Visit Indy with Kids

So you're considering visiting Indianapolis on a little vacation and want me to convince you it will be worth those hours in the car or on a plane with little kids?

It will be.

I promise.

"But how on Earth can you make a promise like that?" you ask.

I'll tell you why.

Because when I moved to Indianapolis? I hated it. H-A-T-E-D it.

Over the last three years Indianapolis has grown on me, I dare say I have a crush on this city. I puff up a bit with pride when I call myself a Hoosier.

Three years ago I couldn't wait to get out. And now I'm so happy that we get to stay, and that I get to call Indianapolis my city.

Indianapolis has something to offer everyone. Museums rich in history such as the Indiana State Museum, the NCAA Hall of Champions and of course the worlds largest Children's Museum loaded with five floors of interactive fun. Indianapolis restaurants with everything from fried pickles to Foie Gras. Indianapolis hotels with everything from indoor water parks to train cars you can sleep in. Indianapolis is home to multiple sports teams ranging from baseball with the Indianapolis Indians to basketball with the Pacers. Colts Football to hockey with the Indiana Ice, and of course, the Indy 500 and iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Miles of green space where you can ride a bike, fly a kite or have a picnic. And my personal favorite? The Indiana State Fair. *swoon* We have priceless art at the IMA, dolphins at the zoo, and a culture all our own sprinkled throughout the city. Best of all? We have friendly people to back it all up.

Who am I?

Well hello, I'm Casey. My family (consisting of a husband and a daughter, currently four years old) moved here from Utah three years ago for my husband to attend Law School in downtown Indianapolis at IUPUI. He's since graduated and will be taking on a full time position at a firm here in Indy. I am lucky enough to be able to work from home as a freelance writer and sole awesomeness behind my personal blog, moosh in indy. My daughter and I have become Indianapolis explorers, heading out on new adventures each week, hoping to find the most fun thing to do in Indy that day.

So far? We've been pretty successful.

I would love for you to come visit my city. And through my words, the amazing things Indianapolis has to offer both visitors and locals alike I hope you too will become proud to call yourself an honorary Hoosier.

Welcome.

*As a part of blogging for this site, the ICVA does compensate a nominal fee to cover various admissions and other expenses.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis just announced their newest exhibit and partnership with National Geographic, "Treasures of the Earth" will bring artifacts and learning experiences revolving around real archaeological sites and discoveries.

(Insert squeals here from all the moms who spend countless hours at the museum and always get a little too excited when a new exhibit comes into town. Seriously, they should have a panel of moms to tell the truth about what it's like to spend HOURS and HOURS there. Like for starters, those little escape hatches out of the maze of mirrors? The ones that have claimed my dignity while chasing a small person in and out of them on multiple occasions?)

But I digress...

The exhibit, the first ever permanent exhibit National Geographic has partnered with, is set to open summer of 2011 in the space previously occupied by the aquarium, submarine and mummy. (Side note, that submarine also claimed my pride on more than one occasion.) So if you have been to the museum before you know it's a spectacular space with a bunch of potential.

To help ease the anxiety of the opening date being over a year away, the museum uncovered three mysterious crates, each with a clue as to what the new National Geographic Treasures of the Earth exhibit will include. Each one will be opened ceremoniously throughout the month of March with the first crate to be opened March 16 (The next March 23 and March 30th) at 10:30 am.

For video coverage of the announcement go here...

Otherwise, I'll see you Tuesday at 10:30!

It's a pretty grim and brown scene on the IMA campus, especially the Oldfields-Lilly Gardens.

As of yesterday the ravine garden looked like this.June of last year it looked like this.Now don't go think that just because it's barren and cold that the Oldfields-Lilly gardens aren't worth visiting. It is still a wonderfully serene place to walk or let your kids run around. Life is coming back to the gardens and it's beautiful.Not to mention a miracle after the winter we've all just been through.

From this...to this...hang in there, it's so close.

The gardens and grounds are open year round from dawn until dusk, are completely free to explore and beautiful in their own way no matter what the weather is like.

