Almost hanging with Sarah Palin in Indianapolis

Ilona Kauremszky

03 NOV 2008: The night Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin was in Indiana I was indulging at Naked Tchopstix, a famous sushi-hangout in David Letterman’s old neighbourhood Broad Ripple. The Indianapolis eatery is famous for two reasons... locals say it’s next door to Letterman’s coming of age theatre called The Vogue, and some of the famous regulars include Scott Jones, the inventor of voice mail. Jones is working on another new-fangled invention - but I’m getting first dibs on the shares.

So, as our neighbours south of the border are frantically gearing up for their country’s biggest election, my sights were set on another race - at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home to the Indy 500. In fact, I had a date with another Sarah. Sarah Fisher. This female racecar driver has broken records already. She’s the youngest woman ever to compete at The Indy 500 and in her rookie year a few years ago managed to become the first woman to hit the podium.

The plan sounded easy enough. Meet the 28-year-old pro Indy racer for 3:30pm. Change into racing car apparel. Line up. Wait for the roll call announcing your name. Acknowledge said roll call. Mount race car and assume position in the backseat.

If doing laps around the Oval to G-force speeds wasn’t deserving of a high, it turns out this racing capital is also home to another mood swing, the makers of Prozac, Eli Lilly.  To show they are good corporate citizens, the pharmaceutical giant has donated millions to local philanthropic causes including bequeathing the white Gatsby-like home of J.K. Lilly Jr. to the capital city’s art museum. 

Here`s a list of some Indy cool...

Love is all you need!
This iconic sixties symbol synonymous for love was created by Indiana-born Robert Indiana. Today you can see his prototype rust and all, brave the elements on the green turf outside the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Unlike some cultural institutions that undergo multimillion-dollar renovations then proceed to jack up admission fees to help pay for the construction costs, this landmark has just completed a US$74-million renovation, part of a US$220-million expansion project and patrons as always, can marvel at the exhibits for free.

Getting there from here
Air Canada introduced daily directs cutting down the seven hour drive from YYZ to a mere one hour flight.

A swanky five-star
As a globetrotter I’ve had my share of staying at the finest digs. The Conrad Indianapolis is no exception. What’s cool about this property is its lineage and prominence. The city boasts how this luxury property is Indianapolis’ first five-star hote, while the Conrad Hotel chain enthuses how it’s only one of three properties currently in the US.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines
Indianapolis is gearing up to celebrate a three-year party starting next year when the famous Indy Motor Speedway turns 100. In 2011 the crowd pleasing Indy 500 race celebrates its centenary.

College athletics
For all you college sports fans, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is headquartered here. The voluntary organization through which the nation's colleges and universities govern their athletics programmes is comprised of institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals committed to the best interests, education and athletics participation of student-athletes. Currently the NCAA Hall of Champions is undergoing a multimillion-dollar renovation which when it opens next year will have a floor devoted to interactive state-of-the-art simulations.

Pro sports
No hockey die-hards but you’ll find the biggest basketball and football fans live here. The home teams are the NBA franchised Indiana Pacers and the NFL Indianapolis Colts. Nowadays everyone congregates at the NFL’s newest stadium, the Lucas Oil Stadium, named after the motor oil manufacturers of course.

A state park in the city
Minutes from the city’s busiest hub, this state park lays claim to fame as the only urban cultural state park in the United States.  Along the 250-acred green space are Segway Tours, canal walks, and stops at venues like the Lawn, an outdoor concert hall (Sheryl Crow, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan have performed here). The park is also home to the Indianapolis Zoo, White River Gardens, the Indiana State Museum, an IMAX® Theater, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, NCAA Hall of Champions, and Victory Field.

For more travel information visit the Indianapolis Visitors and Convention Bureau online at www.indy.org .

Photo credit: Indianapolis images by  Ilona Kauremszky