Fine Dining, Classic Film, Art & More This Week In Indy

As February kicks off in full swing, here are a few must-see events happening This Week in Indy.  From dining options to classic movie showings, these events will have you falling in love with your city over and over again.

Valentine’s Dinner at the Loft—February 13-14

Traders Point Creamery

Looking for a way to impress that special someone?  Why not a four-course delicious and organic meal prepared especially for that love of your life?  Tonight and tomorrow, experience great cuisine in a romantic, classic environment.

Clock: Seating times available at 5 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Cost: $48 per person

Indiana Pacers vs. Miami Heat—February 14

Banker’s Life Fieldhouse

Looking for something a bit more unconventional for your Valentine’s Day excursion?  Heat up the night with a bit of NBA basketball.  See Miami’s highly-talked about players in action, while rooting for your hometown Pacers.

Clock: 7 p.m.

Cost: Ticket prices may vary

Legally Blonde: The Musical—February 17-April 6

Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre

I can’t lie to you—this might be one of my all-time favorite movies.  So, I really can’t imagine anything better than combining this comedy with music and dinner!  From now until April 6, fans of Elle Woods can enjoy the national musical here in Indy.  Be sure to check out the Bend & Snap Video Contest for the opportunity to win free tickets to this fabulous event. Hopefully your bend and snap, “works every time!”

Clock: Show schedule

Cost: Ticket prices may vary

9th Annual Art Fair—February 17-19

Indiana State Museum

Visit the Indiana State Museum this weekend to view a wide array of Hoosier art. With over 70 artisans participating in the fair, there will be something for everyone.  Purchases of these items will support local artists, the Indiana State Museum and public school programs.  I recommend stopping by this Friday for Preview Night to enjoy a sampling of cheese and cupcakes while shopping.

Clock: Feb. 17—6-8:30 p.m.; Feb. 18—10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Feb. 19—11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Cost: Feb. 17$5.50 (Non-members), Free (Members); Feb. 18-19—$10 (Non-members), $3(Members)

 

Midwinter Dance Festival—February 17

Clowes Memorial Hall of Butler University

 

Enjoy an evening of dance as the Butler Ballet preforms pieces from both the 20th and 21st century.  These unique and imaginative pieces have been choreographed by Butler’s own faculty.  This is sure to be a wonderfully artistic night.

Clock: 8 p.m.

Cost: Ticket prices may vary

Winter Nights:  Charade–February 17

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Join the IMA for a showing of the classic Audrey Hepurn film featuring Carey Grant and James Coburn in the Toby this Friday.  This featured technicolor film combines both love and thrill.  It is perfect for a post-Valentine’s Day date.

Clock: 7 p.m.

Cost: $9 (Adults); $5 (Students/Members)

 

Enjoy the week!

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Categories: Arts, Arts & Culture, Dining, Family, Nightlife, Sports

Rev Up the Romance This Valentine’s Day

It’s time to pull out the Barry White, find the best champagne you can afford and begin doing calisthenics in order to survive a night of hot passion. Yep, Valentine’s Day will soon be here!

People, forget all that cheesy stuff and treat your special someone to a Valentine’s day full of unexpected fun- and food. Here are some suggestions that will make this a memorable night.

The Eagle’s Nest

The Eagle’s Nest, located in the Hyatt hotel, has a panoramic view of the city and is Indiana’s only revolving rooftop restaurant. It was also voted by Open Table Inc. as one of the nation’s most romantic restaurants. Experience American cuisine like you never have before.

Recess

Recess is one of the best restaurants in Indy and it could be one of the most unique concepts as well. Chef Greg Hardesty creates a new, prix fixe menu every day with about five different, but equally tasty courses. This “culinary playground” in South Broad Ripple is the perfect place to take your sweetie on Valentine’s Day.

The Villa Inn

Rekindle the romance at the Villa Inn. This is the perfect stay-cation spot to spend a few nights in. It’s a beautiful bed and breakfast and also has a FANTASTIC spa on the property.

Garfield Park Conservatory and Sunken Garden

For those looking for a place to go to in the daytime, check out Garfield Park. Instead of giving your honey flowers, take them to see, 10,000 square feet of plants from the world’s tropics. Sun or snow, the flowers are always in full bloom.

The Best Chocolate in Town

If you get your boo-bear, angel, snuggle bunch a box of “what’s on the inside” chocolates from Wal-Greens, you deserve to get dumped! Instead, get local, hand made confections from The Best Chocolate in Town. This Mass Ave chocolate shop has candies that taste like pure heaven (and you know what’s inside of them because it says so on the tray). Their truffles, turtles and buttery toffee are sinfully delicious.

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Categories: Arts, Arts & Culture, Dining
Tags: Best Chocolate in Town, eagle's nest, Recess, Yellow Rose Inn

Shopping in Indianapolis Made Easy

Amy Magan blogs for the Indiana Insider tourism blog and at The 4th Frog Blog.

Unless you’ve been in hibernation lately, you’re well aware that thousands of people recently filled local streets for the greatest spectacle in professional football.  This winter, I had the opportunity to be a tourist in my own town, first participating in a large convention that was held downtown at the Indiana Convention Center and then hosting some family for a girls’ weekend of shopping.  Both events gave me a chance to see the city as many of our recent visitors got to see it.

In November, I was part of a Catholic youth conference that hosted 23,000 people — small potatoes compared to the crowds for the big game. Our group stayed at the J.W. Marriott overlooking Victory Field. It was during this conference that I got a real appreciation for how smartly downtown Indianapolis has been constructed. We spent our 4 days downtown moving between the J.W., Lucas Oil Stadium, the convention center and restaurants in and around Circle Center Mall.

