What’s inside this thing:

• Activities and restaurants around Indy

as described by EM faculty, admin, and

residents

• A map key of all these fun things to do

• Choose a neighborhood and check

out all the places listed.

• Make your friend or partner choose

something new from the book for

your next date night.

• Close your eyes, point, and go some

place completely new.

• Sit on your couch, read, and learn

about your fellow EM colleagues and

their fave spots around town.

Copy and paste this link into your browser to bring up an interactive map!

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1h7qG_9sDdawQd9I9UitNKG2ZzWHA_JyJ&usp=sharing

Feel free to add your own favorite places!

Would you have guessed this is a Mexican breakfast res-

taurant from it's name? No. But it easily has some of the

best breakfast and Mexican food in town. The family

who runs the place is super sweet, and serves up some

amazing authentic Mexican cuisine for any meal of the

day. Whether there for post overnight breakfast or stop-

ping by while hanging out in the heart of Broad Ripple,

Biscuits will not disappoint.

Brooke Henderson - hobbies include coming

up with nerdy medical pun costumes

(featured below), triathlon training, Netflix

binging, and socializing/exploring Indy with

my IUEM family

They serve you a pre meal soup, it’s a fun atmosphere with

great food in the amazing neighborhood of broad ripple which

has a lot of classy bars/restaurants among the undergrad

scene of Butler.

I love exploring the local breweries,

having bonfires with my IU family and

recently finding kid friendly places to

play with my son Peter

Why I love it:

We live right along the trail, so we’re on it daily. It’s a paved biking/

walking trail that starts downtown and goes all the way up to Car-

mel. It’s always active, whether there are people running, biking, or

walking along the way. There’s plenty of fun restaurants/cafes/

breweries/shops along the way. You get scenery from urban to

nature. One of my favorite parts is right around the heart of broad

ripple. We’ll grab ice cream at BRICS and walk around. Or we’ll take

our dog north into the wooded area where you can find trails in the

Marrott Park, including shallow areas of the White River where our

dog can splash around! When the weather gets nice, my hubby and

I will bike to some of the different breweries along the way…super

fun!

Author Info:

Ashley Satorius Rutz. Love to

eat, drink, and be merry.

Awesome Mexican food, super fast (they don't mess around), reasonably priced. Big porch looking out to the monon. Excellent frozen margaritas and salsa. Ask for their home made hot sauce and get ready for a head sweat. They carried my 18mo old back into the kitchen so he could high five and babble-yell at the kitchen staff more effec-tively. They also let him answer their phone.

Vic Hurtig I go fishing every chance I get. I like diving to look at fish which I then dream about catching. I like hiking so I can go to remote

places where I can catch fish.

Tacos are amazing, good pricing, cool vibe. The Broad Ripple

neighborhood has lots of bars and restaurants. Really fun place to

go hang out for an evening!

Roma, trying new restaurants,

hanging out with friends, game

nights, sunshine!

Great live music ranging from classic rock to modern hits.

CHEAP drinks

Tyler Heavin. I like backyard

gardening, smoking meat/

making jerky, and big dogs.

Why I love it:

Twenty Tap - lovely fresh food, twenty different beers on tap - food

is always good and very affordable.

Fat Dan's - super healthy as the name implies:) Try the dirty tots

for a special treat

Author Info:

Jess Kanis - running, hiking,

playing with my kids!

Why I love it:

Dive with great Cajun dry rub wings. Get the blue cheese

dressing - it’s homemade and filled with chunks of blue

cheese and loads of garlic. I’ve heard the pizza is good but

to be honest I’ve been more times than I can count and

never get anything but the wings. Decent place to watch a

game on TV and some good people watching. Typically,

however, I get take-out. They also deliver.

Author Info:

Megan Palmer. Watching sports

(especially men’s college basket-

ball and the Colts), gardening,

cooking.

