Indy 500
Feb 3rd, 2006, 08:21 AM
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Indy 500
My adult son gave me 2 tickets to this year's Indy 500 as a Christmas present so naturally I'm taking him with me. It will be our fisrt time at this event. We are arriving Thursday morning and leaving the following Monday (I sure hope the race isn't postponed because of weather). I am aware that Thursday is qualifying for the Freedom 100 (does anybody know what type of event that is?) and Friday is a Carburation Day, the Freedom 100 race and the Pit stop competition. I also know there is a big Parade in downtown Indianapolis at Noon on Saturday. We also plan to visit the Car Museum at the track sometime during our trip.
Can anyone give us some suggestions of other intersting things to do while we are there. Also, we will be staying at a downtown hotel (sorry can't remember which one my son reserved rooms at) and we will have a rental car. We are looking for suggestions for great dining spots. Meals are my treat and money is not an issue. We both love good steaks so if anyone can give us the names of the best steakhouse in town that would be helpful. We both like seafood and italian.
Any other hints you might have about getting into/out of the Speedway (I'm pretty sure he got parking passes) would also be of interest.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Can anyone give us some suggestions of other intersting things to do while we are there. Also, we will be staying at a downtown hotel (sorry can't remember which one my son reserved rooms at) and we will have a rental car. We are looking for suggestions for great dining spots. Meals are my treat and money is not an issue. We both love good steaks so if anyone can give us the names of the best steakhouse in town that would be helpful. We both like seafood and italian.
Any other hints you might have about getting into/out of the Speedway (I'm pretty sure he got parking passes) would also be of interest.
Thanks in advance for the help.
Feb 3rd, 2006, 08:50 AM
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It sounds as if your son has everything taken care of! Hotel downtown, parking passes ~ you should be set!
If you go to the track on Friday and Saturday, as well as the museum, you will probably be set as far as entertaining yourselves during your visit. There will be so much going on downtown that you can simply walk out of your hotel and enjoy all of the festivities!
St. Elmo's (downtown) is an Indianapolis tradition for steaks, great drinks and shrimp cocktail. However, it will also be extremely busy! Alot of drivers and visiting hollywood types have been seen there during events. I would recommend calling to see if they take reservations!
There are so many other restaurants! One of my favorites is Palamino, which has a well-rounded menu, Oceanaire if you like Seafood, I'm sure you will get several other recommendations from other fodorites!
Have fun!
If you go to the track on Friday and Saturday, as well as the museum, you will probably be set as far as entertaining yourselves during your visit. There will be so much going on downtown that you can simply walk out of your hotel and enjoy all of the festivities!
St. Elmo's (downtown) is an Indianapolis tradition for steaks, great drinks and shrimp cocktail. However, it will also be extremely busy! Alot of drivers and visiting hollywood types have been seen there during events. I would recommend calling to see if they take reservations!
There are so many other restaurants! One of my favorites is Palamino, which has a well-rounded menu, Oceanaire if you like Seafood, I'm sure you will get several other recommendations from other fodorites!
Have fun!
Feb 3rd, 2006, 09:05 AM
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Thank you for those hints. We are both looking forwad to a fun weekend. I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that restaurants will be crowded that weekend and reservations (where accepted) are a must.
Feb 3rd, 2006, 09:15 AM
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Sounds like you've picked a good year for your first 500. They've shaken it up this year to try to recapture some of the old glory. For example carburetion day moved to Friday instead of Thursday for more of the holiday weekend feel. (By the way the cars haven't used carburetors for years. I'm not really sure what they do instead.)
Street side parking meters are only in effect from 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. You don't have to pay holidays either. That means you can park for free from Friday at 6:00pm until Tuesday morning at 7:00am. Rates in garages have almost doubled in the last year to the point of being ridiculous.
I've updated my following restaurant list. I've listed independent or small chain restaurants. There are more independent restaurant options on Massachusetts Ave. then downtown. Mass. Ave. (as the locals say) it's not far from downtown 5 or 6 blocks to the start of it. I've walked it many, many times.
