1. All Other Sandwiches Bow Before Our Pork Loin Sandwiches
Pound a pork cutlet to the size of your face, bread it, deep fry it, slap it on a comically inadequate bun, top it with a little mustard and some dill pickle slices (and maybe onion and tomato), and you have the ultimate staple of Hoosier cuisine.
Folks in Indy love their pork tenderloins, and everyone has an opinion about where to get the best one.
With such a touchy subject, I’m begging for hateful comments by singling out a few spots to score a great pork tenderloin sandwich. But here I go anyway: Aristocrat Pub and Restaurant, Bourbon Street Distillery, Edwards Drive-In, Elbow Room, Flatwater Restaurant, Gaslight Inn, Mug ‘N Bun Drive-In Restaurant (though technically they serve a pork fritter), and Plump’s Last Shot are favorite establishments among locals for this formidable and delicious dish. Presented in alphabetical order, so don’t read too much into the presentation.
2. That A Bike Trail Can Cost More Than A Freeway
Indy might not be the first place that jumps to mind when you think of urban innovation for a more environmentally friendly, health-promoting, culturally rich cityscape, but the Indianapolis Cultural Trail puts it on the map for just that.
This approximately 8-mile pedestrian- and bike-friendly trail links Indy’s six major cultural districts. It’s lined with public art, custom-made lighting and signs, and plenty to see and do. The Project for Public Spaces called the $63 million Indianapolis Cultural Trail “the biggest and boldest step by any American city.”
Now famously eco-conscious cities like Seattle and Portland are a little greener—with envy.
3. The (Drunk) Twentysomethings Flock to Broad Ripple
Before they completely give up and start drinking alone in their dark, dingy living rooms, the young folks in Indianapolis get their guzzling on in Broad Ripple Village.
This is the most happening of Indy’s six cultural districts, at least when it comes to nightlife for the more youthful demographic. The area is teeming with beloved bars and nightclubs like the Rock Lobster, Land Sharks, and Average Joes.
Of course, there’s more to Broad Ripple Village than drunken Butler University students. There are plenty of fantastic restaurants—including all sorts of international cuisine—art galleries, live music venues, unique shops, and more.
4. And Indy’s Grown Folks Head To Mass Ave.
For the non-twentysomething-party crowd in Indy, there’s the Massachusetts Avenue cultural district, or Mass Ave.
There are numerous art galleries, theaters, quality restaurants, slightly more grownup bars and live music venues, and independent stores. There’s also a good deal of cool historic architecture in the district, like The Athenaeum, the Murat Shrine Temple, Hammond Block, and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, plus all the Civil War-era homes in Chatham Arch.
5. There’s The Race On The Track? That’s News To Me
On a national level, Indianapolis is probably most strongly associated with the Indy 500, known simply as “the race” to locals. It takes place on “the track,” or the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which also hosts other big vroom-vroom to-dos like the Brickyard 400 and the Red Bull Indianapolis Grand Prix.
The terminology is indicative of the indifference many Indy residents feel toward the world-famous event. Much of the seething mass of spectators at these races is comprised of out-of-towners.
Sure, the visitors provide a major boost to the local economy, but they also bring traffic nightmares and typical touristy buffoonery.
6. Peyton Manning And Reggie Miller Are The Greatest Men Alive—Deal With It
While cars driving around in circles really fast may not excite the people of Indianapolis all that much, the Colts and the Pacers sure do. And two MVPs from these teams in particular are idolized legends in the city.
Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts for 14 years, is as much a local sports hero as any city has, even though he recently left a few years ago to QB for the Denver Broncos. Mostly, it just made Broncos fans out of the Indy population.
Reggie Miller played all 18 years of his NBA career for the Indiana Pacers, and he too has bonafide local sports hero status.
7. And Tom Brady Is The Worst—The Worst
Sure, everybody outside of New England hates Tom Brady. But Indy folks have a special distaste for him. In fact, there’s probably no quicker way to get someone from Indianapolis to despise you than to say you’re a Brady fan.
The city experienced an odd sensation in 2012, when the Patriots were in town for the Superbowl. Brady ate at the city’s most iconic dining institution, the St. Elmo Steak House, which has been open in the same location since 1902.
It was just wrong…wrong.
8. There Are Only Four Colleges In Existence That Matter
In Indianapolis—especially where college sports are concerned—only four universities matter. Everyone in town is loyal to one.
There’s the city’s own Butler University and their Bulldogs, of course. Then there’s Indiana University Bloomington and its Hoosiers, Purdue University and its Boilermakers, and Notre Dame and its Fighting Irish.
If you went somewhere else or support a different school and team, keep your head down and your mouth shut.
9. Indy Has Better Taste In Beer Than The Rest Of The Midwest—Yeah I Said It
Are Hoosiers Bud Light drinkers? No, sir this is a respectable town with a respectable taste for respectable craft beers from local breweries.
Bier Brewery and Taproom, Black Acre Brewing Co., Broad Ripple Brewpub, Brugge Brasserie, FLAT12 Bierwerks, Fountain Square Brewery, Indiana City Brewing Co., Sun King Brewing Co., Thr3e Wise Men Brewery, Tow Yard Brewing Co., and Triton Brewing Company have all set up shop in Indy to provide the people with the unique and diverse craft beers they demand.
10. Crossing The Road In The Chicken Limo
Indianapolis doesn’t have such a great reputation where public transportation is concerned, but who cares? It has Chicken Limos.
That’s right; limos decked out like chickens. And who says Indy ain’t a classy place?
