Indy

How I Do a Girls Day Out in Indy | North Side

Indianapolis is improving by leaps and bounds each year. I’m starting a new series on the blog with my favorite locations to visit around the city. This first series is Girls Day Out in Indy- North Side which encompasses anywhere north of the 456 loop.

This itinerary can be tweaked if you just need a day out to yourself, you want to have a mommy/daughter date or if you want to have a day out with your girls!

DryBar
DeBrands Chocolate Indianapolis

Girls Day Out in Indy – North Side

Morning:

Breakfast at Wild Eggs. Wild Eggs has a few locations but we particularly like the Fishers location and are very happy when they have $2 Fresh Squeezed OJ Mimosas. Rosie’s Place in Noblesville and Cafe Patachou (right next to where we’re headed next) are also great choices.

Pampering at DryBar is up next. DryBar is a blow-out salon that washes your hair and styles it for $45. My hair always lasts 4 days after getting a blow out with DryBar which is well worth the money! They also serve wine and always have great romcoms playing on the TVs.

Treat yo self at DeBrand Fine Chocolate. I have a thing for chocolate and DeBrand chocolates are my favorite ANYWHERE (and I’ve had fine chocolates in Vegas and Disney). My very favorite truffle is the Macadamia Hazelnut Truffle. You really can’t go wrong with any of the chocolates though. They also have chocolate dipped ice cream cones and the chocolate is heavenly. TIP: If it’s not hot in your car, get some to go for later or to share with your family.

After you’re buzzing from chocolate head over to Mi Nail Salon for a mani and pedi. You’ll need reservations for DryBar and breakfast but Mi Nails is very flexible with pushing back appointments if you’re running late. Make sure to request side by side seating so you can sit with your girls. They also have soda, water and wine to enjoy while being pampered.

Fashion Mall at Keystone
Ironworks Hotel
Massage Heights
Girls Day Out in Indy- North Side
Rize

Noon

Lunch at Flamme Burger will hit the spot. If you’re not super hungry, split a Chicken Sandwich or Bacon Cheese Burger. Their meals are large. They don’t own a freezer so all of the food is super fresh and so tasty.

Walk off some of those calories from lunch at the Fashion Mall at Keystone. As Indiana’s premier luxury destination with 120+ stores you’re sure to find a few you love. Some of my favorites are Crate and Barrel, Anthropology, Free People, M.A.C., Kate Spade and West Elm.

After a day of shopping I would want to take my bags back to the hotel and rest a little before getting ready to go out for the night. There are a lot of really nice hotels near the mall but my favorite is Ironworks Hotel. As an industrial modern boutique hotel, they’re such a fun place to stay. Some of my favorite amenities are that they’re pet friendly, there is a Massage Heights next door and they have two amazing fine dining restaurants (Rize for breakfast/lunch and Provision for dinner).

girls day out in indy
Ocean Prime
Point Judith Calamari

Evening

Dinner is the hardest part of this entire day because there are so many award winning restaurants on the north side of Indy. I have yet to try all of them so I will only suggest places that I’ve been knowing that there are many more worth your time. If you’re looking to go all out, we loved our experience at Ocean Prime. From the service to the food, everything was outstanding. My recommendations are the Bubbles and Berries cocktail, Smoked Gouda Tater Tots, Point Judith Calamari, the Peanut Butter Pie and the Warm Butter Cake. The entrees were amazing too but what I just mentioned were beyond delicious.

If you’ve already spent most of your budget for the day Late Harvest Kitchen, The Melting Pot (fondue) and Provisions (really great cocktails and outside patio area) are all high on my list of favorite restaurants.

Have you been to the north side of Indianapolis? If so, what are your favorite spots?

Honorable mentions: Main St Poke, Bubs Burgers (the best shakes), riding bikes on The Monon, Conner Prairie for family fun.

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Must Do Holiday Event of the Season| A Merry Prairie Holiday

Conner Prairie is our favorite local destination for pretty much all of fall and winter. The number of events they have from Headless Horseman to Prairie Plates to Dinner with Santa is outstanding. Each one of them is such a special tradition.

This year they’re having their first annual A Marry Prairie Holiday which will likely be our new favorite family tradition!

“The holidays are always a special time at Conner Prairie filled with joy and excitement of the season,” said Norman Burns, President and CEO at Conner Prairie. “It’s a time of spreading goodwill and building memories with those you love. This year we’re excited to give the gift of new experiences that will bring the whole community together on our historic property.”

