So who around here loves the AMC Emmy award winning show Mad Men?  Me, me, me, me!!!  Of course, you may have already gotten the idea that I love all things historical (even if there's a bit of fiction mixed in) AND if you watch you have to admire all of the wining, dining, and maligning that goes on in the world of 1950s/1960s advertising executives.  It's schmoozing to the Nth degree and it's terribly yummy, in my opinion.  And don't even get me started on the fab-u-lous vintage dresses the actresses get to wear.  Lovely.  And as usual, I digress.

If you're looking for something a bit less fiction, a little more fact this week, the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce has a great opportunity for you to feel wined and dined without dropping a ton of cash.  Head to Conseco Fieldhouse on Thursday, September 24th from 5-9 PM, check out the Chamber's biggest event of the year - Schmooza Palooza!  If you're a member or an employee of a company that is a member then cha-ching, you get in for free (this includes 1000s of people, so check and see!).  If you're not a member, you can register for the Ticket Give Away to be drawn TODAY (9/22) OR the good folks of the Chamber will be giving away tix on the Circle on Wednesday (9/23) OR you can pay a mere $10 at the door.

And what does your free ticket or ten bucks get you?  I'm so glad you asked!  Not only can you sample fine Indianapolis Fare, you can also learn all about up and coming Indianapolis businesses specializing in technology, ecological impact, and savvy green living.  Plus since I did promise "wining" there will be wine and beer tastings, live music, and "exclusive prize drawings" (I think that means they will be giving things away, not that they will be drawing prizes).

So if you're a part of the Indianapolis Jet Set, wish you were, want to know who is, or simply have a smashing vintage dress to wear, Schmooza Palooza is for you.  And we promise that your foot won't get run over by a lawnmower (Seriously, you must watch Mad Men.  I insist.)

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before or not but I kind of have a thing for Indiana and Indianapolis history.  In fact, I probably know more a bit more than your average bear about such things but it's only because I get so sucked in by how interesting this city is!  If you're looking for something free, fun, unique and with a historical twist this fall/winter, um I have a great deal for you.

John Dillinger, the notorious gangster, was a Native Hoosier, born right here in Indianapolis.  Perhaps you heard a little something about another fella named John starring in a movie about his life this summer, no?  So if you've seen Public Enemies or are planning to see it (or just have an interest in the man), I highly suggest you check out the Dillinger! Forging a Hoosier Legend Exhibit at the Indiana State Library, an amazingly beautiful building and research facility in its own right.  *Which brings me to an interestingly random side note.  I *heart* the Indianapolis Newspaper Collection on microfilm located at the Indiana State Museum.  Could spend HOURS - and have - reeling through it.  Seriously, one of my favorite things to do in Indianapolis and yes I know my geek slip is showing right now.  Interesting stuff people.  History rawks (Am I trying too hard to overcompensate for nerdy self with trendy misspelling of word?  Probably, but oh well.).*  Random Academic Rant/Psychoanalysis ends, Blog Post continues . . .  There will be plenty of historical documents and photos to cue you in on the real John Dillinger (can't attest to the reel John Dillinger as I haven't seen the movie yet) and tell the sordid but adventuresome tale of his life's journey.

And of course, it's completely FUH-REE and runs through the end of the year.  Check out this exhibit . . . and no promises but you just might find me sinking my quarters into the microfilm projector printing out random Indianapolis Star Articles from 1919.  It's kind of how I roll.

Ok so it's not a major Hollywood Blockbuster (or the subsequent sequel) but many area Indianapolis Museums are participating in National Museum Day 2009 on Saturday, September 26.  What does that exactly mean?  Well I'm so glad you asked.  Those fine folks at Smithsonian Magazine have decided to pay for you AND a friend to go to the museum for the day.  Yep, aren't they sweet?  It's your chance to learn a little more about Indianapolis History (and just learn period) for free!

So basically what you need to do is go here and pick your Indianapolis Participating Venue.  I'm having a hard time choosing between the Indianapolis State Museum (pictured left) in Downtown Indianapolis and Conner Prairie in nearby Fishers because I love both.  And then the agony sets in when I realize that I've never been to the Benjamin Harrison Home, the Indianapolis Art Center, OR The Museum of Miniature Houses and Other Collections which I am POSITIVE the Eldest Princess who is aged 7 would love, love, love.  National Museum Day why do you torture me so?!?  Oh, I'm sorry.  You were wanting to know how to get free passes, weren't you?  I got a little sidetracked.  