101 Dalmatians. My little kid. Me. Last night. Clowes Memorial Hall.

She loved it. Little kids dancing, bright flashy costumes, plenty of singing and the occasional real Dalmatian running across the stage.

I loved that she loved it. However, well. I'm no theater critic, but it kind of creeped me out. You see. The dogs were played by humans, the puppies played by kids. The dogs (humans) didn't really look like dogs. The Dalmatians (humans) were in spotted white clothes while the Scottish terrier was dressed in plaid. The afghan hound (human) was always carrying around an afghan, which is totally clever, but it left the five year old (and the people who came in late) confused.

So if the dogs are humans, it meant that the humans had to be bigger than the dogs. So the humans were on stilts. Which left them with very awkward gaits and feet. Strange feet.


Photo by 101 Dalmatians the Musical.

Anyway.

Maybe I'm just not very cultured. Or my imagination is sub par. Addie had dozens of questions about where the dogs were (they're human!) and why there were so many tall people (humans as humans!) I'd make sure your child has seen the animated Disney version of the movie before heading to the musical, it will avoid a lot of confusion. Also if you have a very sensitive child there is a lot of talk of killing, and skinning, and DEAD. There's also some loud noises and a car crash. Just be warned if you or your offspring are easily spooked.

Would I go again? Yes. For my little kid I'd do just about anything. She loved it and I loved spending the time with her, it was something unique to do together. The woman playing Cruella was amazing. The best part? Addie was able to meet one of the dogs from the show after wards. Totally worth waiting in line for 10 minutes.

One of the things I love about living in Indiana is that I can have a conversation with anyone based off of two things.

The Colts or the weather.

The older gentleman that helped me pick out a new doorbell button at Home Depot on Wednesday dived directly into weather talk.

I must be honest, since moving to my new house I don't check the weather. After seeing week long forecasts of cold overcast depression I became a weather pessimist.

But Henry in electrical restored my hopes. He said that if all goes well it could get up to 50 this Sunday.

50! That's bathing suit weather!

I can't let you pass a Sunday with gorgeous weather by, so I'm going to demand you welcome this Sunday with Brunch up at Trader's Point Creamery. I won't be able to make it to a Sunday brunch there due to personal reasons so I've instructed anyone who will listen to go to their Sunday brunch and report back to me immediately.

I can't even read the Sunday brunch menu offerings without my mouth salivating.Slow cooked Egg Scramble with Capriole Goat Cheese and local Shitake Mushrooms, Eggs Benedict with Bacon, Belgian Waffles, Mimosas, Yogurt Fruit Parfaits...

Trader's Point Creamery is located in Zionsville, Northwest of downtown Indianapolis. Brunch is from 9 am to 3 pm and reservations are STRONGLY recommended.

You reporting back to me on Monday is demanded. (Have you already been? Then report in the comments below. STAT!)

Now get out and soak up that vitamin D in the sunshine and in the milk!

I've previously instructed parents to take one for the team and go to live action kid's shows for the kids. FOR THE KIDS I SAY!

Sometimes Broadway takes pity on us parents and produces a Broadway show that is both enchanting to little people and entertaining to the big people.

And not to be all me, me, me but the upcoming Broadway performance of 101 Dalmations taking place next week at Clowes Memorial Hall on the Butler University campus means a lot to our family.

This is Katie. She was my dad's dog when Addie was born, she's gone now but before she left Katie and Addie became best friends.

This is Addie dressed up as Katie for Halloween.Our house is littered with Dalmations. It's her favorite dog.

You see why this performance is so special to us?

It can be just as special to your family too, if you go that is.

The show features both real dalmations and little dancing people dressed up as dalmations.

(photo from 101 Dalmations the Musical Flickr)

It should be really fantastic.

The show runs Tuesday March 9th through Sunday March 14th.

The Olympics are over.
In my head I already have Addie signed up (in my head) for 5 am skating lessons so she can make her Olympic debut in 2022.

One of my best friends and I sat on my couch last week completely mesmerized by curling. It's so dumb, in her words "When cornhole and bowling collide." And yet it's huge! Curling! Rocks! The seriousness of it. For a sport that we make so much fun of we watched it for an awfully long time.

