My name is Jason Bean and I'll be joining you on the VisitIndy website as a new blogger. I'm positively ecstatic about joining Casey Mullins as we both write about the great city of Indianapolis from our different perspectives.

I've called Indianapolis my permanent home now for since the fall of 1998 when I moved up here from Nashville, TN to get married to my wonderful wife. Prior to that I've spent plenty of time here living with family during breaks from college or visiting family here since as far back as I can remember.

I've grown to love this city because there's so much offered on so many different levels and interests. Just in the quick research I've already done to begin writing here, I'm continually amazed about just how much is going on in Indianapolis. I feel like I could make it a permanent responsibility just to try to stay on top of all of it and experience it for myself.

My online persona goes by the name of "Bnpositive" and I've been blogging now on a variety of websites for quite awhile now. I've been blogging on my personal blog, =) Bnpositive's Blog, since 2004 and shortly after that started writing for b5media on a variety of their websites. Ever since then I've continued to expand my writing territory, which brought me to writing about Indianapolis at I Choose Indy and  Indianapolis.IsMyHome.com before that.

I look forward to writing about Indianapolis on a variety of topics here. Be sure and stop by and read more about this great city. We'll give you plenty of reasons to make sure you've got the write image of our city and what Indianapolis has to offer.

It is time to see it as POSITIVELY INDY!

If you haven't been to the Indianapolis Zoo yet to see the Dragons of Komodo exhibit then you need to make plans now as they'll be leaving the zoo after this week.

The two Komodo dragons will be leaving their downtown Indianapolis home this weekend. Their last day will be Sunday, September 6th.

My family went to the zoo a few weeks back and enjoyed our time, as always, with the animals. Visiting the zoo is one of our favorite things to do in Indianapolis. As fall weather starts making its appearance in our city, the weather couldn't be better to enjoy a stroll through different animal attractions and lovely, gardened areas.

You can get a video glimpse of the dragons by crawling on over to the VisitIndy.com website and watching their Doing Indy video podcast.

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.

IT'S ALMOST HERE! I've been waiting for what feels like an eternity and it's about to start up again. NFL pre-season games are already in full swing and teams are getting pumped for the upcoming games.

Indianapolis sports is taken seriously here in the city. The question at hand though is where's the best place to watch a Colts game? If it's an away game or if you're not one of the lucky ones with tickets to watch them live at Lucas Oil Stadium, where's the best place to enjoy the game with friends and food?

Let's hear it!

Where's the best place to watch a Colts game in Indianapolis?

I'm guessing one of BW3's Indianapolis locations would work, I'm sure there would be a heavy crowd at Scotty's Brewhouse downtown as well. They'll be opening their downtown Indianapolis location at 10 a.m. and serve breakfast for all Colts home games this season. I've heard quite a bit about the Blew Crew Sports Grill on the north side as well. Champps Downtown has loads of TV's, I'm sure that would work. My son loves sports, so I'm curious if there are any family friendly locations to watch the game.

Help me out and leave a comment on where you think the best place to watch a Colts game is this season. Even if you don't like football, what other location is the place to be to catch some Indianapolis sports in high-def goodness? It doesn't matter if it's in downtown Indianapolis or one of the surrounding areas. If it's a great place to watch the game, I want to hear about it!

Sometimes you just can't help it. There are going to be days when you just want to stay indoors. It could be raining, snowing, cold or hot. However, there are still plenty of things to do in Indianapolis that don't require you to be outside.

Recently my family and I went to a new place on the south side of town called The Incredible Pizza Company. It's located just off  U.S. 31, a few blocks north of County Line Road. They have a variety of the latest video games, indoor go-karts, bumper cars, miniature bowling and even black-light miniature golf. I was even surprised at the selection of food that's available. Your family can select from salad, pizza, Mexican, or home-style American and Italian. An interesting part of the The Incredible Pizza Company concept is it has a variety of dining rooms with different decor motifs: a high school gym, 50's diner, drive-in theater and relaxing family living room. It reminded me of the different themed dining options available at Walt Disney World.

If you're looking for an Indianapolis business closer to downtown, head to Jillian's. Bowling, arcades, pool tables and plenty of TVs provide more entertainment geared towards an older crowd. Jillian's requires kids to be with an adult at all times, and you must be 21 and older on weekends after 10 p.m.

Just northwest of downtown Indianapolis is Xscape, located at the Lafayette Square Mall near 38th street and I-65. Xscape is another 75,000 square foot indoor amusement park that has all the options provided by other locations and more, including laser tag and smaller amusement rides.

If you're on the northside of Indianapolis, Dave & Buster's has its entertainment facility in Castleton. There are numerous fun activities and attractions for the young and the old. Dave & Busters also has a great selection of food items that add to the experience. Similar to Jillian's downtown, Dave & Busters targets an older crowd, but is still very family friendly.

I love restaurant dining. Of course, I love eating. Period. But I particularly enjoy at least one of three things when I'm dining out.