After you make your agonizing decision of which amazing place to go, then you simply fill out this form and print two admission passes.  Easy cheesy and of course free.  And since you're all in the mood of saving money and doing fun things in Indianapolis, check out Visit Indy's Restaurant Coupon Page to have some dinner out on the cheap after all that learnin'.  

I have to admit that anytime I see a red sign marked "SALE" I get chills up and down my spine.  Nothing turns my crank like a good deal.  And I have all of these warm fuzzy memories of when our local mall used to have Sidewalk sales in the late summer/early fall.  Somehow, seeing the goods normally stuffed inside the store walls out in the hallway transformed the mall into a magic place.  And you could buy everything for a fraction of its original sale price.  It seems that my strange passion for cheap buys started early in life, huh?

Well if you're looking for something to do in downtown Indianapolis this Labor Day Weekend and you love Sidewalk Sales, too you're definitely going to want to check out the Sidewalk Sale on the Indianapolis Canal.  The sale features goods from both the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art and the Indiana State Museum's Indiana Store (which is stocked with great IN made products INCLUDING Vera Bradley Bags which will be up to 50% off!).  Simply check out the sidewalk behind the Museums to get the skinny on all of the great deals.  The Sale will be held Saturday September 5th from 10 AM - 4 PM.



On top of that, on Labor Day - Monday September 7, the Eiteljorg is featuring $1 General Admission to the Museum (one of the best cultural and historical Indianapolis Attractions in my opinion!).  Wander on over from the Rib America Fest and get in a little culture on the cheap or maybe you can score a great deal at the Sidewalk Sale, too.

 If you're looking for a unique (and free!) family experience next week, check out the Disney A Christmas Carol Train Tour coming to Bargersville, IN (south of Indianapolis) on Wednesday, September 9, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

To celebrate the release of Disney's newest holiday film due out November 6, Disney has literally laid down track all over the country with a special train tour.  And now it's Indianapolis' turn to experience this amazing event.

The film looks to be amazing, a new 3D twist on the classic Dickens' tale featuring Jim Carrey as the infamous Mr. Ebeneezer Scrooge.  And to give you a sneak peek of how they made the movie and what it will look like, Disney has partnered with both HP and Amtrak to travel to 40 cities across the US and it's almost time for her to come chugging into Indianapolis' backyard.  

I honestly couldn't be more excited about the fact that they are bringing items on loan from the Charles Dickens Museum of London (moment of honesty, I'm a History AND a Literature Geek!).  But you can also become one with the film through HP's TouchSmart technology as it morphs you into a character from the film! 

Each of the four vintage cars pulled by the Amtrak locomotive will be filled with exhibits and activities, suitable for kids and adults alike.  A portable 3D Digital Theater will also be erected so that you can watch excerpts of the movie. I also read somewhere that there will be SNOW! Snow in September, even in temperamental Indiana, is a feat.  I'm sure the whole experience will be nothing short of magical.  That's kind of how Disney rolls.

To top things off, there will also be a chance to win an HP TouchSmart PC and a HP PhotoSmart Wireless Printer.  And the little Mouseketeer in your house can audition to be Indy's own Hometown MovieSurfer for the Disney Channel.  Radio Disney will be onsite, keeping everyone hopping, spinning Disney's favorite tunes.

It might seem like a little early to get into the Christmas spirit, but this is definitely a once in a lifetime experience.  So whether you live in Indianapolis or are visiting during an extended Labor Day Vacation, check out this fun event.  More than likely you'll see the Royal Family there.

I've been hearing commercials the last few weeks letting me know that the NHRA Mac Tools US Nationals are racing into O'Reilly Raceway Park this coming weekend. These races have  been coming to Indianapolis for the past 55 years and continue to run strong.

The "Super Bowl" of drag racing events starts this week and runs through September 7th. I've been planning on taking my son this year as I think he'd love to see the fast cars, but there's more than just racing.

There's also the amazing car show where he can see cars that are mechanical works of art and skill. All-in-all there's plenty to do over the course of the almost week long list of activities. This year they're even featuring a throwback to some older cars that have graced the track over the years.

A quick schedule of the events for the weekend include:

• 09/04/09 @ 5:30pm - Pro Qualifying
• 09/05/09 @ 12:00pm - Pro Qualifying
• 09/05/09 @ 5:45pm - Pro Qualifying
• 09/05/09 @ 1:15pm - Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle Elimination
• 09/05/09 @ 5:30pm - Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle Elimination
• 09/05/09 @ 7:40pm - Ringers Gloves Pro Bike Battle Elimination
• 09/06/09 @ 11:30am - Conclusion of pro qualifying
• 09/06/09 @ 2:30pm - Conclusion of pro qualifying
• 09/07/09 @ 11:00am - Final eliminations

If you're going to be in town this weekend and want to see some more Indianapolis sports in action then be sure to race on out to the NHRA Mac Tools US Nationals O'Reilly Raceway Park. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster. If you can't make it out in person, there's going to be plenty of national TV coverage on ESPN and ESPN2.