And the speed skating? I've always loved speed skating, it's fast, it can get ugly and all the spandex, hello?

Let's talk hockey. Woo Hoo Canada! Do you feel cheated by the USA Silver? Think you could do better?

Well guess what?

You can learn how to play hockey right here in Indianapolis. You can also learn how to speed skate. And if you're really feeling it? There's a Circle City Curling Club. (Who's interested?)

You can also sign your little girls and boys up for 5 am ice skating lessons with some amazing teachers.

But where? WHERE CASEY?

In downtown Indianapolis, at the Indiana/World Skating Academy.

The Olympics may be over on TV, but I'll bet you had no idea you could start DOING instead of watching, right here in the Circle City.

I could wax poetic about the evolution of Barbie in my life. About my first Barbie (she was an ice skater who has a skirt that she could wear in three different ways) or about Addie's Barbie birthday party. You know, the one where I made a cake that looked just like the Barbie dress she got from grandma? I could also tell you how Addie and I have been known to hunker down on the playroom floor and play Barbies for hours. (I am responsible for their hair.)

Or I could just show you pictures from our afternoon at Barbie: The Fashion Experience at the Indianapolis Children's Museum and let them do the talking (and catwalking.)
Thinking it's just for little girls?

Wrong.
That's my husband and child running Barbie headquarters.

And this is my husband designing a dress for Barbie. On a pink stool.Barbie: The Fashion Experience will be at the Children's Museum through February 2011.

I told you to go greenhouses and gardens in Indianapolis to soothe your winter sun starved soul.

I went myself only to find them closed and was forced to devour Indy's best comfort food.

I am not a quitter. I went back on Saturday (after checking the hours online) to White River Gardens to find these...

It was warm and humid and lush and green and alive and fresh and magical and perfect.

We sat. We breathed deeply. We can make it through the next two months.

Tropical Adventure at White River Gardens is going on now through March 14th.

For the complete set of photos I took go here.

Remember...

Inside...
Outside...

Did you know that the big monument down on the circle is called the Soldiers and Sailors Monument? Did you know you can go up inside it? And that it actually has a completely remodeled observation deck up top? AND that it's one of the only places you can get a killer view of Indianapolis that doesn't require a plane? (So there's an observation deck in the City County Building, but as I've said before, that building is where happiness goes to die.)

My little family spent part of Saturday downtown when we walked past the sign saying the observation deck was open until 5:30 pm. When you go in the tiny entrance door you'll be informed that it's $2 to take the elevator up or free to take the 338 stairs up.

Now you have a decision. Go ahead, look up the elevator shaft, it's a long long way. That $2 doesn't seem so steep now does it? But here's the thing, the elevator? IS TINY. With glass walls, so if you did happen to plummet to your death you would be forced to watch. (*ahem* I may have recurring elevator nightmares.) And even if you take the elevator you still have 48 steep narrow and winding stairs to climb to get to the very top.

If you go with the free stair option you're in for a trip. It's a lot of stairs, and they get narrower as you climb. But you'll get to meet fellow stair climbers and no one will look at you funny when you get to the top sweaty and panting.

Cody and Addie took the stairs, Addie is a champ. She went up and down all of those stairs by herself (she's 5.) Cody said his quads were burning by the end but it had worked off the chocolate we had eaten just before. I took the elevator simply because I was still recovering from an upper respiratory infection and winding myself climbing stairs didn't seem like what the doctor ordered.

No matter which way you decide to go up, it's a popular spot for old and young alike. The new observation tower isn't nearly as crampy and dingy as the one it replaced and as long as you don't have any claustrophobia issues? It's a trip worth taking. (Just don't consider taking it with a stroller, because that for sure is never going to happen.)

This one is dedicated to all you lovely Midwestern moms I've met over the last four years. To all the big deal moms in Dayton, all the Yanni loving moms in Cincy, the derby moms in Luhlvle (Louisville), the Chambana moms, the northern Indiana moms and the Windy City moms.

Let's not mince words, the weather sucks where you are too.

Vacations and getaways are not easy to do with little people in school and airfare costing money. So while I cannot offer you a beachy fantastic wonderland I can offer you respite from another weekend holed up in your house staring at each other.

