Arts and Entertainment

Indianapolis offers a variety of performing arts, from mainstream musicals to thought-provoking dramas. Most are in the downtown area in historic venues, within easy walking distance of many hotels. A five-block area along Massachusetts Avenue, just northwest of downtown, has become known as the arts district. It's home to several theaters (the Murat, American Cabaret Theatre, Theatre on the Square and the Phoenix Theatre), as well as a variety of restaurants and bars and some shops.

Dance American Cabaret Theatre

401 E. Michigan St., Indianapolis. Phone 317-631-0334. Toll-free 800-375-8887. Mainstream original musical revues often featuring foot-stepping tunes from particular eras or from particular composers. Inside the historic Antheneum,

Ballet Internationale Indianapolis

September-April. 502 N. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. Phone 317-637-8979. The state's premier ballet company performs at the Murat Theatre (a stunning structure modeled after an Islamic mosque).

Dance Kaleidoscope

4600 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis. Phone 317-940-6555.

This 10-member professional dance troupe is Indiana’s best in contemporary dance, trained in modern and classical ballet arts.

Music Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra

32 East Washington St., Indianapolis. Phone 317-262-1100. One of the country’s premier orchestras, the Indianapolis Symphony performs in the splendid historic Hilbert Circle Theatre on Monument Circle.

Verizon Wireless Music Center

May-September. Ticket prices vary by performance. 12880 E. 146th St., Noblesville (about 30 minutes north of downtown), Indianapolis. Phone 317-249-2710. During the summer months, this 220-acre/89-hectare amphitheater offers outdoor concerts ranging from famous classical performers to contemporary pop stars

Opera Indianapolis Opera

250 E. 38th St., Indianapolis. Phone 317-283-3531. The state’s largest opera company performs four operas each season at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University and also tours statewide.

Theater Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre

9301 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis. Phone 317-876-0504. Enjoy a meat-and-potatoes-style buffet while you watch Broadway productions. Popular with tourist groups. Indiana Repertory Theatre

140 W. Washington St., Indianapolis.

Phone 317-635-5277. Drama, comedy, classic and contemporary professional regional theater featuring actors from across the country. Indianapolis Civic Theatre

1200 W. 38th St., Indianapolis. Phone 317-924-6770. Founded in 1914, this is the largest professionally managed community theater in the city.

The Phoenix Theatre

749 N. Park Ave., Indianapolis. Phone 317-635-7529. Housed in a charming, 100-year-old former church, this is the city's only professional theater dedicated to contemporary, issue-oriented works.

Theatre on the Square

627 Massachusetts Ave., Indianapolis. Phone 317-637-8085. A professionally managed community theater that performs original, contemporary pieces. Nestled among art galleries and restaurants.

Other Options The Murat Center

502 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis. Phone 317-231-0000.

This breathtaking multipurpose facility features a 2,500-seat performing arts theater and brings in major concerts and Broadway shows.

Sports

In recent years, Indianapolis has become something of a sports capital by offering more than top auto races. Downtown venues have hosted such events as the NCAA Final Four games and the Olympic Trials. The city also supports professional teams in football, minor-league baseball and the state's first love, basketball.

Auto Racing Indianapolis Motor Speedway

4790 W. 16th St. (west of downtown), Indianapolis.

Phone 317-484-6700. About 400,000 people head to the speedway on Memorial Day weekend for the Indianapolis 500. About the same number fill the stands each August for the Brickyard 400 NASCAR race, which debuted in 1994. The U.S. Grand Prix, held each September, drew the largest crowd in modern Formula One history when it premiered in 2000. Tickets for the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 traditionally sell out well in advance, although they can usually be obtained through scalpers (legal in Indiana).

Baseball Indianapolis Indians

Corner of West and Maryland streets, downtown, Indianapolis.

Phone 317-269-3542 for tickets. Named by Sports Illustrated as the “best minor league park in the nation," Victory Field is home to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. The 13,500-seat stadium also has a lawn and picnicking area that holds 2,000 more fans. April-August

Basketball Indiana Fever

125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis.