I was pleased to find that a.) the downtown area is very walkable – park the car and forget it, and b.) it is entirely possible to traverse a large section of downtown without going outside by using the tunnels that connect several of the hotels with the convention center and the mall.

Something else I noticed was the famous “Hoosier Hospitality” at work. With few exceptions, the service our group received at locations around the city was helpful and positive and most everyone we talked to was looking forward to the hoopla of the big game.

A few weeks later, I met up with my mom and sisters for a girls’ weekend of holiday shopping. My plan was to spend the morning covering the shops on Mass. Ave, then a festive Christmas lunch in the L.S. Ayres Tea Room at the Indiana State Museum, followed by several hours of shopping at Circle Center.

Leave it to my sisters to change my well thought out plan.  We stayed on course through the Tea Room. But after that, things went a bit awry. My sisters wanted to go to The Fashion Mall at Keystone at the Crossing to visit a few stores there, including Gymboree and Nordstrom. I groused a little, but pointed the car northward. In a little over 15 minutes, we reached our destination and spent several hours shopping. We finished the night with dinner at P.F. Chang’s before heading back downtown for some much needed sleep. We had a spacious room at the Westin Hotel with views of the convention center, St. John’s Catholic Church and Lucas Oil.

The next day, we had tickets for a holiday craft show at Plainfield High School. We checked out of the Westin, buzzed over to I-70 West and were at the craft show in about 20 minutes. We spent the rest of the afternoon crossing things off our shopping lists at stores at Metropolis shopping center.

Super Bowl XLVI was not just a downtown Indianapolis event. It was an event that welcomed visitors to communities all over Central Indiana. I think visitors appreciated the ease with which they could get from one area of town to another. I also think they were delighted to explore the many stores and restaurants that were ready to welcome them to town.

And the Hoosier Hospitality? That’s just part of the deal.

 

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Categories: Arts, Arts & Culture, Fashion
Tags: Circle Centre Mall, Keystone at the Crossing

Alternative Valentine’s Day Activities

Let’s get something straight about Valentine’s Day, should you choose to celebrate it. Most “surprises” aren’t very unexpected. Lingerie, wine, chocolates, blah, blah, blah. Of course they’re nice but where’s the real thought? Executing those ideas are like using a paint-by-number Valentine’s Day.

Fortunately, there are so many more creative ways to light up your love life this month. From art classes to workout sessions, below are a few fun local activities that will spice up your Valentine’s Day routine…what happens after is up to you. But for the record, chocolates are still encouraged.

Photo: theatrehistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Friday, February 10 and Saturday, February 11, 2pm and 7:30pm: Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Historic Artcraft Theatre - One of the world’s favorite love films at a charming old-fashioned film house in Franklin, Indiana. Ticket price includes prizes and a skit!

Photo: Indianapolis Art Center

Couple’s Classes at the Indianapolis Art Center

February 10 and 17, 7 – 9pm: Painting for Two - Each couple will paint half of a painting on their own canvas – hang them together at home! Wine and appetizers (cheese, crackers, heart-shaped cookies) are included. 21+ only. Cost: $70/couple.

Sunday, February 19, 4 – 6pm: Ceramics for Couples - The perfect opportunity to get a little hands-on in public. See what you can create in this ceramics class for couples. Cost: $70/couple

Photo: Poperazzi

Saturday, February 11, 8pm: That’s Amore! A Valentine Concert at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra  - Love is like music to your ears…this one-night-only event featuring celebrated Italian love songs and classics with pop-opera vocal trio Poperazzi. Listen to your favorites from Puccini to Pavarotti and Sinatra to the Jersey Boys.

Photo: The Dailey Method

Thursday, February 23, 7 – 9pm: Cupid Class at The Dailey Method - Get physical with your beau/belle on a date at The Dailey Method. A live DJ will spin as you sweat while beer, wine and snacks will be served after the class. Cost: $35/couple

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Categories: Arts & Culture
Tags: art, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Broad Ripple, Franklin, Historic Artcraft Theatre, indianapolis, Indianapolis Art Center, The Dailey Method, Valentine's Day

Great Deals at Scotty’s Brewhouse Locations this Week Only!

 

I’m pretty sure I just heard all of Indianapolis sigh a contented sigh.  Within that sigh were intermingled feelings of satisfaction, pride, a little bit of exhaustion, and maybe a wee bit of relief.  What a wonderful week plus of Super Bowl fun, where our city was on display for the whole world to see.  So many responded with kind words about our hospitality, amazing volunteers, and the way our city can throw a party.

As things get back to “normal” this week in Indianapolis, the fine folks at Scotty’s Brewhouse want to remind you that Indianapolis residents and non-Super Bowl visitors are just as important in their eyes.  So they’re hosting a wide range of special discounts at all of their locations across the city,  Monday – Thursday this week.  I just mentioned how much I love chowing down at these Indianapolis establishments last week.  And now if you’ve never been before, this is your chance to check out their food amidst a number of great deals.

Of course my absolute FAVORITE deal of all is that Kids Eat Free at each location every night, Monday – Thursday this week.  Scotty’s regularly has opportunities for kids to eat free but four nights in a row is the bomb diggity for a mom that doesn’t have the will or the energy to cook after all that Super Bowl fun.  And there are plenty of deals on adult beverages, too {most of which are going on tonight – Tuesday}.

Way to go Indianapolis!  Take the night off from cooking {you certainly deserve it} and enjoy a great deal and meal from Scotty’s.

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Categories: Beer, Deals, Dining, Family
Tags: scotty's, Scotty's Brewhouse, Thr3e Wise Men