First I offer you the Holiday Inn Caribbean Cove hotel. A water park, IN a hotel. Connected! One in the same! Slides! Climate controlled! No laundry or making beds! You're enticed, I know you are.

Second I offer you THE Children's Museum. You've all said you've been here, and that you want to come back. WELL COME BACK! Five levels of indoor fun and education, winter will practically speed right past you while in the mystical wonderland of dinosaurs, mazes, carousels and frog ponds. Also currently home to Barbie and Bob the Builder. (Can you visit? YES YOU CAN!)

Third I present you with the Indiana State Museum and its IMAX screen. (So truthfully I have to double up on the Dramamine to enjoy an IMAX show but there's plenty of you out there with stomachs of steel who can truly enjoy seventy foot whales spewing their blowholes at you.) Not to mention that if you buy one full priced admission to an IMAX show through March 11th you can stay for the second show for free. (I'll bring the Dramamine.)

Yeah, the weather isn't going to get any better for a lot of us for a couple more months, but I say one can never underestimate the power of a change of scenery and a weekend together as a family.

We'd be more than happy to have you visit us and we'll let you keep a lot more money than that Orlando place would, and for one weekend? Promise we'll be just as much fun.

xo-Indianapolis.

I decided to take my own advice Tuesday after dropping my mom off at the airport and head indoors to the pseudo-summer wonderland that is White River Gardens. Guess what? Closed. So we drove ten minutes South to Garfield Park Conservatory, it's a park! Parks never close in daylight! Wrong. The road leading to the conservatory wasn't even plowed, which led me to think if no one has checked on the plants who's to say there's not a whole Little Shop of Horrors scene playing out in there?

So going indoors to warmth, greenery and humidity was not an option.

However going indoors to warmth, carbs and possible frosting was totally an option.

It's winter, it's in our nature to hoard food, to pack it on for a long winter's nap. I know someone out there is tsk tsking me, shaking their head saying that it's people like me that are to blame for the nations obesity problem. To you I say, come, let me show you how a caramel iced fluff filled bar from Long's Bakery can soothe a sun starved soul.

So yes, first is Long's Bakery. Full of women who call you "hun" and "darlin." They only take cash and there's certainly no frills about the place. However, I have never taken anyone to Long's who hasn't made that ultimate of all yummy noises and eaten more pastries than any proper lady should.

Second is Scotty's Brewhouse. Good old comfort food including fried pickles and beer. Fried pickles could be the cure to PMS, pregnancy cravings and depression all in one. (So maybe not the cure, but they certainly take the edge off.)

Third, Shapiro's Deli. Kind of like the lunch line in elementary school, only in this line you get to choose whatever you want and it's all going to be good. No one's going to judge you if you heap two slices of pie on your plate, bypass the salads and go straight for the pastrami on rye. (Which is exactly what I do every. single. time.)

Fourth, The Old Spaghetti Factory. The best kind of comfort food. Carbs served with a side of carbs followed by ice cream. Sure, there's healthier options here, but c'mon, it's in the name. Have some carbs. Go home. Take a nap. Winter's almost over.

Fifth is India Garden in downtown Indianapolis and their lunch buffet. Buffets are the balm to a troubled soul. No one telling you how many vegetables to eat or what kind of rice goes with what. Indian food has the gift of warming you up from the inside out, sometimes a little too warm if you're not careful on the curry combinations.

Sixth, South Bend Chocolate Cafe. Yes, they serve sandwiches. But it's called a "chocolate cafe" which in my mind means if you want to have a bowl of chocolate ice cream topped with raspberry truffles chased with hot chocolate you are more than welcome.

Not only does burying my winter woes in delicious fare make me appreciate my stretchy pants all that much more, it reminds me that warmer days are ahead. Days where I can make up all this gluttony with fresh vegetables from the City Market. And most of all, days where fried pickles aren't my only option, yes, I'm talking to you Indiana State Fair. I see you there at the end of summer, and I wait for you. *kiss kiss*

So tell me, what are your favorite places to hunker down and chow your woes away?