Phone 317-917-2500. For tickets, phone 317-917-2727. Indiana's WNBA franchise began play in 2000. Games are in Conseco Fieldhouse; season runs May-August. Very child- and family-friendly..

Indiana Pacers

November-April.. 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis. Phone 317-917-2500. For tickets, phone 317-917-2727. Indiana's NBA franchise plays in Conseco Fieldhouse,

Football Indianapolis Colts

Season runs August-December.. 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. Phone 317-297-7000. For tickets, phone 317-262-3389. The Colts play home games at the RCA Dome, adjacent to the Convention Center. Tickets are available at the box office as well as through Ticketmaster.

Shopping Traditional shoppers will like the polished ambience and profusion of shops with familiar names at downtown Circle Centre Mall. Several malls north of downtown also offer good upscale shopping.

Look for the chic as well as the unusual among the little galleries, shops and sidewalk cafes in Broad Ripple Village.   Antique lovers shouldn't miss the several dozen antique dealers pooling their treasures at Midland Arts and Antiques or the specialty shops in outlying Zionsville, northwest of the city.

Collectors are likely to enjoy Tim and Avi's Salvage Store, which sells old doors, hardware and other authentic architectural remnants. Collected by two men who restore older homes, pieces are also sold online and shipped around the world.

Shopping Hours: Most shops at malls are open Monday-Saturday 9 or 10 am-9 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm. Specialty shops tend to close daily at 6 pm, although there are exceptions downtown and in Broad Ripple Village, where some stay open late on Friday and Saturday nights.

Shopping Areas Broad Ripple Village

Hours vary. It's bordered by White River to the north, Kessler Boulevard to the south, Meridian Street to the west and Evanston Avenue to the east. An eclectic neighborhood north of downtown that has many distinctive shops, galleries and restaurants. Names such as Grateful Threads (Grateful Dead-inspired clothing) and Birkenstock Sole.

Circle Centre Mall

49 W. Maryland St., Indianapolis.

Phone 317-681-8000.

Monday-Saturday 10 am-9 pm, Sunday noon-6 pm A modern, urban shopping mall built behind the facades of several 19th-century buildings, the five-story structure is connected by walkways to nearby hotels, restaurants and sports arenas and has low-cost underground parking garages. A major downtown attraction, it has nightclubs, movie theaters, restaurants, department stores and more than 100 specialty shops

Events

January Early January—Circle of Lights. The traditional unveiling of the Circle of Lights on Monument Circle ushers in Indianapolis' holiday season. More than 50 strands of colored lights are strung from the top of the Soldiers and Sailors Monument to its base, 1 Monument Circle. For information, call 317-237-2202. Concludes early January 1 Jan—New Year's Day. Public holiday. Jan—Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Public holiday. Throughout January—Theater. The Indiana Repertory Theatre presents a broad range of contemporary theater productions. 140 W. Washington St. For information, call 317-635-5277. For tickets, call 317-635-5252. TDD 317-236-0722  

Throughout January—Concert. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra presents classical music concerts and features frequent guest soloists. Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. For information, call 317-262-1100. For tickets, call 317-639-4300, or toll-free 800-366-8457. Continues through late June. Throughout January—Central Hockey League. The Indianapolis Ice play home games at Pepsi Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., and Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. For information, call 317-925-4423. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151. Continues through mid March. Throughout January—Opera. The Indianapolis Opera presents four productions each season at Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University campus, 4600 Sunset Ave. For information, call 317-283-3531. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151. Continues through early May Throughout January—Dance. Ballet Internationale performs at Murat Centre, 510 N. New Jersey St. For information, call 317-637-8979. For tickets, call 317-231-0000, or Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151.  Continues through late April. Throughout January—Musical. The American Cabaret Theatre mounts frequent musical productions in the Athenaeum Building, 400 E. Michigan St. For information and tickets, call 317-631-0334, or toll-free 800-375-8887. Continues through late December Throughout January—NBA Basketball. The Indiana Pacers play home games at Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. For information, call 317-917-2500. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151, or toll-free 800-462-2849.Season continues through mid April  

