputation has made it one of Indy's biggest names in barbecue since owner and longtime pitmaster Ronald Jones began selling barbecue outside the Frederick Douglass Park on the east side as an 11-year-old. INdulge: INdulge: This BBQ dish was best thing I ate in Indy this week Pa and Ma's Backyard BBQ 2621 Dr. M.L.K. Jr. St., 317.835.1695, The mother-daughter duo of Monica and Brockelle Nelson carry on the legacy of Evansville native and longtime Indy resident George Nelson (Monica's husband and Brockelle's father), who last year was shot and killed outside the restaurant he first opened on 27th and Rader Street in 2007. Pa and Ma's, named for George and Monica, serves smoked meat and soul food in a casual family setting. Last fall the eatery appeared on an episode of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," where celebrity chef-host Guy Fieri lauded George's chicken and dumplings. More Black-owned barbecue restaurants: King Ribs (3145 W. 16th St., 317.488.0223 and 4130 N. Keystone Ave., 317.543.0841, Gip Got Tips (2073 N. Emerson Ave., 317.258.1447, Just Wing'n It 7834 Michigan Road, 317.471.1020, This Crooked Creek sports bar serves up pizza, pasta, sandwiches and, indeed, wings, in an all-ages setting lined with TV screens. Papa Bears Chicken 1938 E. 46th St., (317) 253-2697 Owner, chef and lone employee Kelvin Brasher hawks wings, fries, ribs, pizzas and more from his carry-out venture just off 46th Street and Keystone Avenue. The one-man show operates seven days per week, open until 3 a.m. on weekends. The Coffee Den 201 S. Capitol Ave., 317.500.4333, Situated in the first floor of the Pan Am Tower across from the Indiana Convention Center, the Coffee Den brews hot and iced drinks and offers a slim selection of to-go sandwiches and breakfast items. Tea's Me Café 140 E. 22nd St., 317.920.1016, 3967 N. Illinois St., 317.518.7536 and 420 University Blvd., 317.432.0022, Acquired by WNBA champion and Indiana Fever great Tamika Catchings in 2017, Tea's Me's three Indianapolis locations serve inexpensive breakfast and lunch fare ($11.25 and under) with a robust selection of cold and hot loose-leaf teas. Shadow Lounge 2380 E. 54th St., 317.974.9288, Chef Tia Wilson, who previously helmed the popular wing joint Chicken Scratch downtown, has crafted an upscale menu with dishes like lamb "lollipops" ($30), jerk lamb pasta ($35) and high-end takes on popular bar foods at this 21+ eatery on the northeast side. The food, plus a full bar and live music, has made Shadow Lounge a popular haunt since it opened last August. Other Black-owned lounges in Indianapolis: Arden Café and Lounge (6 W. Washington St., 317.401.3848, BlankUS Luxury Lounge (501 N. College Ave., 317.734.3161, Kulture Bar and Bistro (7038 Shore Terrace, 317.222.4964, Living Room Lounge (934 N. Pennsylvania St., 317.635.0361, Yaso Jamaican Grill 1501 Prospect St., 317.744.0011, Curried goat, jerk chicken and Jamaica's national dish of ackee and saltfish ($16 to $23) headline the menu at this popular Fountain Square Jamaican spot. A rotation of daily specials offers plenty of opportunities for those unfamiliar with island cuisine to try something new. More Black-owned restaurants that sell Jamaican and Caribbean cuisine: Da Blue Lagoon (11705 Pendleton Pike, 317.855.3778, Jamaican Breeze (4189 N. Keystone Ave., 317.426.4045, Scotchy Jamaican Grill (inside the Fishers Test Kitchen at 9713 District N. Drive, Fishers, His Place Eatery 6916 E. 30th St., 317.545.4890 and 1141 W. 86th St., 317.790.3406, Owner James Jones has loved barbecue and soul food since he took in the smells of nearby church potlucks as a kid growing up in downtown Indy. In 2009 he opened the first of two His Place Eateries, both of which serve James' blend of smoked meats and comfort staples like ribs ($18 to $21), chicken and dumplings ($17), collard greens grilled cheese ($18) and sweet twists on chicken and waffles like red velvet, churro and peach cobbler (around $20). More: His Place Eatery appears on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.' Here's what makes it special Kountry Kitchen 1831 N. College Ave., 317.635.6000, This Indianapolis institution, whose dining room has welcomed guests ranging from Shaquille O'Neal to Barack Obama, has carried on its tradition of artisanal soul food since it reopened in October 2023, three years after a 2020 fire destroyed the original Kountry Kitchen. Dishes like oxtail and grits ($23), rib tips ($22) and shrimp and grits ($22) with a slew of comfort sides have made Kountry Kitchen an Indianapolis favorite for decades. More soul food