My husband and I are not foodies. We're certainly not oenophiles and generally going out to eat for us involves places that hand out crayons with the menus even if our daughter is not with us.

We like good food and occasionally we clean the cheerios out of the back seat, leave the kid with a responsible adult and head out to a grown up dinner. Take this last weekend, Valentine's Day, the day of forced romance and love. My mom was in town (built in babysitting!) so we headed downtown for some forced romance festivities.

When Cody and I first came to Indianapolis over four years ago to tour the law school we ended up staying at the Hilton in downtown Indianapolis, one of the restaurants in the hotel is McCormick & Schmick's restaurant. We didn't have the chance to eat there while on our tour so last Saturday night was our first trip to McCormick & Schmick's after hearing some good reviews from friends.

Our server said that the menu is printed twice a day to keep it updated with what was available and in season. There were plenty of choices (as long as you like fish) and our server ended up making the final suggestion for me, the stuffed salmon (nom nom.)

It was pretty busy being February 13th, our server said it was the one of the busiest nights of the year. For us it didn't feel overwhelmingly busy, but the timing was totally off. Our calamari appetizer (which yum) came out quickly (yay!) but our dinners came out just as quickly (boo.) Cody's wasn't cooked properly but he's not the type to complain. We figured it's because they were rushed and wanted to get our dinners out at the same time (and maybe to get us out of there to accommodate the growing group of waiting people in the lobby.) Our reservation was at 5:45 and we were done with our dinner at 6:05. This is where things slowed down. Dessert (a meringue shell filled with lemon curd and kiwi, YUM YUM) didn't come out until 6:30 and by the time we paid and left it was close to seven. Thankfully we liked each other so the long stretches without food were enjoyable.

Their bar was impressive, I have a feeling they could make drinks the rest of the world hasn't even thought of. The staff was friendly and knew their stuff. The food (aside from Cody's undercooked lobster) was tasty. The ambiance was lovely, not too loud, not too dark.

If you're just a couple of parents who like fish and want to go out for a tasty meal where you feel like grownups I can totally suggest McCormick & Schmick's, however I'm going to warn you not to go on a busy night, which should seem like common sense but let's face it, after you get the babysitter taken care of, say tearful goodbyes to little people and finally make it out the door just the two of you? Stuff like "busiest night of the year" can kind of slip your mind.

BlogHer '07, Chicago. Navy Pier. Fantastic place to hold a conference but the closest hotel was a half mile hike away in the middle of July. I still have scars.

BlogHer '08, San Francisco. Equally lovely place to hold a conference but the venue was so expensive that we were all left eating muffins and day old sandwiches. You put that many women in close proximity and we need protein.

BlogHer '09, Chicago Sheraton. LOVELY VENUE. But everyone was always taking off to go somewhere else, sponsors stole people away and there were parties all up and down Michigan Ave. which led to either blisters or expensive cab rides.

BlogHer '10, NYC. Oof. Sure it's NYC! But it's SO expensive. AND IN AUGUST? You think people are actually going to want to hang around some hotel when there's a WHOLE CITY TO SEE? Especially people who have never been there before. Sure, I get why you're doing it, but I'm not entirely pleased.

Let's discuss BlogHer '11. We all know it's going to happen and I am going to make my case to have it happen here in Indianapolis.

Getting Here-Indianapolis is within decent driving distance of at least half of America, trust me, I've had friends drive down from Toronto and all the way up from Nashville. Not to mention that once people drive here there's no $65/night parking fees. We also have the only BRAND! SPANKING! NEW! airport (since 9/11) in the United States. It is a dream to get in and out of. A DREAM I SAY. If you want a first impression? Fly into Indy, you'll be impressed, promise.

Staying Here-We have so many hotels. Lovely hotels. The Westin, The Marriott, soon a J.W. Marriott (opens early 2011!), The Conrad, a Hilton. All name brand hotels that are not dirty and dank with years of people passing through. Not to mention hotels here will run you significantly less than hotels in NYC, Chicago or San Francisco.

The Conference-We have a huge HUGE conference center. It's being added onto and renovated at this moment as a I type. It's clean, it's in the middle of downtown and it's used to hosting huge events (GenCon, FFA, IU Graduations, The Black Expo...)