Why I love it:

This is the only restaurant in Indianapolis I can recommend without reservation (Pun intended! I’ve never needed a reser-vation to get in.) If you or a loved one is Paleo, Whole 30, gluten-free, ketogenic, AIP, vegetarian, vegan, or low FODMAP you’ve found Nirvana. Paleo is perhaps the original human diet. Unpro-cessed, natural foods — anything that can be hunted or gath-ered. That includes meats, fin-fish, shellfish, fruits, veggies, healthy fats/oils, nuts and seeds. Speaking of oils, the wait staff will offer you a shot glass of olive oil as an appertive. Try it. You’re in for a treat! Even if you don’t follow any prescribed diet and just like food, Nook won’t leave you disappointed as the food selections are not only tasty and filling, but uniformly deli-cious. Nook was voted the top healthy restaurant in Indy by Open Table and the 4th Whole 30 Approved restaurant in the nation. When your done doing olive oil shots, they also have nice bar and wine selections.

Author Info:

Dallas Peak (DP) Biohacking health

nerd with an addiction to adventure

motorcycling.

Why I love it:

Great food and great prices. Their orange juice I go die

for. Fun place to go post overnight shift, with friends or

with your significant other. (They do serve alcohol)

Author Info:

Hobbies: CrossFit, going to

sporting events with Michael,

wine tasting, reading books

Why I love it:

It is our go to date night! We love to grab a good slice of

pizza and then we hang in the speak easy style bar lo-

cated in the back of the pizzeria. It makes for a cheap

and fun date night.

Author Info:

Devin Doos. Love to go

out with friends.

Why I love it:

Great outdoor venue, close to downtown and easy

to get to, can get a drink or dinner on the canal be-

forehand (overall better than Klipsch!)

Author Info:

Caleb and Megan Larsen -

travel, music, outdoors,

searching for the best donut

shop in Indianapolis

North end of Mass Ave neighborhood (10th and Mass Ave area) Centerpoint makes some of my favorite brews and always has

fun new brews and a great patio area for when the weather is

nice. Plus, they are very dog friendly so there are always lots of

furry friends around to love on.

Cassandra Hall. With my husband as the Sales Manag-

er for Centerpoint Brewery, we have continued our

love of craft beer with new flavors and festivals year

round. We appreciate time outdoors with our children

and remodeling our home.

This place hands down has the best poke & bubble tea

in town! It’s also a super cute place to just hang out &

they won’t judge you if you stay till after closing to fin-

ish a game of Jenga/Uno!

Seema Patel. I’m a fat

kid at heart, love to eat

& cook.

Why I love it:

Great coaches/ teachers, I go to the handstand class but

they also offer aerial silks, trapeze, etc. they have a great at-

mosphere and are equally welcoming whether you are there

to work on specific skills, just want to break up your workout

routine, or are indulging your childhood dreams of running

away to join the circus!

Author Info:

Christine Motzkus. I am a Crossfit enthusi-

ast in my cobbled together garage gym. I

also enjoy constantly trying to wear out my

two dogs, rescuing plants from the clear-

ance shelves, vegetable gardening, and gen-

erally being a nerd.

Why I love it:

There are hours and hours worth of exhibits to wander

through and so many fun activities for kids. I also find

myself quite entertained by most of them. My family of

6 spends a lot of time here and we love it. They are con-

stantly switching up the exhibits which keeps us coming

back for more.

Author Info:

Alex Doxey - I love spending time

with my family, and doing most

things that are outdoors.

Why I love it:

SOO many fun things- trails, boat

rentals, rowing, picnic areas, play-

grounds, the Polar Plunge (ok, that

is NOT fun, nor do I recommend it,

but fun to watch)

Author Info:

Kris Nanagas– hobbies include go-

ing to the park, hanging out with

my family, cooking, reading, gar-

dening, travel

Picture is of my kids (fur baby in-

cluded), not me, but I don't take

selfies in the park! Or ever . . .

Why I love it:

Sculling on Eagle Creek Reservoir

Can join Indianapolis Rowing Center - access

to boats and ergs for low price.

https://indyrowing.org/

Now weight bearing exercise for my decrepit

knees

Author Info:

Wermuth.