restaurants in Indianapolis: The Grub House (1953 N. College Ave., 317.974.9089, Healthy Soul Indy (inside The AMP food hall at 1220 Waterway Blvd., 317.210.0345, SouthPaw Soul Kitchen (3351 Central Ave., 317.794.9349, Black Leaf Vegan Café 335 W. 9th St., 317.560.4222, A blend of vegetarian dishes and imitation meats headline the menu at Black Leaf, located just off the Downtown Canal. From an egg-less bagel sandwich ($7) to jackfruit potato stew ($9) and vegan cinnamon rolls ($4.25), Black Leaf accomodates those on plant-based diets. Burgeezy 335 W. 9th St., 317.419.2180, Situated along the Downtown Canal, Burgeezy offers visually striking plant impersonations of American carnivores' favorite flavors, with animal-free versions of burgers, fried chicken and breakfast sausage ($10 to $20). LiftOff Creamery 111 E. 16th St., 317.426.2641, 5539 E. Washington St., 317.419.3885 and 1280 U.S. Highway 31 N., Greenwood, 317.300.1737, Veteran commercial airline pilot Ryan Lynch pays homage to his career with the aviation-themed ice cream at LiftOff Creamery in the Old Northside. Each of the brand's three shops offers a staggering variety of flavors, often as many as 80 at a time. More Black-owned dessert vendors in Indianapolis: Cretia Cakes Bake Shop (1435 Chase Court, Carmel, 317.929.1560, Gordon's Milkshake Bar (865 Massachusetts Ave., Punkin's Pies (inside The AMP food hall at 1220 Waterway Blvd., Scoopz Ice Cream (inside The AMP food hall at 1220 Waterway Blvd., Flatiron on Penn 605 N. Pennsylvania St., 317.746.6961, This downtown eatery wedged between Pennsylvania Street and Fort Wayne Avenue started as the Elbow Room tavern in 1933, closed in 2018 and reopened in 2019 under chef-owner Glenn Brown. Re-envisioned as an upscale American eatery with a robust cocktail menu and plates like filet mignon ($46 to $57) and pan-roasted salmon ($32), the Flatiron still pays homage to its less extravagant roots with dishes like the Elbow Room pork tenderloin sandwich ($15) and other familiar pub fare. More Black-owned restaurants in Indianapolis: The Block Bistro and Grill (115 W. Market St., 317.932.9200, Foster's Café and Catering (inside Ivy Tech Community College-Lawrence at 9301 E. 59th St. Open Kitchen (4022 Shelby St., 317.974.9032,
The Independent
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Indianapolis celebrates an epic sports weekend with Pacers, Fever and the Indy 500
Drive through the neighborhoods surrounding Indianapolis Motor Speedway and it looks like Christmas in May. Checkered flags and 'Welcome race fans' signs on every block. Neatly trimmed lawns decorated with cutout Indy cars, a mock Borg-Warner Trophy, even an inflatable version of the track's familiar golden, winged logo. Yet the 'Racing Capital of the World' is eagerly and happily sharing the Memorial Day weekend stage with the Indiana Pacers and the Indiana Fever, two teams straight from the Hoosier State's lifeblood of basketball. The Pacers flags and Caitlin Clark jerseys are easy to see all over town, including Gasoline Alley a few steps from the speedway's famous Brickyard. Pacers & Racers weekend is in high gear. 'This is an epic weekend, an incredible opportunity to put Indianapolis on the minds of virtually every major sports fan on the planet," said Chris Gahl, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Visit Indy. 'Our initial research shows no other city in the U.S. has hosted this diverse level of major sporting events in such a short amount of time." It may be an anomaly nationally, but Indianapolis is built to thrive in this sort of spotlight. The city has hosted the Super Bowl, two NBA All-Star Games, multiple international and national championships and, of course, now the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500. And through every virtually twist — even an NCAA men's basketball tournament held entirely in and around Indy — the reviews have come back with races. The lineup On Saturday afternoon, Clark and the Fever host the defending WNBA champion New York Liberty in front of a sellout crowd early in a season with title hopes for a team boasting perhaps the biggest star in the league. An estimated 350,000 race fans are expected for Sunday's midday Indy 500 race, including the first sold-out grandstands since 2016. The weekend will be capped Sunday night when the Pacers host the New York Knicks for Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals. It's the fourth time an NBA game has converged with race day, and the Pacers lost each of the first three — to the Knicks in 1999, to the Pistons in 2004 and to the