Getting Around-Almost every single hotel in Indianapolis is connected via sky way to the Conference center. No trudging around outside in heels. The conference center is also connected to a mall, A REAL MALL, where emergency essentials can be purchased at a decent price (I'm looking at you NYC.) Not to mention the food court and the ArtsGarden where attendees can hang out and have a little quiet time with each other enjoying the beauty of the city.

Night Life-Indianapolis stays hopping even after dark. The city doesn't shut down at 5 o'clock, it only gets better, plenty of restaurants and bars and clubs are within walking distance to whatever hotel you choose, big city fun without the cost or the overwhelmingness.

Stuff to See-Some women are going to bring their kids, did you know we have the world's largest children's museum? Other women are going to bring their husbands. We have more sporting venues (including the NCAA Hall of Fame and the Indy 500 track) than almost any other American city. We also have the most war memorials second only to DC. People want to go for a morning run? Right in the middle of the city is the Canal walk, a mile and a half of safe, vehicle free track to run on, walk on, take pictures of or sit by.

We are a new city, sure we've been around for a long time, but we've risen up and taken pride in where we're at and what we have to offer. As a three year veteran of BlogHer I can say with absolute confidence that Indy will not disappoint. (And will also leave more money in attendees' and your pockets...which never sucks.)

Let's discuss shall we?

My husband is an attorney and as an attorney he sometimes has to go to the City County Building. Yesterday our little kid was in preschool and he asked me to come with him to record something and then we would have lunch afterward.

I have to say that the City County Building is where happiness goes to die.

I understand that the people working there are doing amazing things for our city and without them people wouldn't be able to get married, child support wouldn't be paid and the Mayor would have to set up office on the corner of Meridian and Market (given our current weather I think Mayor Ballard appreciates his 28th floor office.)

We made it out (maybe I was the only one considering surviving the busy elevators equal with trench warfare...) and headed across the street to a place I know well in the summer, but tend to overlook in the winter.

The City Market.


photo by Monroedb1

It's not nearly as bustling in February as it is on Wednesdays in the summer months but the food and the atmosphere is no less spectacular. Hit up the Mexican counter if you want to have a party in your tummy, I suggest their rice and their cheese sauce. However there are plenty of other places to grab a quick lunch and escape the cold and busyness of the city streets. (My best friend is partial to the Greek food.)

The winter market still takes place indoors on Wednesday afternoons through April, which is when the fun really begins.

If you're a city employee that spends regular time at that tall building across the street? Meet me at the City Market and let me buy you a cookie, you are a stronger person than I am.

Hey Indianapolis! Does this look familiar?

For some reason this winter has been the dreariest I have ever experienced. It even led me to buy one of those fake sunlight lamps that I bake in front of for a while several times throughout the day. And if the sun dares to peek through for even a moment? I'm lying in the sunny patch on my floor like a very large sun starved lizard.

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm not part bear because the idea of curling up in a ball and sleeping until this weather is gone? IS AWFULLY APPEALING.

But alas, life must go on, dreary damp weather or not. So with that I give you some pretty places to be. Places to remind you that warmth and green and color will return soon enough to our dreary Midwest sadland.

First? Garfield Park Conservatory. About ten minutes South of downtown Indianapolis and free you can escape here on your lunch break to enjoy the Koi or just breathe in some humid air that is well above freezing. Feel free to walk around and around and around until you've convinced yourself that cloudy skies will pass and green will come again.



Also downtown but not free (unless you have a membership which if you have kids hello you should) is White River Gardens and the zoo. I'm shocked at how many people frequent the zoo but never make the two minute walk over to White River Gardens. Similar to Garfield Park you can walk around in this warm lush oasis as well until you feel refreshed. Also? You think the zoo is just for sunny weather? Head into the deserts pavilion and you'll be pushing lizards off rocks just so you can feel the sweet sweet warmth of dry heat (I hail from a desert originally, so that dry heat is like a gentle massage to my chilled bones.)