Photo Credit: Conner Prairie

A Merry Prairie Holiday

New holiday programming includes:

  • Stroll through historical holiday celebrations in Prairietown
  • Participate in a nighttime, holiday-themed festival decorated with dazzling light displays and more throughout our grounds
  • Ride through our festive, historic grounds via wagon
  • Glide down central Indiana’s newest dry tubing hill
  • Ride on a vintage outdoor carousel
  • Hear the sights and sounds of the holidays with performances from local musicians, dancers and performers
  • Ring in the new year with during our New Year’s Eve (early) countdown
  • Favorite programming that will be returning includes Breakfast and Dinner with Santa, Storytime with Mrs Claus, and the takeover of Makesmith Workshop into Santa’s Workshop.

The Conner Prairie Museum Store will also be open during this time for all of your holiday gift-giving needs.

Visit connerprairie.org for more information and tickets for upcoming events.

A Merry Prairie Holiday

ABOUT CONNER PRAIRIE

Spanning more than 1,000 wooded acres in Central Indiana, Conner Prairie welcomes more than 400,000 visitors of all ages annually. As Indiana’s first Smithsonian Institute affiliate, Conner Prairie offers various outdoor, historically-themed encounters and indoor experiential learning spaces that combine history and art with science, technology, engineering and math to offer an authentic look into history that shapes society today. Conner Prairie is a 501(c)3, nonprofit organization – accredited by the American Alliance of Museums – that relies on grants and philanthropic donations from individuals, corporations and foundations for sustainability and growth. Visit connerprairie.org or call (800) 966-1836 for admission dates, hours, ticket prices and opportunities to donate and volunteer.

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Unicorn and Fairy Camp at Line + Form Atelier

This post has been sponsored by Line + Form Atelier. All thoughts are opinions are my own.

Unicorn and Fairy Camp at Line + Form Atelier: What five year old doesn’t love fairies and unicorns? When I saw my favorite art studio was doing summer camps AND they included fairies and unicorns I couldn’t not sign up.

Line + Form Atelier

Line + Form Atelier is an art studio for all ages that focuses on the process of making art. I was always frustrated growing up because I wasn’t ‘good at art’ with my first try. I would quickly give up and go on to the next thing.

I’m still learning that art is about the process not the outcome. Personally, I love Fran’s classes because I am comfortable to try new art techniques in a safe learning environment. My art never turns out how I envision it but I am always happy that I’ve created something and it often sparks an interest to create more!

Photo Credit: Fran Samarripa
Photo Credit: Fran Samarripa

The Camp

I was hooked as soon as I read the description on Line + Form’s website:

Watch the studio transform into a world of magic and enchantment during this whimsical summer camp! Unicorns, Fairies, Elves and Gnomes are all invited to join in our week of wonder. Campers will create delightful pieces of art such as nature wands, flower crowns, potions, fairy/gnome dwellings out of wood and moss, and much more! 

Line + Form Atelier

Timing could not have been better because we’d just had a staycation in Hendricks Co. to check out their fairy trail. We were in major fairy garden mode from all the inspiration so creating her own fairy garden in camp was heaven.

Our daughter loved creating her own personal fairy garden and was so excited to tell us all about the process each day. She was able to use lots of different art mediums throughout the week that she hadn’t experienced before. Her favorite parts about camp were making friends and the surprise visits from the unicorn and fairies.

Photo Credit: Fran Samarripa
Photo Credit: Fran Samarripa

I was really impressed by everything Fran got accomplished during the week. She has half day or full day options and Sophia said she was very glad to go to full day because she was excited to get to be with her friends longer each day. There are so many wonderful camps each summer and classes for ages 18 months-12 years, and adults ages 18+.

Be sure to follow along with Line + Form Atelier’s new journey as they’re moving to a larger, more central location in Indianapolis! You can also listen to the awesome background behind the creator of Line + Form, Fran
Samarripa in this Open Door Studio podcast.

Photo Credit: Fran Samarripa

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Summer Concerts at the Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo will be the place to shake a tail feather when two family-friendly concert series return this summer. Zoolapalooza presented by Teddy Grahams and Animals and All That Jazz will offer 11 evenings of live music, specialty menus, extended Zoo hours and even more wild fun from mid-June through early August.