With the kids back in school and the weather starting to cool off, taking a break with your family and enjoying the outdoors is a great way to spend your evenings and weekends. My kids have visited Conner Prairie, an interactive history park, for class field trips and other visits and absolutely love it!

The other attraction that Conner Prairie has in Indianapolis is that they've partnered with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for their Symphony on the Prairie. More than just the symphony performs as well. Some of the events in Indianapolis that are coming up on the schedule include:

• Rockapella (August 21-22)
• Glenn Miller Orchestra (August 28-29)
• An Evening with America (September 3-4)
• River City Brass Brand (September 5-6)

Another special event at Conner Prairie is the celebration of one of the earliest forms of flight. The 1859 Balloon Voyage is quite a celebration.

If you're looking for a bit of a different way to experience some Indianapolis history, you can visit Conner Prairie and mix your history with the sound of music and flight.

The State Fair is going on right now and there is plenty of great entertainment to fill your schedule throughout the next week. When the fair is over though, don't think there aren't other Indianapolis attractions to bring fun times and great food to your local calendar.

Here are just a few of the different festivals that are coming up over the next few weeks. Each event celebrates the local group's culture and Indianapolis history.

ARTSPARKLE: Mardi Gras (Saturday, August 22nd)

Indiana Native American History Festival (Saturday, August 29th)German American Klub's Oktoberfest 2009 (September 9th - September 12th)

I think one of the most iconic locations in downtown Indianapolis is Monument Circle. You may think the reference to "Circle City" is in response to the Indianapolis 500 race that happens every year.

It doesn't.

The history of the term really came from the original layout of streets in the civic design by Alexander Ralston. Originally the center of the circle was the Governor's mansion. In the mid 1800's the mansion was demolished and replaced by the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Let me remind you though- there's more to the circle than the monument! Have you ever seen it be transformed into  a Christmas tree!? 

First there are pockets of great stores on the circle. Check out the South Bend Chocolate Company if you'd like a sweet treat. If you want great coffee, fresh sandwiches and salads and free wi-fi, then Au Bon Pain is perfect for you and they offer outdoor dining.

If you're not looking for food, Hilbert Circle Theater, home of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra is there. The beautiful Christ Church Cathedral is on the circle as well, along with numerous other businesses and retail shops.

One of my favorite scenes in Indianapolis is to drive on Meridian or Market streets, which both intersect the circle, and see everyone sitting on the circle, having a lunch and meandering around the monument on a beautiful sunny day.

Come on down and see for yourself that there's a whole lot more in the center of the circle in downtown Indianapolis than a big monument. See why we're still raising the game in Indianapolis and how we're Positively Indy!

Looking for something more unique to do in Indianapolis after work? Come visit the Easley Winery in downtown Indianapolis!

Jack and Joan Easley started making wine in their basement in the late 60's and their passion soon grew to setting up the Indiana Wine Growers Guild and starting business as Easley Winery in 1974. The rest is all now part of Indianapolis history and still growing strong today.

On Tuesday and Saturday nights from now through September there's "Groovin' In The Garden". Feel free to take the kids with you  because they'll have their own sparkling grape juice, fruit and nuts along with coloring books and crayons just for them.

You can even order meals from some of your favorite Indianapolis restaurants and have them deliver right to your table in the Easley Winery garden. Knowing Bazbeaux Pizza and Santorini Greek Kitchen were options was music to my ears.

If you enjoy wine, live music and a great time with friends, then Easley Winery is the place to be. Free tours on Saturday and Sundays and free wine tastings every day of the week, you don't need much more reason to stop by and relax.

The 2009 Indiana State Fair opened their gates today to begin the 17 days of fun, festivities and food. The Indiana State Fair is always a lot of fun for residents of Indiana and the surrounding area. This year the fair runs from August 7-23.

The Indiana State Fair has quite a history in Indianapolis since 1852 when the first state fair was held at what is now Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. The fair was first held at what is now the Indiana State Fairgrounds in 1892. Throughout its history, Indianapolis has welcomed a wide variety of famous individuals as part of the events: The Beatles, Muhammed Ali, New Kids on the Block, Johnny Cash, the Jackson Five and even Elvis Presley have all performed here.

I'm trying to decide what my favorite part of the fair is these days as an adult. It's probably going to come down to a tie between the food and the spotlight on agriculture.