Last and also free is the IMA and Lilly Gardens, now the outdoor gardens may not be all that fantastic, but there's always the greenhouses. Full of orchids and lovely things that bloom. If you have longer to wander, head over to the IMA and imagine yourself in some of the paintings. With the last few weeks I swear I can feel the warmth radiating off the pictures of our beach vacation. Priceless works of art are no different to a sunshine starved soul.

I come to you as a seasoned veteran of kiddie shows. Some involving ice skates, some involving trampolines and all of them involving sequins.

Our first "show" was the circus. Addie fell asleep by the end of it.



There were a few puppet shows and plays sprinkled in here and there, we also went back to the circus, but the next big show was Sesame Street Live. Elmo, Cookie Monster, the whole gang. I hate to admit it but I'm pretty sure the only person who liked it more than me was my friends two year old (she's in THAT Elmo phase, every parent knows of the Elmo phase I speak of.)

We then hit up The Wiggles. Wow. The Wiggles. Really there are no words for The Wiggles live and in the flesh except "Hot Potato Hot Potato!" (And others, but let's keep this family friendly, the point is my friend and I survived with battle stories and Addie and her little friend loved it.)

To tell the truth I was a little bummed I was out of town when The Imagination Movers came through Indy, that Smitty, always thinking.

We did hit up Disney on Ice Celebrations. Aside from the fact our tickets were stinkers, I managed to get a little teary at all the Disney Magic.

Why do I tell you all of this? Because we are the parents. Sometimes we have to do things for our kids that make us want to tear our ears out. Other times we do things more because we want to do them but we have the excuse of "OH MY KID TOTALLY WANTS TO DO THAT." (For example, I could watch Princess and the Frog over and over and over...but I don't, because I'm almost 30. And almost 30 year olds sitting alone in theaters crying over dead cartoon bugs is not really healthy. So I bring along the five year old and balance is restored.)

Whether Curious George is your thing or not, your kids are going to love this new Curious George Live show that will be going on at the Murat Theater Friday February 5 through Sunday the 7th. I consider myself a bit of an expert with kids shows at the Murat and I can safely say that anywhere in the balcony is the place to be. So whether you consider a singing monkey equal with Harry Connick Jr. serenading you or you rank it right up there with bamboo under your fingernails...take it from this survivor...DO IT FOR THE KIDS.

Remember Richie Rich? The kid who had everything and the kid who all kids wanted to be? Well it just so happens that now we can all pretend to be Richie Rich for a day (or you know, however many you want to go) at Xscape on the Northwest side of Indianapolis. (Attached to Lafayette Square Mall right off of I-65. You've probably driven by it. IT'S HARD TO MISS.)

Anyway, in case you haven't noticed the weather 'round these parts is not exactly worthy of any praise, so last Saturday we gave Xscape a try. We got there at about 11:30 and finally left at about 6. It was a good day. (It also didn't begin to get busy until about 5 which was nice.)

You pay a flat admission fee which includes a play area and bounce house for little people, an all you can eat buffet (mostly pizza, and it's not bad for a buffet.) and access to all the games and rides. Now each ride and game is an additional fee, anywhere from $.50 (like skee ball) to $5.00 (goKarts, which are TOTALLY worth $5.) When you pay your admission fee you can have money loaded onto a card that will give you access to all the games, attrations and rides (bowling, bumper cars, laser tag, mini golf, any arcade game you can imagine) as long as you don't run out of credit on your game card you can play as long as you want.

There's movie theaters where you can eat your lunch (or lunch and dinner in our case). It was clean, well maintained and the staff was amazingly friendly. (Honestly, we were surprised.) If you have a larger family it could get a little expensive so look out for and take advantage of their weekly specials. [Like Match Play Monday, they'll double the purchased credit on your card up to $25 (for $50 total.)]

There was also free face painting when we went as well, which pretty much sealed the deal on awesome for our five year old.

There are 6 malls in Indianapolis that I have opinions on.

Metropolis is out on the West side. It's an outdoor mall. Eesh. BUT, here's why we go to this mall. Big Old Navy, ULTA (makeup/beauty store-looove.) Panera (free wi-fi!), Cold Stone and a fantastic movie theater (Rave.) There's a playground which isn't fantastic and it's not protected from the elements but it can be a nice little break for the little people. There's also a Target, Kohls and Chick-Fil-A right across the street along with plenty of other businesses.