Heat in 2013. They went on to lose all three series, too. The off-court, off-track stories such as the Team Penske cheating scandal, the WNBA investigation into alleged racial comments directed at Angel Reese after a Fever game and the call for international peace from Israeli-born, Russian-raised pole winner Robert Schwarzman have played into the buildup. Even the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles came to town Friday. In a state where the greatest athletic feats often have been defined by auto racing or basketball, this weekend seems like a fitting marriage even to locals. Just ask IndyCar team owner-driver Ed Carpenter, a longtime Pacers fan and the stepson of former speedway president and CEO Tony George. "I think it celebrates the city, the people that live here and the fans that make the pilgrimage to the race,' he said. '(Having the other events) just makes it that much more special.' Carpenter hopes to attend Sunday night's game — even if he wins the 500 — and now finds himself surrounded in Gasoline Alley by a growing legion of crossover fans Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and three-time 500 winner Dario Franchitti attended Game 3 of the Indiana-Cleveland series. Former IndyCar driver and broadcaster James Hinchcliffe was there for Game 2 and the triumvirate of Kyle Kirkwood, Colton Herta and Marcus Ericsson went to Game 2 of the Indiana-Milwaukee series. Scott McLaughlin, a Knicks fans, has a wager on the series with Carpenter and may attend Sunday's game if he's not drinking the milk in victory lane. 'How'd that go?' fellow driver Alexander Rossi asked after the Pacers' thrilling Game 1 victory on Wednesday. 'Real bad, we lost the unloseable,' McLaughlin said. 'We had a good wager. I have to buy the equivalent -- if the Pacers win in six games -- if they win in seven, the bet is off, or I win -- I have to buy the equivalent up to 2500 bucks of his (coffee/java).' Red carpet treatment The red carpet isn't just being rolled out for the Pacers and the racers. Film director Spike Lee is expected to be in his familiar spot inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse while his old foil, Reggie Miller, calls the game for TNT. It's unclear how many big wigs from the race will make the 15-minute drive (in good traffic) to the arena for the game. Two tickets to each event would cost you nearly $4,000. Kyle Larson, who is making his second attempt at a different kind of race day double — completing 500 miles at Indianapolis and 600 more in Charlotte's NASCAR nightcap — already has made that trip. He went to the Fever game Tuesday night. 'Outside the car, it's been crazier this year logistics-wise,' Larson said. 'Going to New York and having a full day of media there and then flying back here. Going to the Fever game was fun.' The interest and intrigue goes the other way, too. Three years ago, Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton made his IndyCar debut in a two-seater with Mario Andretti. Last weekend, Fever coach Stephanie White, an Indiana native, returned to the track while Fever center Aliyah Boston, the 2023 WNBA Rookie of the Year, got her first glimpse at the historic and vast 2.5-mile oval. 'Being on the track and kind of seeing how fast all the cars go, and to meet Colton was pretty dope,' Boston said. 'The track is huge. Colton told us how many things could fit in the track and that's insane. You don't understand how big it is till you're there.' Bottom line Gahl said hotels are virtually sold out in Central Indiana and everywhere from Lafayette to Bloomington, roughly one-hour drives from Indy; downtown, the average cost is about $550 per night with a three-night minimum and restaurant reservations are scarce. Local merchandisers are capitalizing, too, selling blue-and-gold shirts that read 'Zoom Baby," a play off the late Bob 'Slick' Leonard's radio calls of 'Boom Baby' for Pacers' 3-pointers. In the midst of so much going on in a 36-hour window, the Pacers, racers and the Fever are all following the same playbook: Ignore the distractions and celebrate this incredible weekend. 'You've got to enjoy the moment, let the excitement and pressure go, focus on the task at hand right in front of you,' Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard said. 'It should be exciting and fun.' ___
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Visit Indy hosts Irish travelers after Aer Lingus inaugural flight, showcasing the best of Indiana
Visit Indy hosts Irish travelers after Aer Lingus inaugural flight, showcasing the best of Indiana
