Broad Ripple - Indianapolis, IN Area Guide

Broad Ripple can trace its beginnings back to the early 1800’s. The town was originally given the name “Broad Ripple” by Jacob Coil, after watching how the White River ran shallow over the rocks in this area, creating a wide ripple effect. At the end of the 19th century, Broad Ripple enjoyed a prosperous gas boom; however, this era quickly came to a close after a gas explosion and numerous fires and floods.

As a dominant cultural hub of the city, Broad Ripple acts today as a young, vibrant neighborhood with plenty to do. The neighborhood once served as home to Johnny Weissmuller, the famous actor who starred in the very first production of “Tarzan” in the 1930’s and also made an appearance in the Olympics. In fact, Weissmuller used to practice swimming laps in the Broad Ripple Park pool.

While you won't find many museums to visit within the neighborhood, Broad Ripple offers plenty of options for those looking to participate in an arts community. People who like to craft with their hands should check out Broad Ripple Knits, a custom yarn and craft shop within the village. Broad Ripple Knits also hosts lessons and knitting clubs to get connected with other crafty folks in the area. Though the neighborhood contains multiple art galleries, the Indianapolis Art Center tops the list. With a 12-acre outdoor park featuring local architecture and gardens, the Art Center acts as a cultural meeting spot for many artists. Check out their offerings of classes for the community such as pottery, drawing and painting.

Of the many events happening in Broad Ripple every year, the Broad Ripple Art Fair remains the annual highlight. Every May, local, regional, national and international artists set up booths around the neighborhood to show off their work. The fair includes live entertainment, a wine and beer garden and gourmet food courts. If you consider yourself a music lover, check out the WARMfest music festival happening in Broad Ripple Park.

To say that Broad Ripple has some good restaurants would be an understatement. People from all over the city come to Broad Ripple for the amazing selection of local eateries. If you're in the mood for brunch, Three Sisters Cafe proves an absolute must. This quaint, little cafe specializes in vegetarian and vegan dishes, though they also serve some meaty meals as well. In fact, their famous D'Nai Ham sandwich has been featured on the popular Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives with Guy Fieri. Go out on a limb and try something different like the blueberry goat-cheese pie or lemon corncakes. If you choose to go with the pancakes, be prepared to take home a box; these flapjacks make the plate beneath them look tiny. Feel like Mexican food? La Piedad has you covered. This eatery serves up authentic Mexican cuisine at very affordable prices. Do not leave this place without ordering a batch of their white queso dip. With endless chips and salsa, you might run the risk of filling up before your meal even arrives. If the weather suits you, try to sit outside on the patio, and enjoy watching the people go by on the Monon Trail nearby.

For something even more international, check out Brugge Brasserie, a French pub and brewery. All dishes remain true to French culture, with a selection of various crepes and sandwiches. People always rave about the pommes frites and the numerous homemade sauces for dipping. Order the l'enorme frittes as an appetizer to receive a huge helping of fries with all the homemade ketchups, mustards, and aiolis that the restaurant has to offer. For those looking for the true French experience, get a batch of mussels, and eat your dinner out of a metal bucket with a side of frittes.

Broad Ripple remains one of the most music-friendly neighborhoods in all of Indianapolis; and at the heart of that musical emphasis sits the Vogue. Located just off College Avenue and Westfield Boulevard, this music venue and club hosts local, regional, and national acts most every weekend. Though it specializes in live music, this venue also doubles as a popular bar and dance club. With multiple parties and events happening every week, it's best to check their website ahead of time to see the upcoming events for the week.

For a more intimate bar experience, go to the Casba. This bar also features live music, though the stage remains much smaller than the Vogue. The Casba hosts a Reggae night every Sunday, with drink specials such as $2.50 shots. Many live DJs call the Casba home, with a different genre played every night of the week. This venue also suits private parties well, with rental rates for party reservations available.

In a city of relatively few public transportation options, Broad Ripple stands out as one of the best neighborhoods for daily transit in Indianapolis. With easy access to the Canal Walk and Monon Trail, the neighborhood proves extremely bike friendly. People who work downtown can easily merge onto the Monon Trail and head south to be in downtown within 40 minutes on a bike.