1. Saving money
2. Eating with friends and family
3. Finding a local, independent restaurant to support

You can accomplish at least two of those options by stopping by the VisitIndy.com website and printing some of the coupons we have available. With the money you're going to save, you can invite some friends and family to join you!

We've got coupons for some of the best restaurants in downtown Indianapolis. At least half a dozen of them are located within short walking distance from the Indiana Convention Center!

Some of my favorites on the list are Claddagh Irish Pub, Shapiro's Deli, Scotty's Brewhouse, McCormick & Schmick's Seafood, Buca di Beppo and BARcelona Tapas Restaurant.

There are a few others I'm not as familiar with that I'm going to have to try out, such as India Garden Restaurant, Smokehouse on Shelby and The Taste of Tango.

You'll find free appetizers, desserts and other discounts  by using one of our coupons. So get out of the house, enjoy yourself and be Positively Indy!

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!

Golf is one of those things to do in Indianapolis that gives you a little bit of everything. If you like the outdoors, conversation with friends and a bit of a personal sports challenge, golfing is just about the perfect past time.

The Hoosier Caddy golf site helps you find the right course in your area of Indianapolis. It doesn't matter if you live in Indianapolis or travel here for business or pleasure, if you're looking for an Indianapolis attraction with golf at the center, then Hoosier Caddy will have the information you need. Being a local Indianapolis business also gives you the feeling of getting a great tip from a friend on where to play your next round of golf.

The Hoosier Caddy website provides maps, listings, photos and golfer reviews for courses all over the Hoosier state. If you're looking for golf in  Indiana, then you've scored a hole-in-one with Hoosier Caddy.

I have a couple of different connections to the folks behind Hoosier Caddy and my cousin and uncle both work for Buffer Park Golf Course on the south side. Everyone I've come into contact with has had positive things to say about what Hoosier Caddy has to offer for golfers in Indianapolis.

May your drives be straight, your putt count low and your birdies high in Indianapolis!

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.

I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad, but it's been an enjoyable process finding all the great places to eat out for lunch or dinner at restaurants in downtown Indianapolis.

In August, Devour Downtown is having their summer event where local restaurants provide great deals to encourage you to come in and give them a try. The event lasts from August 10-23. And be prepared because there are a ton of great participating restaurants in downtown Indianapolis! I've experienced 13 of the more than 30 restaurants and I can't wait to complete the package.

Greek, Italian, steaks, seafood, comfort food or cosmopolitan fare, it's all here.

If you're in town due to some Indianapolis travel, many of the restaurants featured are located in some hotels. If it's not located in the hotel, it's probably within easy walking distance. A compact and walkable downtown- one of the many things we like to brag about here in Indianapolis!

Great food! Great prices! Experience everything Indy has to offer that makes us Positively Indy!

One of the items I've always liked about Indianapolis is the ease of getting around and taking care of business in the city. Everything is nicely arranged with most streets intersecting at 90 degree angles and running like a gridline.

Sometimes though, you're looking for some fun and a break from the ordinary. You need to discover Massachusetts Avenue, or Mass Ave for short, for yourself. Mass Avenue always has an assortment of fun things to do in Indianapolis while you're here.

Mass Ave is lined with great little businesses that offer almost anything you could be looking for in a quick diversion from the normality of your day. Fabulous food and dining is available steps from wherever you may be. Artwork in small, independent galleries like the McFee Gallery and Studio and the Ruschman Art Gallery, which have works of art across a variety of media like paintings, sculpture and photography. Let's not forget the shopping either: toys, clothing, fudge, gifts, art and other collectibles you're not going to find any other place in Indianapolis.

Remember, you're getting away from the ordinary and venturing just northwest of downtown Indianapolis. You'll have a blast and you'll remember it the next time you need to get away. While you're there I'd recommend lunch at Yat's and then some delicious German fare at The Rathskeller.

Mass Ave has restaurants you won't find in any other city in the country, and they're all right here in downtown Indianapolis!

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

If you haven't heard, the DCI World Championships event is taking place in Indianapolis this weekend. A first for this year's event in Indianapolis will be the Fan Fair festivities taking place in White River State Park on Friday and Saturday.

The DCI Fan Fair is taking place at White River State Park, which is located on the west side of downtown Indianapolis at 801 West Washington Street. The DCI Fan Fair is completely free and open to the public. You can get up-close and personal to the different groups that will be warming up and preparing for their performances at Lucas Oil Stadium.

The DCI Fan Fair will be open on Friday from 12pm - 9pm and on Saturday from 8am - 9pm. There will be a variety of exhibitions and events along with the opportunity to purchase souvenirs to support your favorite corp. Vendors will also be available for a variety of food offerings as well.

The weather in downtown Indianapolis should be terrific through the weekend. Tickets for the quarterfinals and championship events are still available through Ticketmaster.

For an Indianapolis fan's look at what to expect from the events this weekend, visit Hoosierati site. They share their experience watching the Santa Clara Vanguard practice their show earlier this week at Eastern Hancock High School.

