by Lindsay Clark

Created on: March 26, 2009   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

For those of you coming from other worldwide destinations, Indianapolis seems like a barely noticeable bump on the map. For those of us coming from towns of 13,000, it's a Mecca of development. We inhabitants often make fun of Indianapolis and its available opportunities, holding it up to the same light as NYC to point and laugh, but we also get very testy when people come down on this city that actually has a lot that keeps us completely content.

I keep in my back pocket my favorite spots and events that would cause any outsider to come a-running to the Circle City, gems that altogether display how multi-faceted this city truly is. We are the crossroads, indeed. Visit the following destinations, and you will soon become an authentic Hoosier as you eat, drink, and play like a champ.

Yat's
Cajun creole, freshly made each day, doesn't seem like a uniquely Indianapolis type of fare, but Indianapolis doesn't really have a food style. We are a blend of every nationality on this spinning ball, and every once in a while a local joint pops up that showcases the dedicated, sophisticated, and multi-cultural taste reflecting that fact.

The frequent diners at this establishment are truly appreciated by the staff and get the kind of special treatment neighbors give neighbors (not to be too down home and cliche). The day their staple B&B (black beans and caramelized corn) was no longer available was a day to lose hope in the culinary efforts of mankind. Luckily that dark period didn't last long, and this favorite is now back on the blackboard menu. Put this on your "Must Consume" list.

The Slippery Noodle Inn
The superlatives: The oldest Bar in Indianapolis. One of the Best Blues bars in the Country.

What's this place actually like? Sit outside on the patio and enjoy the tasty bar food and drink while enjoying a part of downtown that feels more like a small town street corner. Sit inside and watch biker dudes smoke their Lucky Strikes, laugh about their daily trials, and smile at you when they realize you're watching them. Feel the warm embrace of their toothy grins and further suggestions of awesome bars in Indianapolis you should check out if you like this brand of watering hole. Harley guys are sweethearts.

John Dillinger was the typical 1930s bank robber/gangster, a notorious man who claimed Indianapolis as his hometown. He and his automatic-wielding posse used the west wall of this building for target practice; the slugs are still visible in the bricks today. During Prohibition,

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