There have been a few crime reports occurring on the Monon Trail, but bike police and cars patrol the area during the daylight hours. Roads within the neighborhood don't contain bike lanes, but most locations can be reached via either the Canal Walk of Monon Trail. Students at Butler University frequently walk and bike on the Canal Walk, as it connects Broad Ripple to the University and its campuses. The interior of the neighborhood remains very walkable, with sidewalks lining the streets and pedestrians seen out walking frequently.

For those who need to drive, Keystone Avenue serves as the best major road running north and south for commuting. Drivers can merge onto I-70 and I-465 by going south on Keystone Avenue for about 2 ½ miles. The neighborhood includes two IndyGo stops, though the service remains relatively unused. Cabs can be seen frequently on the weekends, but you will probably need to call ahead during the week. Due to the exciting nightlife of the area, cabs like to hang out on Friday and Saturday nights looking for people to stumble out of bars needing a ride. If you are planning a trip ahead, call Uber to set up a ride as many users receive lower rates than traditional taxis.

Broad Ripple sits in a prime location for people who love to be outdoors. The center of the village lies at the meeting point of two major trails: the Monon Trail and the historic Central Canal towpath. Runners, walkers and bikers can enjoy the wide paved paths lining the canal or the shady road of the Monon Trail. Those looking for an adventure can rent kayaks or canoes from the local sports shop, Rusted Moon Outfitters, to explore the White River.

In addition to the trails, Broad Ripple Park serves as the neighborhood's family-friendly meeting place. With tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a swimming pool, walking paths, picnic tables and a playground, this park provides plenty of free amenities for visitors. Some walking paths even include fitness stops with various structures and exercises to complete along the way. For those looking to get creative with their workout, the park hosts outdoor Zumba classes throughout the summer.

Dog lovers will be delighted to find a fenced-off dog park within the confines of the area, with plenty of space for pets to run around, play fetch and meet another furry friend. Broad Ripple Park hosts many summer events such as outdoor concerts and festivals, with WARMfest being the most notable event featuring three days of live outdoor music and food trucks.

Residents of Broad Ripple enjoy a relatively low cost of living. Compared to the national average, Broad Ripple features lower-than-normal housing and rent prices as well as reasonable prices for food and retail. Prices in this neighborhood remain comparable to downtown Indianapolis, although restaurants may be the exception here, with many affordable options available in the neighborhood. One-bedroom apartments can be found for as low as $550 per month, though the average runs closer to $750.

The central area of commerce in Broad Ripple can be found just north of Broad Ripple Avenue near Westfield Boulevard. Residents and visitors enjoy scores of local shops and boutiques to browse. If any neighborhood in Indianapolis puts an emphasis on local commerce, it's Broad Ripple. With an eclectic array of vintage and antique items, Broad Ripple Vintage acts as the neighborhood's hottest secondhand store. Scour the rows of '80’s jumpers, denim jackets and hippie shirts for a rare find at a bargain price.

Outdoor fanatics should head to Rusted Moon Outfitters. As an alternative to the popular REI store up north, Rusted Moon serves as an independent, local outdoor shop with the finest selection of tents, kayaks, sleeping bags and other camping gear. When it comes to boutiques, Broad Ripple offers multiple options. Artifacts remains the favorite shop for jewelry shopping among locals. This quaint boutique provides artisan ceramics, jewelry, glass, and wood sculptures from local artists in the community. For the wide selection, prices remain reasonable, although some of the antique jewelry items can be a bit pricey.

Although a Target lies close by on Keystone Avenue, natural-food lovers frequently shop at Good Earth Natural Foods, an organic natural food shop. Head upstairs to find the tucked-away “secret” spice room, and search through the dozens of organic spices at affordable prices. Tea drinkers must check out their selection of herbal teas, all at prices equal to or cheaper than large chain grocery stores.

The neighborhood also hosts a farmers' market every Saturday morning from May to November. Located in the back parking lot of Broad Ripple High School, the Broad Ripple Farmers' Market specializes in fresh and local produce only. However, this tends to not present too much of a problem, with a wealth of other craft and boutique shops located just a few blocks west of Broad Ripple High School on Broad Ripple Avenue.