Greenwood Park Mall is down South. This was the one we used to go to the most before we moved. It has pretty much everything. Highlights? Sephora. Von Maur, HUGE JC Penney (plus a JC Penney Home), one of my favorite stores ever, Fossil, a Cheesecake Factory and nearby is a Bed Bath and Beyond and a Best Buy. If you're in town for some major shopping Greenwood is the area to head to, most everything you need is right along 31 (or East Street.) Greenwood Park Mall also has an indoor playground which is a lifesaver if you have little people.

Circle Centre Mall is right downtown. It certainly has fewer stores but it's a great place to wander around while waiting for a dinner reservation or show. There's currently a Nordstrom but there's rumors of it moving. A big H&M, Cinnabon, and right across the street is The Old Spaghetti Factory. Also attached is the Indianapolis Artsgarden, a big glass bubble where you can bring your lunch and enjoy lunchtime concerts year round.

Castleton Square Mall is on the upper Northeast side of the city right off the 465. This is the one we go to the most now, big, has most every store including a Disney Store, a big Sears, and a huge Macy's. It can get a little hairy getting around the Castleton area but there is a lot available in the area including a Trader Joe's and Costco. Castleton Square has an indoor playground in the food court. By far the best for little kids.

A little west off the 465 is Keystone at the Crossing, or the "Fashion Mall." Or as I like to call it "The Fancy Mall." For kids there's a few coloring tables spread throughout but no playground. This is the mall you go to on girls night out. Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Bebe, White House Black Market, Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, the only Apple store in the city, Pottery Barn, Teavana, J. Crew, Janie and Jack, Sephora...do I need to keep going? There's also a Cheesecake Factory and a Crate and Barrel. Oooh, Crate and Barrel. Across the street is an ULTA and the mall is surrounded by plenty of tasty tasty restaurants, in fact Keystone at the crossing probably has the most delicious smelling parking lot in the nation.

If you keep going North there's Clay Terrace. Another outdoor mall, similar to Circle Centre, where it's more of a place to hang out rather than a place to do some serious shopping. The only reason I've really headed that far up is for Sur La Table, the most spectacular cooking store IN. THE. WORLD. Also up here is a Whole Foods.

Hey, I like to shop. For those of you who also like to shop? Join me. For those of you who don't like to shop? Hopefully I did you a favor and gave you a clue as to which mall to go to when you have to go out and shop.

*ahem* Pardon the smoking ears but I just so happened to read an article today that included the sentence:

"Indianapolis is the most boring, nondescript and generally awful large city in the United States.  No one is excited to go there..." (source)

Now the whole article is in reference to something about World Cup Soccer and Indianapolis being included on the list of possible host cities for 2018. The writer is mostly ticked off that Indy was chosen as a possible candidate over Chicago.

Now don't get me wrong. I do love to go to Chicago every now and again. But it's expensive, hard to navigate and the traffic? Bleh. I could also put in my two cents about other cities he lauds but, hi, I'm Casey and I'm the bigger person.

What probably happened is Mr. Duffy came here years ago, before the city realized what amazing possibility it had. Almost every American city goes through a rebirth at some point and every city has those awkward growing pains and uncomfortable teenage years.

Indy is emerging from those years as a city to be reckoned with.

My husband could be a lawyer in any city in America, but we chose to stay in Indy. We also had other law schools to choose from, two of them in the cities that Mr. Duffy *thinks* are better than Indianapolis.

We still chose Indy.

And yes, it took me some time to fall in love with this city, it's no secret that I hated it when I first got here. But I gave it a chance. And this city has rewarded me a hundred times over.

Mr. Duffy? I invite you to come to Indy. I'll show you around personally. I'll feed you some of the best food you've ever had, show you some of the best sporting venues and museums in America and I'll introduce you to some of the nicest people the Midwest has to offer.

I realize you have a right to your own opinion. But eesh. Come to Indy, bring your family. Promise we can change your tune.