Before I post my favorite pics I've taken this year, I'd thought I would share some night pics I took on December 23rd. Enjoy!

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Nice pics. One thing impressive about Indy is teh level of late evening (after 6 pm) pedestrian activity. 90% of this is due to the mall and surrounding restuarants as well as nearby arenas. The late night pedestrians are impressive especially if that wasnt after a Pacers or Colts game. And the thing about Indy is you always see suburban looking families with strollers, and you just dont see that in most cities, even cities with strong downtown retail like Chicago.

Other similar cities may have more late night activity with young people at bars, but not many have a downtown with as many after dark pedestrians and families, shopping, touring, and eating.

Those pictures are great. Looks really busy and the Christmas decorations are nice.

OKC has a lot of family visitors downtown around christmas since there is the ice skating, snow slide, and snow pits down there. Maybe Indy has similar winter attractions to draw the suburbans?

^ Yeah it depends where you go, since most of these pics are taken from Monument Circle, you'll going to see a high level of suburban families (most were waiting in line for a horse carriage ride). Monument Circle does a good job of bringing suburbanites, city residences, and tourists (both American and foreign) into one area.

At night, you see more of the suburbanite families, at day time you see more of the city residences and tourists.

I like the effect the lights make when you're under the Monument and looking up at it.

Did the mall cops ever bitch at you for taking pictures from that parking garage?

No, not this time. They're worse than Charlotte cops.

Great pics. I, too, am impressed with the level of traffic, both car and pedestrian. I've always loved the view from Monument Circle looking towards the Statehouse.

Indy's looking good! :okay:

But am I the only one that doesn't like the lights on the WWII monument? I don't want to use the word... tacky, but, I just think that they could do some great upward flood lighting that would make it look much more grand.

Indy's looking good! :okay:

But am I the only one that doesn't like the lights on the WWII monument? I don't want to use the word... tacky, but, I just think that they could do some great upward flood lighting that would make it look much more grand.

The Christmas lights come down after the holidays.

^^
Oh, I know.
I've been to Indy many a time. I just think that putting those lights up is kinda silly. I don't like the way it looks. Although it does sort of act like a christmas tree for Monument Circle, which is neat.

Indy looks dense from the pictures above. Great pictures, thanks for sharing!

What building is this? It looks exactly like a building we used to have here in Omaha. It was the old post office.

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What building is this? It looks exactly like a building we used to have here in Omaha. It was the old post office.


The building is Union Station

Even though the holiday cheer that surrounds the lighting of Monument Circle is great, I have always thought it to be a touch tacky, too. But it's tradition.

Actually, Indianapolis has one of the densest downtowns in America (Just the Mile Square). Cities like Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix have their skyscrapers and density spread out along a certain section of downtown, whereas in Indy all of our skyscrapers and density are concentrated throughout the mile square. In some pictures you cant even see all of our downtown because it is so concentrated (like when viewing from the west or east)

As for the pictures, I love them, among the best holiday pics. True downtown Indy at its best.
As far as nightlife, Indy has always had a busy downtown since 1995 or so. The Colts/Indians/Pacers games double the nightlife activity. Your right, during the day shoppers, business people, tourists, people waiting for buses and taxis, and city locals are very dominant. Suburbanites usually come down after dark, and young adults and teenagers are out very late at night around the mall area.
There arent many winter attractions downtown, but it snows a lot more here so winter weather is typical to us.

Indy's looking good! :okay:

But am I the only one that doesn't like the lights on the WWII monument? I don't want to use the word... tacky, but, I just think that they could do some great upward flood lighting that would make it look much more grand.

It's a civil war monument, mostly.

http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/kade/soldiers.html

The State Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was dedicated in 1902 to Indiana's heroes who died in wars before World War I. Erected as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the War for the Union (1861-65), it also commemorates the War with Mexico (1846-48), Indian and British Wars (1811-12), War of the Revolution and the capture of Vincennes from the British on February 25, 1779. The Monument rises from a circular plaza, 342 feet in diameter, where once stood the governor's house--but where no governor ever lived. At the lower level of the Monument is a Civil War exhibit.

I am extremely impressed and proud of the downtown street/sidewalk traffic. Very nice pictures, good job...btw, these pictures were taken after a sporting event or did I misunderstand?