Downtown
St Elmo's - www.stelmos.com
This is an Indy classic. Big aged steaks, beautifully prepared served by waiters in tuxedos. Famed for their horseradish laden shrimp cocktail which I love. However I don't care for it. The tables are so packed in you're having dinner with strangers. The food is poorly garnished. A $32 steak with a bit of wilted kale? You gotta be kidding! There's no béarnaise, mushroom or peppercorn sauce to go with your steak.
The navy bean soup that a friend of mine raved about for years is Campbells. Yes Campbells, I asked. The desserts are all high-end SaraLee products that anyone can buy from a SaraLee outlet these days. The food gets rated "ho-hum" by me which is probably why it appeals to so many Hoosiers.
Mo's a place for steaks - www.mosindy.com
This would be my pick if big-chunk-o-beef dining is necessary. This is Mo's second place. Their first restaurant is in Milwaukee. Béarnaise available for the steak, tablecloths, nicely spaced tables and well dressed waiters. In the Morton's tradition everything is huge.
Canterbury - www.canterburyhotel.com
Linens, Lenox china, waiters in tuxes, not crowded, smoking allowed only in the separate bar area the Canterbury's restaurant has very good food. I've really enjoyed their Sunday brunch. It's a real brunch with a special menu, not an all-you-can-eat affair.
Oceanaire - www.theoceanaire.com
Incredible seafood in a beautiful space. This is a small corporately backed chain. The local executive chef has a lot of leeway in the menu. The menu is printed fresh for every meal. The seafood on the menu is what was flown in that day. Everyone needs to like fish. On the menu for any meal will be only one chicken, one pork, one beef and maybe a vegetarian main course.
Palomino - www.palomino.com
Another small chain with an executive chef on site. I think the food is excellent and the space is gorgeous. As I recall lunch is without linens, dinner has them. Lots of oven-fired food options and a cream of portabella mushroom soup that is out of this world.
Dunaway's - www.dunaways.com
A little south east of down town this was the old Indiana Oxygen building. Food has improved and is quite good now. (It had slid for awhile) It's a pretty space, lots of interesting local photos.
The usual big chain suspects downtown are Morton's, Shula's and Ruth's Chris for steak, PF Changs for Chinese, McCormick & Schmicks for seafood and Hard Rock Café.
Massachusetts Avenue
Agio - www.agiorestaurant.net
Billed as "American Eclectic" their food leans a little to Italian. I've had some excellent meals there. The outdoor patio is very nice in pleasant weather.
R's Bistro - www.rbistro.com
Regina (the "R" in the bistro) likes to serve reasonably sized portions so a diner can actually eat dessert for a change. With only a beer and wine license I like to eat there. She changes the menu every week to reflect available products and seasons. If you love something on the menu you'll have to find out when it'll be on next or come back the next night.
After a few people gave me the "not getting my money's worth" speech I have to be careful who I take to this place. Mainly because I retaliate with the "haven't you gotten your money's worth more than enough times" speech.
Elements - 415 N. Alabama St
Stopped here for a light dinner a few months ago. I had roasted quail appetizer on a bed of beans. Skipped to a dessert of butternut squash crepe with a sage & orange sorbet. Both dishes were delicious and beautifully prepared. They only have a beer and wine license.
Scholar's Inn - www.scholarsinn.com
Mixed menu of some beef, pork and seafood. Pretty interior with very good food. One of the best Sunday brunches around. The real Sunday brunch too. The one with a special menu. Not a buffet.
Street side parking meters are only in effect from 7:00am to 6:00pm Monday through Friday. You don't have to pay holidays either. That means you can park for free from Friday at 6:00pm until Tuesday morning at 7:00am. Rates in garages have almost doubled in the last year to the point of being ridiculous.