February

3rd Week in  Feb—Presidents Day. Public holiday. Throughout February—Central Hockey League. The Indianapolis Ice play home games at Pepsi Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., and Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. For information, call 317-925-4423. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151. Continues through mid March Throughout February—Opera. The Indianapolis Opera presents four productions each season at Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University campus, 4600 Sunset Ave. For information, call 317-283-3531. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151. Continues through early May Throughout February—Musical. The American Cabaret Theatre mounts frequent musical productions in the Athenaeum Building, 400 E. Michigan St. For information and tickets, call 317-631-0334, or toll-free 800-375-8887.  Continues through late December Throughout February—Dance. Ballet Internationale performs at Murat Centre, 510 N. New Jersey St. For information, call 317-637-8979. For tickets, call 317-231-0000, or Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151.. Continues through late April Throughout February—Theater. The Indiana Repertory Theatre presents a broad range of contemporary theater productions. 140 W. Washington St. For information, call 317-635-5277. For tickets, call 317-635-5252. TDD 317-236-0722. Continues through late May Throughout February—Concert. The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra presents classical music concerts and features frequent guest soloists. Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle. For information, call 317-262-1100. For tickets, call 317-639-4300, or toll-free 800-366-8457. Continues through late June Throughout February—NBA Basketball. The Indiana Pacers play home games at Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. For information, call 317-917-2500. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151, or toll-free 800-462-2849. Season continues through mid April  

March

Early-Mid March—Central Hockey League. The Indianapolis Ice play home games at Pepsi Coliseum, Indiana State Fairgrounds, 1202 E. 38th St., and Conseco Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. For information, call 317-925-4423. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239-5151. Concludes mid March 17 Mar—St. Patrick's Day Parade. More than 100 entries join this parade from North and Pennsylvania streets down Ohio to Meridian. The 4-mi/6.4-km Shamrock Run and Walk precedes the parade. Organized by the Indianapolis Athletic Club. For information, call 317-236-6515. Throughout March—Theater. The Indiana Repertory Theatre presents a broad range of contemporary theater productions. 140 W. Washington St. For information, call 317-635-5277. For tickets, call 317-635-5252. TDD 317-236-0722. Continues through late May  

April Early-Late April—Minor-League Baseball. The Indianapolis Indians, Triple-A affiliates of the Milwaukee Brewers, play home games at one of the best U.S. minor-league parks. Victory Field, West and Maryland streets. For information, call 317-269-3542. For tickets, call Ticketmaster at 317-239- 5151. Continues through early September    

May  

Mid-Late May—Broad Ripple Art Fair. Nearly 250 national and regional artists display their original works in this juried show, featuring functional and decorative items such as paintings, photographs, sculptures, pottery and jewelry. Also five stages of various music styles (jazz, blues, Celtic, swing, pop and reggae), regional and international food, and children's activities. Indianapolis Art Center grounds, 820 E. 67th St. Phone 317-255-2464. Late May—Indianapolis 500. The Indianapolis 500, perhaps the world's most famous auto race, annually draws about 400,000 people to Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Qualifying and practices take place from early May. Tickets traditionally sell out a year in advance, but general admission to the grounds is available. Crawfordsville and Georgetown roads. For ticket information, call 317-492-6700, or toll-free 800-822-4639. Late May:  Memorial Day. Public holiday. Late May—Indianapolis 500 Festival Parade. Nearly 100 units include floats, marching bands and the 33 drivers of the Indy 500. More than 300,000 people line the parade route that follows various downtown streets, including Pennsylvania Street. For information, call 317-927-3378.   Early May—Orchard in Bloom. Ranked one of the top 75 garden shows in the U.S., this three-day show features award-winning floral, garden and table-top designs by top professionals, a gardeners market and children's activities. Holliday Park, 63rd and Spring Mill roads. For information, call 317-713-5765.   Early-Late May—500 Festival. This month long festival celebrates the Indy 500 auto race with the nation's largest minimarathon (30,000 runners), the state's largest children's festival, the largest motor-racing parade in the U.S., art displays and more events.