I am extremely impressed and proud of the downtown street/sidewalk traffic. Very nice pictures, good job...btw, these pictures were taken after a sporting event or did I misunderstand?
Not really, there was an IU Butler game, but it was early, (6pm) and far enough away from those pics that it would make little or no difference. It's a pretty typical Friday night downtown, although there would be more foot traffic due to tourists taking in the holiday lights close to Christmas. Typical traffic for a Friday.

^ Yeah, you're always going to get good pedestrian traffic on the Circle, near Circle Center, Mass. Avenue, and the Wholesale District. The Canal is fairly vibrant at night during the summer time, hopefully this will increase if the city decides to open up more restaurant space.

If you go around the Indiana War Memorial Plaza at night, you won't see too many people.

^ Yeah, you're always going to get good pedestrian traffic on the Circle, near Circle Center, Mass. Avenue, and the Wholesale District. The Canal is fairly vibrant at night during the summer time, hopefully this will increase if the city decides to open up more restaurant space.

If you go around the Indiana War Memorial Plaza at night, you won't see too many people.
It'll increase signifigantly to the East after the Market Square towers go up. I predict a lot of street level restaurant/bar/retail will move in immediately.

It's a civil war monument, mostly.

http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/kade/soldiers.html

The State Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument was dedicated in 1902 to Indiana's heroes who died in wars before World War I. Erected as a memorial to the soldiers and sailors of the War for the Union (1861-65), it also commemorates the War with Mexico (1846-48), Indian and British Wars (1811-12), War of the Revolution and the capture of Vincennes from the British on February 25, 1779. The Monument rises from a circular plaza, 342 feet in diameter, where once stood the governor's house--but where no governor ever lived. At the lower level of the Monument is a Civil War exhibit.
My bad. I just thought I had read something about WWII. I've never stopped to read it. I'm affraid of looking like a tourist. hah

What I love is lunchtime in DT Indy. It's so crowded and active around the circle, its great!
I ate at Qdoba for lunch last time I was there and I was loving how vibrant DT felt.

Pretty typical friday night? WOW...Ok, I have been downtown three times this week, January 1 for the colts game, January 2 for circle centre, and today January 5. Other than the colts game there was hardly any foot or car/street traffic to speak of. Tonight was a little bit better than monday night but i was still disappointed, granted they were both 8-9 pm... However, if we are trying to create a 24 hour city it should not matter whether it is friday at 8-9 or Monday at 8-9... I just wanted to bring this to attention, especially after seeing those pictures... I guess the reason I am rambling is because, I went to Chicago a few weeks ago on a friday night around 7, and the street traffic above is greater than Chicagos was that night! I swear... I will have to go downtown this Friday night, tom. and check it out... thanks for the responses.

What I really like about having the RCA Dome, Conseco, and Victory Field downtown is that before, during, and after the game there is a tremendous amount of foot and street traffic... These stadiums and arenas also provide concerts, conventions, and tourist attractions?.?. which all add to the DT life... I just dream of a day when the pictures above show what DT life is like everday, regardless of the time.

I agree in wishing there was more constant foot traffic, but you also have to realize it's the middle of January. Things aren't going to be nearly as active on the street when it's 25 degrees as they are during the warmer months. Go downtown on any average Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night (when there isn't a game) starting in May and you'll see what I mean. Trust me--I live across from Conseco--there are nights when I almost want to move further from the bars because of all the street noise.

I really need to get to Indy... maybe after the zoo opens for the season so I can ride the little coaster.
Any tips for good/cheap parking in downtown?

I've never been to Indy, so it's refreshing to see some pictures on the Forum. Thanks for sharing.

I really need to get to Indy... maybe after the zoo opens for the season so I can ride the little coaster.
Any tips for good/cheap parking in downtown?
Parking is incredibly cheap here, parking at the underground garage in Circle Centre is no more than three or four dollars.

I really need to get to Indy... maybe after the zoo opens for the season so I can ride the little coaster.
Any tips for good/cheap parking in downtown?
You can park for free at White River State Park, of which the zoo is a part of, and ride the free Blue Line Shuttle to put you within easy walking distance of every part of downtown, 7am to 10pm.
http://www.indygo.net/blue_line.htm

Park at the "p" next to "the lawn" for free. But really, all day parking downtown is usually only 6 bucks.
http://www.indygo.net/images/blueline-map-large2.gif