I have to go to Indianapolis next Wednesday for work. As of right now, the team lead has scheduled me for a dinner at a Cheesecake Factory and a Maggianos! Woo-hah! Who the hell picks these places, we might as well be in a mall. Are there any bars that I should hit around the Marriott North? This is all sounding like a bad idea. Anyone got any recommendations of beers I should try or bars I should seek? Or any reason to be in Indianapolis in February?

why don't you continue the theme and go to a TGIFriday's

no answers to your questions...but a brief hijack while i got you here....have you tried this and if so is it worth my money?

I quite like it, but it's not as special as they claim. feel like an oak aged 90 minute, but 90 minute is great anyway.

yeah, their 90 minute is one of my favorite beers already...so i wasn't sure if this is an improvement or just different or what....

They probably will be in a mall, or in the mall parking lot. There are really no non-chain restaurants in Indy apart from St. Elmo's Steak House and maybe a couple others. As for bars, you're pretty unlikely to find a good one downtown. You could always meet up with andyfest. He's got a car.

Sounds like you're going to be near Keystone at the Crossing. There's a TGI Fridays right across from Maggiano's, actually.

In that area, without a car, your best bets for bars are unfortunately Champps, Sullivan's Steakhouse or TGI Friday's. A brief driving distance and you'll find Ale Emporium which is a cool place with lots of beer choices and Claddagh Irish Pub which is also pretty decent. Both are within about 1 - 1.5 miles away.

How long are you here? I'd be up for meeting up if you're going to be in Indy for a couple of days or so.

...go grab a sixpack, watch planes take off at the airport...

Or, even better, how about...CHOTCHKIE'S?

I thought you were gonna be up around Boston this week?

you should just rent a car and go to the melody inn. i live about an hour north.

I'll be in rhode island around lunch tomorrow, and we're planning on coming to Boston for a day or so before leaving on Tuesday (and me leaving for Indy on Wednesday). Give me a call if you want to do something.

Just Wednesday and Thursday night. I'm not sure if we'll have any time, but PM me your number if you want me to call you if I'm away from the sales people.

Yeah, that area is strip-mall hell. Some great place downtown, but that's 20 minutes south of you.

Call me when you're in town.

Denison Witmer is playing the underground next wed. He's a decent songwriter...

The Underground is the basement of the church I go to. Pretty cool that they get decent bands there from time to time.

are you even off the damned ground in philly yet?

Just got to providence.

I'm glad I practiced phone typing on the John at work.

I'm a big fan of the midwest but christ this area is big-box mall hell. The town of Fishers is not my favorite. My job might suck more than I realized. I wish i had time to get downtown, because this "heartland of america" is full of the same Best Buys and Retards as everywhere else.

Innit great? You can just squint and you're home!