Whether it's a lemon shake-up, a funnel cake, or those wonderful, screwy potato chip thingys, I'm on it when it comes to the fair food.

I've always had a love and appreciation for animals and agriculture, so just about any opportunity to see and observe either of these are a lot of fun for me. Our family has recently kindled a love for the outdoors together and the DNR Building should be a lot of fun for us this year. This is also the "Year of Tomatoes" for the state fair in Indianapolis.

So don't waste any time, get your tickets today and discover your favorite part of the Indiana State Fair!


Image: Just Jefa flickr photo

As I was browsing through the flickr today I noticed this photo of one of the monuments that can be found in downtown Indianapolis. This is the Medal of Honor Memorial that's located on the canal in White River State Park.

Unveiled and dedicated Memorial Day weekend in 1999, the monument uses 27 glass panels, lighting and audio recordings to recognize those that have received the recognition for their valor in combat.

Discovering the Indianapolis history that's available throughout attractions like this is a great way to spend a day. Walking along the canal is a relaxing way to experience the city. The monument is located right on the canal behind the Indiana State Museum and borders Military Park to the north. Be sure and bring you own camera to capture the beauty of the canal along with your memories of the your trip to Indianapolis.

Image: Used with Permission by Kimberly Baker

B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

So here's the honest truth, before I had a kid of my own if I saw the Wiggles on TV or plastered on some sort of toy my face contorted and I died a little inside. Four guys in primary colored shirts dancing around in a tiny car cavorting with feather wielding pirates and over sized polka dot dinosaurs.

Now that I have a daughter of my own and The Wiggles have been invited into my living room? I kind of have a crush on the tall one. Any man who can make a fool of himself for the entertainment of my daughter? He's got a piece of my heart.

The Wiggles are coming to downtown Indianapolis to the historic Murat Theater on August 28, 2009 with their all new show "The Wiggles Go Bananas." Having been to another production for kids with my daughter at the Murat I can tell you that the venue is plenty child friendly with good views (at least from the balcony) and plenty of rest rooms.

The Wiggles concert is one of those things to do in Indianapolis that your kids will love and while on the outside you'll gag a little at the thought of being shoved in a theater with a bunch of little kids that aren't yours? You'll secretly love it. It's okay. I won't tell anyone.

If you're visiting Indianapolis this week you've probably already noticed that the business of racing is in town again and it's for the Allstate^® 400 at the Brickyard^® NASCAR event running at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, July 26th.

The 400-mile NASCAR event hosted at the Speedway has a 15 year history in the racing capital of the world. The Allstate 400 has become the largest attended event on the NASCAR circuit. Fans will travel for miles to witness this great event as they have been for more than a decade. This year's race will be celebrating the Centennial Era of the track, so there will be plenty of activities to take part in during the weekend

If you're still debating on coming into town, don't think the race is all that's going on in the city. There are still plenty of other activities taking place here and in the  surrounding area that may interest you and your family. If you'd like to make a weekend of your trip, you can view one of our Indianapolis packages on our website.

Whether you're coming to town with your family, or looking for a getaway with some friends, there is sure to be a hotel package that combines everything you want into one terrific deal.

All the options and all the fun are what make this city... Positively Indy!

Johnny Depp is starring in a new movie titled "Public Enemies" about the famous American gangster, John Dillinger. You can find a great theater here in Indianapolis to catch the film, but did you realize that John Dillinger was born right here in Indianapolis? Dillinger has quite a bit of history in the city and surrounding areas.

He was born June 22, 1903 in the Oak Hill section of Indianapolis. When he was about 17 his family moved south to Mooresville area and later he lived in Martinsville after he was married. Dillinger died one month after his 31st birthday and is now buried in Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

You can find out a lot more about Dillinger's history and experiences in the state if you visit the Indiana State Library, located at 315 West Ohio Street, in downtown Indianapolis. The library is housing an exhibit, DILLINGER! Forging a Hoosier Legend, focused on the life of the Indiana outlaw.

The exhibit opens July 15th and will run through December 31st, 2009.

For more details on getting directions to the Indiana State Library and operating hours you can visit their website.

Source: Indiana State Library, Wikipedia and IMDb

The Summer Celebration will be starting this weekend and go through July 19th. The Expo started in 1971 and attracted more than 50,000 attendees to its first event. Since that time the event has grown to what is now the largest African-American event in the nation with more than 300,000 in expected attendance.

Over the course of the event there are a number of events, exhibits, workshops, entertainment and other activities.

Summer Celebration attracts numerous visitors from the surrounding regions so if you're interested in taking part, be sure to check our website for more details on available hotel rooms and packages for your visit.

