Near Northside - Indianapolis, IN Area Guide

The neighborhood of Near Northside got off to a fairly prominent start; it began as the primary Indianapolis neighborhood for political and industrial leaders in the late 19th century. As the most fashionable neighborhood in the city, residents constructed exceptional estates with an aristocratic emphasis. However, following the economic decline after World War II, many of these lavish homes were demolished. To preserve the wealth of history and unique architecture of the area, the neighborhood became a part of the National Register of Historic Places. As a result, the City of Indianapolis developed a preservation plan to maintain the area, which continues to be developed by the Indianapolis Historic Preservation Commission. Among other politicians, the neighborhood once held former President Benjamin Harrison as an esteemed resident.

Located at the north end of the neighborhood, the Harrison Center for the Arts serves as the nearest art museum. This grassroots organization houses paintings, photographs, sculptures and more visual art from local artists in the city of Indianapolis. The organization focuses on grassroots activism and attempts to incorporate fostering awareness into their various exhibits. Though the Harrison Center hosts many events, First Fridays stand out. As a weekly occurrence, First Fridays feature multiple exhibits, live music and occasionally a short film.

As the highlight of the summer, the Harrison Center also hosts the Independent Music + Art Festival, commonly referred to as IMAF. This free festival happens on the second Saturday of June every year. In addition to a full day of live, local music outside, the interior of the Harrison Center features rows and rows of artist vendors selling handmade goods and crafts.

Although the Near Northside comprises mainly apartment buildings and homes, a few notable restaurants and bars lie just at its border. Located at the corner of 16th and Alabama Street, Foundry Provisions serves up specialty coffees and brunch dishes. It places a large emphasis on supporting local businesses, with coffee beans, pastries and bread all sourced from Indianapolis companies. If you don’t mind getting a bit messy, try the Kurt V sandwich for a melted, gourmet grilled cheese delight. The local cafe hosts live music on most summer weekends.

For a casual dinner date, check out Shoefly Public House. Although Shoefly lies a few blocks north of the neighborhood, it still remains within walking distance. Despite the restaurant's emphasis on pub food, its menu ranks far above generic pub grub. With an ever changing menu, Shoefly focuses on seasonal dishes; however, the pretzel flatbreads and Cuban pulled pork sandwich remain crowd favorites year round. Seating can usually be found upon arrival, but calling ahead for reservations on weekends is recommended.

Massachusetts Avenue acts as the best area to search for restaurants. Located a few blocks south of the neighborhood, this street features some of the best eateries and bars the city has to offer. Nestled on the north end of Mass Ave, Mesh provides the perfect setting to bring a date for a fancy dinner. Diners love the free artisan bread served before every meal, and the cocktails always look very well put together. Although the menu rotates on weekly specials, be sure to give the Amish chicken with bleu cheese mashed potatoes a try, and finish it off with a Salted Caramel Pot de Creme.

At the corner of 16th and Pennsylvania Street lies one of the neighborhoods best treasures: the Thirsty Scholar. This coffee, beer and wine bar captures what people love about a neighborhood hangout. With dim lighting, local beers and coffees, friendly baristas, and bar snacks, residents come to relax and enjoy a great time with friends. Saturday nights feature live music starting at 9 p.m. from various genres, including occasional performances by jazz musicians from Butler University. As an added bonus, this bar remains all ages, so you can bring children or younger friends along as well.

Residents of Near Northside enjoy close proximity to many everyday amenities. With Circle Center in Indianapolis located just a mile south of the neighborhood, residents can walk to businesses and workplaces downtown. Cyclists have numerous options for commuting about the city. Bike lanes run north and south on Illinois street and Capitol Avenue as far north as 62nd Street. In addition, bikers can hop on the Indianapolis Cultural Trail which loops around the center of downtown, providing access to nearly every area of the city.

Those who commute by car can easily merge onto the highway at the nearby exit located on Pennsylvania and 12th Street. This exit takes you to I-70 East and eventually I-465, which generally serves as the quickest way to get anywhere outside of downtown. Though public parking in the area proves tight, many streets remain free for residents to leave their cars. Pennsylvania Street and Delaware Street often serve as a good place to park, but spots fill up quickly after 7 p.m. Some streets require paying a parking meter.

Being so close to downtown, people don’t have too much trouble hailing a cab. Although, some residents may have to walk a few blocks south to find one. That being said, using Uber proves to be the preferred option for most residents as an alternative to taxi hunting. In addition, numerous bus lines also service the Northside neighborhood. The most common bus line runs north and south on Meridian Avenues and north on Delaware Street. If you work downtown, owning a car may prove to be inessential for living in this area, with a well-connected public transportation system and multiple IndyGo bus stops.

The Frank and Judy O’Bannon Old Northside Soccer Park has served as the meeting place for both the Hispanic Center and Indianapolis Christian School youth soccer leagues.

With a kid-friendly atmosphere, the park borders the Monon Trail, providing easy access for walkers, joggers and cyclists. In fact, many use the area's parking spaces to leave their cars while they head out on the Monon for a few hours. The park provides a half-size soccer field and plenty of space to exercise, but most people choose to use the Monon for fitness instead. Although the area remains welcoming towards dogs, the park doesn’t contain any designated amenities for pets.

However, people can still find plenty to do via the Monon Trail and the Indianapolis Central Canal. Located a few blocks southwest of Near Northside, the Central Canal also serves as a great place to go running or walking. Though not officially a park, this urban waterway includes plenty of scenic sections of flowers and shrubs along the way, with benches and the occasional restaurant to stop and rest. During summer months, the Central Canal even features Italian Gondola rides. Head down with a few friends, and listen to the sweet serenades of the gondola driver as you glide down the canal in style.

Housing in the area remains generally affordable. The average price for a one-bedroom apartment amounts to about $750 a month. Compared to the city average, this proves to be about $75 dollars less than downtown apartments. The overall cost of living is comparable to downtown Indianapolis.

The majority of shops can be found on Massachusetts Avenue, although a few reside within the neighborhood boundaries. Just next door to the Thirsty Scholar bar lies Queen Bee Vintage. What this vintage boutique lacks in selection, it more than makes up for in one of a kind finds. Shoppers love this place for its vintage purses, retro jewelry and quirky gifts.

On the south side of the neighborhood, Righno provides fashionable men’s wear. This store features some of the trendiest styles around. If you’re looking to spruce up your wardrobe selection, purchase shirts, hats and pants to that give you a cool, GQ look. Located on the north end of Massachusetts Avenue, Homespun: Modern Handmade serves as the perfect location to pick up a gift for a birthday or Christmas. This local shop's entire inventory consists of items from Indiana businesses, from T-shirts and scarves to handbags and handmade sweets.

Residents can walk to the nearby Kroger located on 16th and Central Avenue for grocery shopping. However, if you don’t mind driving or walking a bit further, a local grocer/deli called Goose the Market provides only local, seasonal produce for purchase. Those looking for a farmers market don't have to travel far: the downtown Indianapolis farmers market lies a little over a mile from the south part of Near Northside on the junction of Delaware and Market Street. Held every Wednesday morning of the summer, this market features seasonal fresh produce, baked goods, spices and more.