Exercise endorphins are good

for the soul.

Why I love it:

Goose is walking distance from many resi-

dents' houses. They have a lovely outdoor seating

area to bring your pup or an indoor tasting room if

you prefer. Their sandwiches are delightful and

they boast all the accoutrements necessary to

build a top notch cheese plate at home.

Author Info:

Jackie Jansen. Hobbies include

decorating, hosting residency class

get togethers, sand volleyball and

soccer.

Why I love it:

Locally owned restaurant that sources all produce and

meat from small Indy businesses. The menu changes

frequently and has a big variety, including vegan and

vegetarian options. They also have events frequently,

including outdoor concerts on Thursdays in the sum-

mer where people bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets

and hang out to listen. This was the first restaurant my

husband and I went to when we moved in Indy and it

made us fall in love with the city and

the people here!

Author Info:

Kasey McKay. Hobbies are

working out, horseback riding,

and building furniture.

Why I love it:

Strangely, the two main Korean restaurants in the area

are within a block of each other - but I like Bando Res-

taurant a little better. When you come for dinner they

will do the usual Korean side dish spread and the food is

very tasty. They are happy to accommodate vegetarian

requests.

Author Info:

Mark Liao I enjoy Star Trek and preparing for the

zombie Apocalypse. I don't eat any-

thing with a cute face which explains

my preoccupation with places that

are vegetarian.

Why I love it:

Step back in time with this wonderful interactive

museum in Fishers, IN. See what Indiana looked

like in the 1800’s and get hands on with life during

those times. I came here as a little girl and now I

get to bring my kids here too. It’s grown a lot since

I was a kid, and they continue to add new things.

They also have re-enactments and symphony on

the Prairie.

Author Info:

Cherilyn Eby—Executive Assistant to the Chair.

I love the outdoors, horse yoga, and spending

time with my family.

Why I love it:

I love beer, I love my dog, and here I can have both!! This brewery is dog friendly on the inside with an awesome outdoor dog park attached. This is an excellent activity for a sunny day out or a rainy day in. And the beer is on point!

Author Info:

Katie— favorite hobbies are

beer and dogs, and as already

mentioned, any activity that

combines the two!

Why I love it:

It’s absolutely absurd. For $10-15 (depending on the

day), you can spend your night playing the elderly’s

favorite hobby, hosted by two raunchy clowns. Enjoy

burlesque dancing in between rounds, and take

home bizarre prizes like a painted portrait of Dave

Matthews, or an inflatable deer head!

Author Info:

Lauren Falvo; expert student,

amateur rock climbing, closet

musician and theatre nerd

Why I love it:

This is a great group activity in an awesome old his-

toric building. Hurl mini bowling balls in a game

that’s more luck than skill with a group of your

closest friends. Growing up in Indy, this was always

one of our favorite special activities, and it still

holds a near and dear place in my heart.

Author Info:

Carter. Indy native and lover

of nostalgic things.

Why I love it:

Drinks at Hotel Tango followed by dinner at Rook and after

dinner drinks at the arcade bar next door.

This trio is a fun and delicious way to spend an evening—it’s

such a hit in my household that my dad (who lives in Florida)

talked about it in our wedding vows when he married us!

Author Info:

Kimi Chernoby, I like to cultivate wild yeast

and tomatoes in my free time. I will second

EWag’s recommendation of the beef noodle

soup at “Asian Snacks”, the Chinese restau-

rant in the lobby of Saraga—get the spicy

version!

Why I love it:

Great food, atmosphere, patio for eating out at night

Author Info:

Cherilyn Eby

Wife, Mom, and Super Woman in disguise.

Why I love it:

My husband and I were told about this place while on a

date night that had started out poorly. Our first choice

of the night was not cutting it and we were hangry. We

though ‘why not’ and went on in. Best.Choice.Ever. The

food was top notch and the pricing is reasonable. They

are highly accommodating with food allergies and re-

strictions. I got an adult version of a grilled cheese

sandwich and was not disappointed.