Another event that's part of the Indiana Black Expo, although it does not happen concurrently with their Summer Celebration, is the Circle City Classic football game, which matches up two historically black colleges for the title.

The annual football challenge, Circle City Classic, is scheduled for October 3rd and will be a rematch of last year's participants from Alabama A & M University and Tuskegee University.

The Circle City Classic recently named a new director for the event. Marc Williams has taken the helm as executive director and called the classic a "jewel" for the city of Indianapolis.

Okay, so maybe taking your kids to a cemetery may seem a little off, because that's exactly what I thought the first time I took my daughter with me to Crown Hill Cemetery just outside downtown Indianapolis. My mother in law is a huge history and genealogy buff and it just so happens that a lot of her family's history comes right here from Marion county in Indianapolis, IN. My kid didn't hate it, it was quiet, there were wide open spaces and plenty of letters she could identify.

We went back about a month ago with my mom (who is a photographer and has a thing with taking pictures of cemeterys) and this time the visit meant something different to my daughter. We were able to talk about our personal beliefs about what happens when people pass away and she was able to see a cemetery as a quiet lovely place with flowers rather than the scary haunted graveyards that movies portray.



She was able to read some names on headstones and we talked about our country's history in the military area. There are so many amazing sculptures and headstones in Crown Hill, the 3rd largest cemetery in the nation, and most people who live here just simply drive by.



Even if you don't have roots in Indianapolis history, there will be something of interest to you in Crown Hill, whether it's watching the deer (yes, it's large enough to have its own deer) or taking a guided tour of either the many trees or historical headstones Crown Hill is one of those places you or your family won't forget.

I posted these photos over at my personal blog and was shocked (SHOCKED I SAY) to find out how many lifelong Hoosiers have never been to the Oldfields-Lilly Gardens. If you're looking for a beautiful, unique, historical and free thing to do just outside downtown Indianapolis? You can't go wrong with the Lilly House and Indianapolis Museum of Art (they share the same campus.)

If you haven't been paying attention lately, Indianapolis is preparing the way to host some serious royalty for the next few months. An Egyptian king is coming to The Children's Museum in Indiananpolis from June 27th - October 25th. His official arrival for greeting guests will begin in just a few hours.

Tutankhamen: The Golden King and the Great Pharoahs will open to the general public on Saturday, June 27th at 9am. The Children's Museum is open on Saturday at 9am. You can visit the Children's Museum website for details on hours throughout the exhibit.

I missed the opportunity to go to advance opening of the exhibit last night, but I can tell you my family and I will not miss the opportunity to take our time through the exhibit and learn more about this boy king. Egyptian history was one of my favorite areas of history when I was in school, so seeing some of these artifacts and learning more about each one will be a great experience.

Come to think of it, I may need to go by myself at some point so I can really read and absorb everything.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is an absolutely fantastic place to visit in Indianapolis. If you're visiting and in town for business or some other vacation package, be sure to check-out the museum just north of downtown during your stay.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is the world's largest children's museum and has four levels of exhibits and a variety of other special exhibits like the Dinosphere.

For more information about the King Tut exhibit and the Children's Museum of Indianapolis you can visit their websites by clicking on the links above.

If you love tennis you'll want to plan on heading into Indianapolis on July 18th - 26th. That's when the Indianapolis Tennis Championships will be in town and the field of contenders has already been set for the most part. There are still some spots left to be filled over the days leading up to the event.

The Indianapolis Tennis Championships are part of the US Open Series that comes to a variety of great cities like Indianapolis through the season. Indianapolis has been hosting the event since 1998 and it's considered a prime warm-up tournament leading up to the US Open in late August.

The current field of players includes:

Andy Roddick, Dmitry Tursunov, Ivo Karlovic, Igor Kunitsyn, Dudi Sela, Sam Querrey, Benjamin Becker, Arnaud Clement, Marc Gicquel, Leonardo Mayer, Yen-Hsun Lu, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Denis Istomin, Ernests Gulbis, Kevin Kim, Gilles Muller, Marco Baghdatis, Bobby Reynolds, John Isner, Brian Dabul, Michael Berrer, Marcos Daniel, Vincent Spadea, Taylor Dent

That includes Ivo Karlovic and John Isner, who at 6'10" and 6'9" respectively are the tallest players in tour history. I'd think it would take a little more effort to get the ball past the wingspans of these two!

The Westin Indianapolis is an official sponsor of the event and you can find all the information you need to book your room and vacation package for the event on the VisitIndy.com website. We can't wait to welcome you to town and show you how we're raising the game to make your next visit Positively Indy!