Broadway Across America has brought some great performances to Indianapolis like "Wicked" and "Mama Mia." Indianapolis has plenty of other theater groups  lining up some well-known and more obscure productions on their schedules.

• The Phoenix Theatre recently announced their 2009-2010 playbill which includes new, lower ticket prices. Performances will include "The Most Damaging Wound" and "The Housewives of Mannheim".
• Footlite Musicals will be hosting performances of "Aida," "My Fair Lady" and "Peter Pan" on their schedule for the rest of the year.
• Indianapolis Civic Theatre has announced productions of "Evita," "Wizard of Oz" and "Carousel."
• Indiana Repertory Theatre will be looking forward to "A Christmas Carol," "Love Letters" and "Around the World in 80 Days".
• Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre on the northside of Indianapolis has "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" waiting in the wings.
• The Theatre on the Square will be sure to serve up some performances further off the mainstream that will suit your tastes and expectations like the farce "America's Next Topbottom."

Be sure and visit each theater's website to see their full schedules. Most of the theaters all have a ticket package available. Some theaters even offer flexible package plans.

Whatever your preference, if you enjoy theater, there are many more options of things to do in Indianapolis. Add a great meal at one of the fabulous restaurants in Indianapolis and you can expect an encore performance with more Indianapolis events in store.

My family and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather on Sunday afternoon and visit the Indianapolis Zoo downtown. We hadn't been to the zoo since the new Dragons of Komodo exhibit opened and were excited to get outside and enjoy the animals and the beautiful weather.

Our family loves the zoo and we've enjoyed a family membership for a number of years. We take advantage of the Family + 2 membership package that allows us to take our entire family, plus two guests. The package includes admission to the zoo and White River Gardens as well as parking for the day.

There was a bit of construction taking place around the "Plains" and elephant habitat area. We were pleasantly surprised that the Indianapolis Zoo will be getting a brand new cheetah exhibit in this area in the spring of 2010. Judging by the pictures of the layout that's being created, this is going to be a fantastic addition to the zoo.

If you can't get to the zoo but want to check-in on the animals, you can also take advantage of the Indianapolis Zoo web cams. There are cameras available for the walruses, elephants, penguins, sea lions and rhinos.

If you're coming to Indianapolis on business and would like to visit the zoo, it offers group discounts available and facilities for hosting small meetings. What a great way to take a break from your normal surroundings at a business convention and get out and get a little wild yourself.

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

For the last few weeks I've been hearing about the lunch buffet available at BARcelona Tapas Restaurant in downtown Indianapolis. I'm regularly working downtown and enjoy trying and experiencing a new place to eat in the city. The fact that it's a buffet doesn't hurt anything either.

It's BARcelona Tapas Restaurant is located on the southeast corner of Delaware and Ohio Streets. Its tapas lunch buffet ($9.95) is well worth every penny. From a selection of fresh salads, to curried chicken salad, a seafood stew, roasted potatos and quite a variety of other hot dishes, you'll be sure to walk away from lunch with a full stomach and fond memories of your experience.

Tapas style service means that food is prepared to order and delivered to the table plates at a time, instead of delivering in traditional course style, or to the entire table at once. This way you can enjoy an authentic tapas evening that encourages sharing of plates, lots of gossip and sangria. 

 All new to me, and we didn't enjoy any wine with our meal today. On Sundays they offer a Sangria Brunch Buffet from 10:30am - 2pm and if you didn't get enough food during the week, you should plan on making it for this weekend event.

If you're downtown in Indianapolis and you're feeling like something filling and delicious for lunch, be sure to carve some time out for a nice relaxing meal at BARcelona Tapas Restaurant. You'll be glad you did and we're sure you'll be telling everyone else about your great experience in Indianapolis.

If your appetite is whetted, visit our website where you can download a coupon for 15% off your $20 purchase. That will have you covered for you and a friend's lunch. It's time for you to treat right?

This past weekend I celebrated my birthday and my wife surpised me with a night out in Indianapolis at a great restaurant with some great friends. I had no idea where we were going and my initial thoughts were sushi at Yokohama in Greenwood, or Greek at Santorini Kitchen in Fountain Square, just south of downtown Indianapolis. Although both of those businesses would have been perfect for just such an evening, I was wrong on both guesses.

We eventually arrived at Palomino Restaurant Rotisseria and Bar. We met two other couples and had a very enjoyable and long dinner. I treated myself to a 20oz Brick Oven Long Bone Ribeye for my meal, but we got things started with some calamari, red crab and artichoke dip, Portabella mushroom soup and bruschetta for appetizers.

After our fantastic meal, we dropped off our friends and ended up joining others for an impromptu late-night out in downtown Indianapolis at Howl at the Moon. Nightclubs aren't normally my destination of choice, but we had a great time with the World's Greatest Rock 'N' Roll Dueling Piano Show. The place was still packed at midnight and we sang and had fun until well after 2am before heading home and calling it a night.

If you're looking for something fun in Indianapolis, there's always something going on, whether it's a surprise dinner at a fantastic restaurant like Palomino or an impromptu, late-night visit to your favorite club.