SoBro

Sad little name for a great neighborhood. Travel north of downtown toward Broadripple, and just a few miles before hitting Broadripple is the residential South Broadripple, or SoBro. Like it’s cousin to the north, SoBro is a residential area with funky shops, restaurants, and bars.

Twenty Tap     5408 N. College Ave       317-602-8840

Twenty Tap, with 38 beers on tap (I know, I know; the name stuck before the number of taps was finalized). Many of the beers are Indiana local brews, with regional Michigan, Chicago, and nearby offerings supplemented by others from the coasts, Colorado, and Europe. Beer types range from hoppy IPAs to lagers, stouts, ciders, and oddities. Selections change often.

Twenty Tap also has great food with something for everyone. They have an impressively good selection of burgers, including traditional beef, veggie, chicken, and turkey burgers. We like the Wrath and the Tex, but the classic is a simple, outstanding cheeseburger—and all are good with homemade, crispy fries. The blackened whitefish sandwich packs a spicy punch, which is nicely tempered if you have the good fortune to enjoy the sweet potato bisque as the soup of the day. The entrée salads or the simple side salad are always fresh and take advantage of seasonal produce. The cheese curds are decadent, and they’re large enough to share … try to finish an order yourself and you'll likely be too full to eat anything else! Twenty Tap takes pride in sourcing local ingredients, and prices are affordable.

Barking Dog       15 E. 49th St       317-924-2233
A little bit of New England seaside seafood in the midwest. After leaving Boston and the ocean behind, we were thrilled to find this little sun-bleached bit of beach culture. White clam chowder and red seafood chowder are outstanding. Oysters, clams, and shrimp are flown in fresh and prepared expertly. On those rare occasions we venture beyond these menu selections, all the sandwiches have been tasty and the deserts are a treat.

Jazz Kitchen       5377 N College Ave     317-253-4900
<i>The</i> place for Jazz in Indy. Hopping bar, particularly on weekends. Well regarded New Orleans style kitchen. During the conference, Cool City Swing Band, Ratliff Big Band, and Latin Night fill the stage, with late-night B-side shows listed as well on the calendar.

Patachou       8697 River Crossing Boulevard       317-815-0765
There are four locations of this locally beloved hangout: the website links you to them all, including downtown and the airport.

Yats       5363 North College Ave      317-253-8817
Cajun creole crazy, they say. We had a Yats outpost in West Lafayette for, like, two hours, and we miss it dearly. Check the webpage for other locations.

Upland Brewery Tasting Room       4842 N. College Ave      317-602-3931
Local tasting room of the Bloomington-based brewery.

Luna Music       5202 North College Ave       317-283-5862
Great local record store. We mourn the closing of the Mass Ave location, and Indy CD & Vinyl doesn't look like it'll be open in time for the conference.