Author Info:

Josh Mugele

Why I love it:

Hiking trails and wildflowers! Some of the trails are paved and great for

bikes. They also have a horse back riding trail and horses can be rented!

The real gem here is the dog park. It’s separate from the main park and

actually has three individual HUGE fenced enclosures for dogs. One of

them has a great wooded area for explorer dogs and another has a big

swimming pond. There are picnic shelters and even concrete areas with

water hoses (and dog shampoo!) to clean your furry friends up and go

home mud-free.

Author Info:

Holly Irwin - I love doing fun stuff with my 3-legged

adventure dog named Dash. I also have a tiny dog

named Neville but he is... less adventurous. Fave

hobbies also include gardening, crafting, and vol-

unteering with an organization called S.O.A.R

which helps provide support services to individuals

experiencing homelessness, mental illness, sub-

stance abuse or physical illness that have barriers

to getting help related to pet ownership.

Why I love it:

Best place to cool off after spending time at Holliday Park.

Author Info:

Emily Dunham. Project manager,

Dept of EM. Favorite hobbies are

reading, hiking, and finding great

places to eat with friends!

Why I love it:

This park is so unique! At the entrance of the park, you are welcomed

by the coolest looking ruins. A renovation recently has included a

splash pad around some of these ruins for kiddos to splash around

in. The trails wind around the White River and it’s hard to believe that

busy Meridian Street borders part of the park. I walk these trails fre-

quently with my two dogs, and they love getting in the water and

sniffing after squirrels and seeing the occasional dear. The playground

area is also amazing. I recently took my three year old nephew and I

was blown away by how they had equipment for all age groups. It’s a

great place to take your family and enjoy nature in the middle of the

city. And the best part is that it’s FREE!

Author Info:

Emily Dunham. Project manager,

Dept of EM. Favorite hobbies are

reading, hiking, and finding great

places to eat with friends!

Why I love it:

What’s not to love? This place started in Nashville, IN in the back-

woods of Brown County and has grown to 4 locations. Nashville,

Bloomington, Franklin, and Speedway. They started with beer,

moved to pub house, added a pizzeria, and then finally started to dis-

till. Their Hard Truth line includes whiskey, gin, vodka, and rum. In

my 10 years of feasting and drinking at various locations, I have yet

to run into bad food or bad drink. It’s a 100% guarantee that you will

leave satisfied.

Author Info:

Cherilyn Eby - Executive Assistant to

the Chair

Reading, horse yoga, or hanging with

the family.

Why I love it:

Not loving it is un-Hoosier like. But seriously, check it

out. There’s even a really neat museum you can walk

through.

Author Info:

Every real Hoosier or Hoosier at heart.

Why I love it:

When people think of Pho, they usually think of the Sai-

gon Restaurant which is around the corner. But I think

this smaller restaurant has wonderful pho as well as

some great Asian dishes. They have chicken pho using

chicken broth instead of beef broth in case you don't eat

red meat (unlike Saigon which use beef broth for every-

thing) - and they have a vegetarian pho. The place is not

as insanely busy as Pho #1.

Author Info:

Mark Liao I enjoy Star Trek and preparing for the

zombie Apocalypse. I don't eat any-

thing with a cute face which explains

my preoccupation with places that are

vegetarian.

Why I love it:

We are fortunate to live so close to the International district in In-dianapolis with many ethnic restaurants and supermarkets to vis-it. Rayan Restaurant and Bakery is a great example. Rayan is a casual dining restaurant that specializes in Middle East-ern and Mediterranean cuisine and is 100% Halal. Entrees for lunch and dinner include fish, grilled chicken, lamb chops, kebabs, and vegetarian options. Appetizers include familiar items like hummus and tabbouleh, and my personal favorite, baba ghannouj which is made from roasted eggplant and has a rich, smoky fla-vor. I visited Rayan for lunch with a friend who lived in Egypt as a teen. She said their hummus was the most au-thentic she had tasted in the US! Both of us had entrees that were grilled (my doner kebab) or cooked to perfection. Portions were large so it would be great to go with a group and share.