I've updated my following restaurant list. I've listed independent or small chain restaurants. There are more independent restaurant options on Massachusetts Ave. then downtown. Mass. Ave. (as the locals say) it's not far from downtown 5 or 6 blocks to the start of it. I've walked it many, many times.
Downtown
St Elmo's - www.stelmos.com
This is an Indy classic. Big aged steaks, beautifully prepared served by waiters in tuxedos. Famed for their horseradish laden shrimp cocktail which I love. However I don't care for it. The tables are so packed in you're having dinner with strangers. The food is poorly garnished. A $32 steak with a bit of wilted kale? You gotta be kidding! There's no béarnaise, mushroom or peppercorn sauce to go with your steak.
The navy bean soup that a friend of mine raved about for years is Campbells. Yes Campbells, I asked. The desserts are all high-end SaraLee products that anyone can buy from a SaraLee outlet these days. The food gets rated "ho-hum" by me which is probably why it appeals to so many Hoosiers.
Mo's a place for steaks - www.mosindy.com
This would be my pick if big-chunk-o-beef dining is necessary. This is Mo's second place. Their first restaurant is in Milwaukee. Béarnaise available for the steak, tablecloths, nicely spaced tables and well dressed waiters. In the Morton's tradition everything is huge.
Canterbury - www.canterburyhotel.com
Linens, Lenox china, waiters in tuxes, not crowded, smoking allowed only in the separate bar area the Canterbury's restaurant has very good food. I've really enjoyed their Sunday brunch. It's a real brunch with a special menu, not an all-you-can-eat affair.
Oceanaire - www.theoceanaire.com
Incredible seafood in a beautiful space. This is a small corporately backed chain. The local executive chef has a lot of leeway in the menu. The menu is printed fresh for every meal. The seafood on the menu is what was flown in that day. Everyone needs to like fish. On the menu for any meal will be only one chicken, one pork, one beef and maybe a vegetarian main course.
Palomino - www.palomino.com
Another small chain with an executive chef on site. I think the food is excellent and the space is gorgeous. As I recall lunch is without linens, dinner has them. Lots of oven-fired food options and a cream of portabella mushroom soup that is out of this world.
Dunaway's - www.dunaways.com
A little south east of down town this was the old Indiana Oxygen building. Food has improved and is quite good now. (It had slid for awhile) It's a pretty space, lots of interesting local photos.
The usual big chain suspects downtown are Morton's, Shula's and Ruth's Chris for steak, PF Changs for Chinese, McCormick & Schmicks for seafood and Hard Rock Café.
Massachusetts Avenue
Agio - www.agiorestaurant.net
Billed as "American Eclectic" their food leans a little to Italian. I've had some excellent meals there. The outdoor patio is very nice in pleasant weather.
R's Bistro - www.rbistro.com
Regina (the "R" in the bistro) likes to serve reasonably sized portions so a diner can actually eat dessert for a change. With only a beer and wine license I like to eat there. She changes the menu every week to reflect available products and seasons. If you love something on the menu you'll have to find out when it'll be on next or come back the next night.
After a few people gave me the "not getting my money's worth" speech I have to be careful who I take to this place. Mainly because I retaliate with the "haven't you gotten your money's worth more than enough times" speech.
Elements - 415 N. Alabama St
Stopped here for a light dinner a few months ago. I had roasted quail appetizer on a bed of beans. Skipped to a dessert of butternut squash crepe with a sage & orange sorbet. Both dishes were delicious and beautifully prepared. They only have a beer and wine license.
Scholar's Inn - www.scholarsinn.com
Mixed menu of some beef, pork and seafood. Pretty interior with very good food. One of the best Sunday brunches around. The real Sunday brunch too. The one with a special menu. Not a buffet.
Feb 3rd, 2006, 09:22 AM
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The closer you park to the track the longer it will take you to get out. Some people like that. They actually grill out after the race waiting for the track to clear chatting with people around them.