The Zoo’s concert season will kick off with Zoolapalooza, offering performances every Friday night from June 21 through July 26. Now in its ninth year, this popular series will feature a new band each week, including several returning Zoo favorites along with a few newcomers for six unique performances. Guests will enjoy a range of music styles, from rock classics to today’s pop hits plus R&B and even some bluegrass — all with a toe-tapping energy to get attendees out of their seats for a spin around the dance floor.

spring xZooberance at the Indianapolis Zoo

The 2019 Zoolapalooza series will feature:

June 21: The Band, etc. … June 28: Tim Brickley & THE LIST
July 5: Todd Harrold Quartet July 12: My Yellow Rickshaw
July 19: MIXTAPE July 26: Protocol

The smooth sounds of live jazz will keep visitors cool as the summer heats up. Offering a distinctly different music experience, the 32nd year of Animals and All That Jazz will begin July 4 and continue every Thursday through Aug. 1. One of the Zoo’s longest-running events, this series will showcase a diverse lineup of musicians from across the Midwest, covering jazz genres from classic to contemporary and smooth soul to blues, even blending in the more modern sounds of pop and R&B.

The 2019 Animals and All That Jazz series will include:

July 4: Tad Robinson July 11: Everett Greene
July 18: West Central Quartet July 25: Cowbell Jazz featuring Yvonne Allu
Aug. 1: Clint Breeze & the Groove

All performances will take place from 5:30-8:30pm under the Bicentennial Pavilion. Located near the Zoo’s entrance, this stunning space offers an open-air atmosphere as well as weather protection. A perfect place for attendees to relax for an evening of music, rain or shine.

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake
Check my review of the sloths here

Food

Enhancing the concert experience, each night will feature a new food menu, in addition to regular Zoo fare. Adults can also enjoy a cash bar as well as craft beer sampling from a rotating list of Midwest breweries. Beer sampling is provided by Zink Distributing. Tables and seating inside the Bicentennial Pavilion are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

In addition to the music, there will be plenty of animal exhibits nearby and rides available until 7pm so that guests can enjoy the full Zoo experience without missing a beat.

Tickets

Summer concert events are free for Zoo members and included with regular admission, so visitors can stay late for the concerts after enjoying a full day at the Zoo. Guests can purchase discount tickets at Indiana Members Credit Union locations or by visiting IndianapolisZoo.com to plan their night out.

About the Indianapolis Zoo

The Indianapolis Zoo empowers people and communities, both locally and globally, to advance animal conservation. Located in White River State Park downtown, the Indianapolis Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the American Alliance of Museums as a zoo, aquarium and botanical garden. Visit IndianapolisZoo.com

More Fun at the Indianapolis Zoo:

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake opened this weekend. We had a chance to go check them out during their member preview before it opened to the public and it was so fun! Whether you’re fond of cute and cuddly or sleek and slithery you’ll find new facts and interesting animals to swoon over.

These exhibits opened just in time to start your summer off with some fun at the zoo. PRO TIP: Bring your patience. These two exhibits are going to be very popular which means long wait times. I suggest bringing two adults and having one stand in line while the other gets ice cream or heads to the playground with the kids. There were a lot of hot tired kids in line while we were there. Once you get to MISTery Park there are misters that help keep you cool and you’ll fell like you’ve stepped into a rain forest in south America! It it such an amazing experience. You’ll never have known you’re standing where the splash pad was with all the plants, mist and forest sounds from Costa Rica.

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake
Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake

Team Sloth

You’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with the sloths while you’re there. Although you can not handle these cuddly cuties you can get some great selfies! There are 5 sloths total at the Indianapolis Zoo and they will have two out at a time to allow them time without being with people. These two toed sloths keep a gentle pace to help them go unseen by predators, such as harpy eagles and jaguars, who watch for moving prey when they hunt. But these adorable animals take leisure to the next level, moving slow enough for algae and fungi to grow on their fur, creating micro-biomes of life.

Team Snake

The snake exhibit is just as popular as the sloth exhibit! They’ve completely renovated the back area of Desserts and added new habitats for all their new friends. Desserts has remained the same but in the back area they’ve added the most deadly snakes in the world. Size, Speed & Venom: Extreme Snakes will feature more than 20 incredible species, including some of the largest and most dangerous snakes on the planet. The reticulated python is one of the world’s largest snakes, growing to nearly 30 feet in length with exquisite patterns.

For more information on these awesome exhibits go to the Indianapolis Zoo website or call (317) 630-2001 for more information.

Indianapolis Zoo: Team Sloth or Team Snake

Check out more fun Zoo trips like xZooberance and Fairy Gardens.

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