Author Info:

Frank Messina. Exercise, riding my bike to

work, good food and friends.

Why I love it:

Saraga has a TON of produce that you can't find else-

where in the city. You can shop for food supplies for all

sorts of cuisine. It's where I buy my tomatillos for home-

made salsa, my fresh bean sprouts for homemade Pho,

and where the choices for frozen dumplings are endless.

The prices are amazing. They also have a couple places

to sit and eat. Try the beef noodle soup. Go get some de-

licious treats at the Mexican bakery inside the store.

Author Info:

Emily Wagner (EWags). I love

eating all the things, raising

urban chickens, hanging out

with my family AND my IUSM

EM family.

Why I love it:

Newfields is the new name for the Indianapolis Museum

of Art. The rebranding was necessary because it’s not

just a building housing art. It’s a whole complex of indoor

and out door space that attracts all ages and interests.

Author Info:

Cherilyn Eby, not born a Hoosier, but lived here

most of my life. Lover of good music, good

food, and good friends.

Why I love it:

We are close to Zionsville and favorite close

restaurants in our Trader's Point/North West

side neighborhood include: Thai Select, Con-

vivio, Traders Point Creamery Loft, Ted's Mon-

tana Grill, and Tegri Bistro.

Author Info:

Melanie Heniff. Mom of

three, law student, and

love to get outside when-

ever I can. Also, my face is

in a book 35 hours a week.

Why I love it:

Tasty margaritas, table side guacamole, interesting

tacos, etc. There is a bar in the back and family

seating in the front. Get the app -"The List" to put

yourself on the waiting list and then walk around

the quaint shops or the park in the Zionsville Vil-

lage

Author Info:

Marla Doehring - I love to jog

(slowly) and walk (quickly), am

learning to cook vegetarian, and will

travel to interesting places anytime that

I get the chance.

Why I love it:

Listen, we are all stuck inside more then we would like,

so what better way then to just get back to nature.

Here are some great places to get to in a hurry that cost

little to no money to boot. Take a deep breath and relax

at some of the local state forests and parks in Indiana.

Author Info:

Veronica Shook. Speedway native. I

love all things food, especially mak-

ing homemade jam.

Why I love it:

Family owned orchard that has been around for 50 years,

my family has been going at least 30 years. They have

fair pricing on produce and support other local farmers in

the area. I personally love that they sell seconds at a

steep discount, which is great if you are into making jams

or apple sauce. In the fall they have fresh chestnuts. This

orchard is a great place to go pick apples. We also love to

go walk around the pond they have on the property.

• Morgan-Monroe State Forest

• McCormick’s Creek State Park

• Yellowwood State Forest

• Brown County State Park

• Hoosier National Forest

• Cataract Falls State Rec. Area

• Turkey Run State Park Author Info:

Every outdoorsy person and nature

lover ever.

Why I love it:

-Dan “Your template cannot confine me” CK

The best restaurants in Downtown Indy…

Tinker Street - The Old Northside - This small but classy chef-owned restaurant has an awesome and ever-

changing menu. It’s the quintessential date night destination. My wife and I see both sides of the no kids allowed

policy (21 up).

Vida - Downtown - Voted the most expensive restaurant in Indiana for a reason (also, not the most expensive res-

taurant in Indiana. Beware online polls and magazine rankings)

Beholder - Fountain Square - The second restaurant of nationally renowned chef and local foodie super star Jona-

than Brooks, this fine restaurant also has Indy’s best wine selection. If you do it right, this is Indy’s most expen-

sive restaurant. For a random fun fact: google "smoking bunnies mural"

Bluebeard - Fountain Square - This perennial favorite started the Indianapolis foodie revolution in 2012

Black Market - Mass Ave - This small, dark and intimate restaurant and bar at the end of Mass Ave is a gem. An

extensive rum and bourbon selection and small, excellent and ever changing menu are complimented by excellent

wine selections and a refined industrial decor. Enjoy the hops-shaded patio during the summer.

