Fountain Square

It has changed from an artsy community to a more heavily food focused area. Not that I am complaining. I thoroughly enjoy all sorts of foods. I take my foodie group to this area to dine out a lot.And you can take a nice walk around the area and admire the murals of this area. There are so many, gorgeous and from such talented artists. I often take a stroll before or after dinner to see the murals or peruse through the little shops. One of the big plus points had always been the free parking. Unfortunately it seems to be changing as I have ended up in a couple of paylots lately. I am not amused. So do yourself a favor and double check your parking spot to see if you need to pay.

Despite my love for the Fountain Square area, I can't in good conscience give it an actual 5-star rating. I'll explain, however, for those who know me it's likely obvious. Fountain Square is one of Indy's designated cultural districts. While it's often referred to as being in the "heart of downtown," it's more accurately slightly outside the downtown area and to the southeast. This area also encompasses Fletcher Place - and, in fact, an organization called Fountain Fletcher now exists. There's a lot of history to this area and many of the buildings are older. The good news is that the vast majority of the parking in this area is free - courtesy of street spots without meters and a few available (but poorly maintained) parking lots. Fountain Square has always been a very artsy area, though these days it's probably more known for its foodie qualities. The exception would be the Murphy Arts Center (with artists' studios) and a few shops devoted to local crafts. The Indianapolis Cultural Trail is a dominant and well-maintained presence in this area. It's quite beautiful and frequented by walkers, runners, bikers, and lots of strollers. While Broad Ripple has largely been ruined by poor urban planning and an abundance of cash, Fountain Square maintains its vintage vibe and communal scene with restaurants, working artists, live music, and more. The Fountain Square/Fletcher Place neighborhoods are home to over 12,000 people. Fountain Square is named for the series of fountains found in the heart of the district - Fletcher Place is named after one of the original landowners - Calvin Fletcher. Of course, you can also visit the coffeeshop that bears his name (and is also very community-minded and accessible). Looking downtown from Virginia Avenue, you have an amazing view. You can stop at The Idle and also have a great view. While I love coming to Fountain Square, I'm always disheartened by the number of places that have a step into their shop - World Famous Hotboys, Amelia's, Square Scoop, and Tuggles to name a few. This is definitely a neighborhood where if you're a wheelchair user you want to check out accessibility before heading out. Places that are accessible include Indy Reads, Snake Root, Siam Square, La Margarita, Hotel Tango, Milktooth, Bovaconti (one entrance is, the other is not), Hi-Fi, Radio Radio, and others. Fountain Square has a lot going for it. On one hand, I wish accessibility would improve. However, I sure don't want it to go the way of Broad Ripple. For now, this quirky and communal area is one of Indy's true gems. There's something for everyone and a sense that everyone is welcome.

This area is located just outside of downtown Indianapolis and is one of the city's seven designated cultural districts. It is connected to the city by the cultural trail, a world class urban bike and pedestrian path. The area gets its name from the fountains that have been prominently featured at the intersection of Virginia Avenue, East Prospect Street, and Shelby Street, right in the heart of the area.There are lots of free parking available in the area and the area is covered by public transportation. The historic area was settled in 1835. The area was listed on the National List of Historic places in 1983. This is the artsy area of town that is well known for its murals and restaurants. I like the World Famous Hotboys Hot Chicken, and Kuma's Corner. They are my go-to restaurants. I have also frequented the record shop and duck pin bowling there. They have a nostalgic theater and bars in the area as well. They also have an alley known as graffiti alley 2.0 behind the record shop.This is a cute little area with a lot of personality. This is definitely where you will find some creative people. It has a lot of historic buildings, shops and some first rate eateries with a lot of delicious food. It probably has the most public art per square foot than any other area in Indiana. You could easily spend a half day here shopping, dining, and just hanging out. I highly recommend checking this area out.

Great collection of stores, cafes, and patrons. Loved stumbling upon this area while in town. Great leather goods, perfume oils, and espressos!

Quirky Neighbor hood with lots of Local cafes, antique stores and stores selling comics and musical instruments.Unfortunately I was there on Thanksgiving day hence nothing was open but still spent sometime walking the hood and explored some art. There are few wall murals which you can explore and can get some awesome pictures.Make sure you visit the "Duck Pin" Bowling which is opened in 1928 and still operating.