I don't do that so now it's time for my "how not to sit in traffic" advice for any race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
From downtown Indianapolis take Indiana Ave. northwest to 16th street. Turn left on 16th getting into the far right lane of 16th. Drive west about 1.5 mile. Just over the White River bridge turn right onto Lafayette Rd. Head northwest up Lafayette Rd. about 1.5 miles. Just before 30th street turn left into a strip mall at a light. There's an American Vets there too.
Park at the back of the strip mall. From here it's a little over a 1 mile walk down 30th street to the north entrance to the track. Reverse the directions to get out. Doing this I've never sat still in my car more than 5 minutes. It can be quite a haul especially if your seats are on the south side of the track. I'd say around 4 miles round trip walking to the south side.
Feb 3rd, 2006, 09:45 AM
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Thanks Indytravel for some great restaurant tips and your parking seminar. I know what you mean by sitting in traffic. I went to the US Grand Prix at Watkin's Glenn about 30 years ago and at race end got into our car (parked very near our seats), moved about 100 feet than sat still for over an hour. All in all it took us three uours to get back to our motel which was less than 15 miles away.
Our seats are somewhere along the front straight opposite the pits and closer to pit exit (don't know if that's north/south/east/west).
Son did OK puting this package together. We are both race fans. I treated him and his brother to a day at the Mario Andretti Race School last summer (we all had a blast), so this is his way of paying me back.
Our seats are somewhere along the front straight opposite the pits and closer to pit exit (don't know if that's north/south/east/west).
Son did OK puting this package together. We are both race fans. I treated him and his brother to a day at the Mario Andretti Race School last summer (we all had a blast), so this is his way of paying me back.
Feb 3rd, 2006, 10:20 AM
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Sounds like your son has done an excellent job setting you up for a race weekend.
I've been going to races for years. If you have any questions, just ask.
The exit from the pits is just north of the first turn. That's the southwest corner of the track. (About as far as you can get from where I park.) I'll be a few hundred yards north of you at the entrance to the pits. Just south of the 4th turn.
Since you'll have wheels and mentioned Italian food there are 3 places I'll suggest. They're all less then 2 miles from downtown so close, but maybe not as busy race weekend.
Amici's- 601 East New York Street
This is one of my favorites. It's in an old storefront in the Lockerbie Square area. The building is creaky with uneven floors, the food is solid Italian and delicious. I almost always have the pasta with red sauce and chicken livers. It's nearly impossible to find a dish like that anywhere. Of course they have mostly normal Italian food.
Milano Inn www.milanoinn.com
This is an Indy tradition. Nice space, good food. I'd eat lunch there when I worked in the area.
Iaria's www.iariasrestaurant.com
Very near to the Milano Inn this is a small family run place. I particularly like their pizza. It is however a full service restaurant and bar not a pizza joint.
I've been going to races for years. If you have any questions, just ask.
The exit from the pits is just north of the first turn. That's the southwest corner of the track. (About as far as you can get from where I park.) I'll be a few hundred yards north of you at the entrance to the pits. Just south of the 4th turn.
Since you'll have wheels and mentioned Italian food there are 3 places I'll suggest. They're all less then 2 miles from downtown so close, but maybe not as busy race weekend.
Amici's- 601 East New York Street
This is one of my favorites. It's in an old storefront in the Lockerbie Square area. The building is creaky with uneven floors, the food is solid Italian and delicious. I almost always have the pasta with red sauce and chicken livers. It's nearly impossible to find a dish like that anywhere. Of course they have mostly normal Italian food.
Milano Inn www.milanoinn.com
This is an Indy tradition. Nice space, good food. I'd eat lunch there when I worked in the area.
Iaria's www.iariasrestaurant.com
Very near to the Milano Inn this is a small family run place. I particularly like their pizza. It is however a full service restaurant and bar not a pizza joint.
Feb 4th, 2006, 05:40 AM
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Just want to say my favorite restaurants downtown are Oceannaire and Scholars Inn. We go to Oceannaire for the variety of raw oysters and love Scholars Inn's Sunday brunch with half price mimosas.