Mesh - Mass Ave - Fancy ‘Merican food

Union 50 - Mass Ave - Step 1: Get a reservation on open table. Step 2: enjoy

Hedge Row - Also, shockingly, on Mass Ave. Slightly eclectic.

Bars - Yes, there are many bars in Indianapolis. There are also a plethora of breweries and a handful of distilleries.

These are a handful of highlights.

The Inferno Room - Fountain Square - This extremely themed bar has great cocktails with a vague menu. Just tell

your server what you’re in the mood for. Fruity and tropical? Bold and booze-tastic? On fire? Done and done.

The Libertine - Mass Ave - I wouldn’t typically recommend drinking in a basement, but the craft cocktails and

ironic vintage vibe make the Libertine a clear exception. Ask for the Last Word, reportedly the most smooth and

balanced cocktail available in Indianapolis (let me know if you find a contender).

Mashcraft - Fall Creek Place - This one gets a bonus - double bonus - for being kid-friendly. Bring yo kids and play

some battle ship! Just remember, don’t give your kids beer.

West Fork Whiskey- Fall Creek Place - Not Indy’s first or only distillery, but it has a great ambience and a decent

selection.

Hotel Tango - Fountain Square - Indy’s first and best distillery with an outstanding and extensive cocktail list, all

made with house spirits.

Sun King - Indy’s most popular local brewery, it’s also kid-friendly with a great space and good food. Unexpected

highlight: Playing vintage Nintendo. The go-to place for local “reserve” sour beers

Best Coffee in Town:

Foundry - The Old Northside - Enjoy bottomless coffee, a real cappuccino, or a quick bite. Stick around in the

afternoon to watch the awkward high school dramas unfold as the local kids swarm the place.

Bee Coffee - multiple locations - Indy’s original best craft coffee, you might find different but you won’t find bet-

ter.

The Original Farmer’s Market - Downtown City Market - the best place in the city to take your kiddos on

Wednesday mornings in the summer. On the off season, pick up a tasty crepe and hand brewed coffee at 3

Days in Paris inside the market building, or enjoy any of the other dozens of vendors.

Milktooth - Fountain Square - Milktooth is so much more than a coffee shop, in fact it’s a nationally recognized

brunch center of excellence. What’s good? EVERYTHING.

Okay but where’s the mountain biking?

Fort Ben Harrison. Bonus points: Take the Monon to the Fall Creek Greenway and ride all the way to Fort Ben;

then hit some sweet single track.

Best trail running: Eagle Creek Park

Best Park for the Kids: Holliday Park, obvs.

But I want a Splash Pad: Then you should go to the underwhelmingly named Dan Wakefield Park in Broad Rip-

ple. This is a cute little neighborhood park with a quiet feel. Some experts would argue that Riverwood Park, a

few miles north, is even better.

Best walk with the family: The canal in Broad Ripple. Just remember to grab some popcorn at Just Popped In,

or in the summer grab a too-delicious-to-be-real popsicle at Nicey Treat. Tired? Monon Coffee Company is your

go-to coffee spot here.

Best indoor rock climbing: Evo Rock and Fitness or Hoosier Heights, depending on your personal level of pa-

thology.

Best outdoor rock climbing: Unfortunately you’re S out of L on outdoor

climbing in Indiana. Looks like you’re going for a weekend trip. Popular

destinations are Red River Gorge in KY, Chattanooga, and the Holy Boul-

ders in Illinois. No sure if you’d rather see Cirque du Soleis or crush some

world class ascents? Hitch a direct flight to Vegas and enjoy the glorious

sandstone of Red Rock Canyon.

About me:

Dan CK, if you can’t tell I love hanging with my little ones, biking, hiking,

running, fishing, hunting, climbing, and basically anything outdoors. I en-

joy making things and providing for friends and family. Coffee, food, and

tasty things are a huge plus.