A glass of rosé pairs perfectly with SoChatti Tanzania or Colombia chocolate. | Photo by @sochatti
We love to think our presents will be up on the mantelpiece forever. But let’s face it: some things are destined to add to our closet clutter.
It’s been on-trend for a while to offer experiences, rather than things, for gifts. To help you level up your gift-giving game this holiday season, check out our curated list of giftable experiences so you can sleigh the holidays.
🍫 For the foodie:
SoChatti Chocolate & Wine Class | 1125 E. Brookside Ave., Gate D2 | No need to find the chocolate bar with a golden ticket to gift a tour of this chocolate tasting room. For $100 a person, visitors will pair SoChatti’sfour origin chocolateswith different wines, taste charcuterie, and make chocolate covered fruits and candy.
🧘 For the wellness seeker:
Indianapolis Salt Cave | 8899 Kent Ave. | Looking to give the gift of spiritual clarity and relaxation? Purchase a gift certificate or choose from various packages between $100 and $160 that include up to five sessions of the salt cave, hand and foot detox, and infrared sauna.
🏎️ For the adventurer:
Speedway Indoor Karting | 1067 Main St., Speedway | Gift the fast and the furious to your car-loving peeps. Venture out to the home of the greatest spectacle in racing so your loved ones can test their speed around two different tracks — a European-style, multi-level road course for any skill level and an oval slick track which is sure to guarantee an adrenaline rush — starting at $17, or purchase a monthly subscription for for $102+.
🎭 For the lover of the arts:
Indiana Repertory Theatre | 140 W. Washington St. | Pass on the pageantry of music, dance, and acting. The ongoing 2022-2023 season is still in full motion with performances scheduled through May 2023, including “Shakespeare’s Will” and “Clue.”
📚 For the lifelong student:
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites Membership | 650 W. Washington St. | Grant the gift of history and science to friends and family who never get tired of learning. Membership includes a full year with unlimited free admission to the museum, historic sites, and 300+ museums and science centers worldwide.
World Cup watch party: USA vs. Iran | Tuesday, Nov. 29 | 2 p.m. | Ale Emporium, 997 E. County Line Rd., Indianapolis | Free | Join Indy Eleven in rooting for Team USA during this World Cup match.
Wednesday, Nov. 30
Holiday Bake-Off | Wednesday, Nov. 30 | 5-8 p.m. | Marion County Extension office, 1202 38th St., Indianapolis | 4-H members in grades K-12 and their families will make their favorite holiday recipes, competing with other 4-H’ers from across the county.
AEW Dynamite/Rampage | Wednesday, Nov. 30 | 7 p.m. | Indiana Farmers Coliseum, 1202 E. 38th St., Indianapolis | $29-$90 | Watch exciting matches featuring the world-class All Elite Wrestling roster and highlighting AEW’s rising stars.
Thursday, Dec. 1
Merry Movie Nights presented by Heartland Film | Thursday, Dec. 1-Friday, Dec. 2 | 7 p.m. | Athenaeum Foundation, 401 East Michigan St., Indianapolis | $10-$12 | Get into the holiday spirit with two winter classic films — “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story” at the Historic Athenaeum.
Butler Ballet presents: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker | Thursday, Dec. 1-Sunday, Dec. 4 | Times vary | Clowes Memorial Hall, Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave., Indianapolis | $25 | The brilliance of Tchaikovsky’s music will be brought to life by the Butler Ballet Orchestra and the Indianapolis Children’s Choir under the direction of Richard Auldon Clark.*
Friday, Dec. 2
Holly Jolly Jamboree | Friday, Dec. 2 | 5-10 p.m. | 5515 E. Washington St. | Cost of purchase | Check out this handmade and vintage market with 40 quirky, unique creators and curators on the second floor of the Historic Irvington Lodge.
Josh Kaufman: Live at Feinstein’s | Friday, Dec. 2 | 7:30-9 p.m. | Feinstein’s At Hotel Carmichael, 1 Carmichael Square, Carmel | $25-$50 | See our Hoosier Season 6 winner of NBC’S “The Voice” live.
We have amonthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
Help Second Helpings keep up the good work this winter. | Photo provided by Second Helpings
Happy #GivingTuesday, INDY. 🤝
In the spirit of this global day of giving, all donations made todaytoSecond Helpings will be matched (up to $50,000), thanks to the generosity of JRA Architecture and a local family.
The positive impact of your gifts will be twice as nice, giving Second Helpings the ability to:
Provide meals to neighbors in need this winter
Prevent food from entering local landfills
Train unemployed adults for careers in the culinary industry*
The city announced that $20 million will be spent on improvements to West Washington Street from Holt Road to Lynhurst Drive. The funds will be used for stormwater upgrades, big improvements to sidewalks, and overdue drainage updates. 🚧 (IBJ)
Coming Soon
Hancock County’s first and only distillery and tasting room is getting ready to open next month. In just over a year’s time, Moon Drops Distillery’s (738 W. Broadway, Fortville) spirits can be found at 300+ retailers and it prides itself in being distilled from grain to glass locally. 🥃
Sports
Purdue and IU made slam dunks on the latest AP men’s college basketball poll, both ranking within the top 10. Purdue made a rare 19-spot jump as the poll underwent a massive shakeup, coming in at No. 5. The Hoosiers were ranked No. 10 in the poll. 🏀 (WTHR)
Shop
Window to the World (aka the former Lafayette Square Mall) is setting up a pop-up market in the former Sears building to help tenants continue operating while the property is under redevelopment. More than 20 tenants will set up shop in the free space to continue doing business from now through the new year.🏬
Seasonal
Santa Claus is coming to town. This Sunday (Dec. 4), Broad Ripple is celebrating its annual Lights Up Holiday Festival with free children’s activities, live musical performances, and a tree lighting from 3-5:30 p.m. The festivities will be located on Guilford Avenue, just north of Westfield Boulevard next to the firehouse. 🎄
Today Is
Giving Tuesday.This day was created in 2012 to counteract the spending of Black Friday and Cyber Monday by encouraging people to give back locally. You can participate by supporting the Benjamin Harrison Presidential Site’s educational experiencesor IndyHumane’s mission. 🤝
Travel
Dreaming up a trip to the Bahamas? This Spanish Wells private cottagemight just be your new happy place. It’s steps from the turquoise water, fully air conditioned, and is rated five stars. Book it as a January getaway or the best holiday gift ever for $280 avg/night. 🌊*
Stat
Location, location, location. According to our recent survey, 58% of respondents shared that they’d be willing to move out of state to get their dream home, compared to 32% in a national Opendoor report. 🏡*
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Become a member today to start enjoying special benefits. | Graphic by 6AM City
Tis the season of giving. We’re excited to announce that we’re launching new benefitsfor ourmembership program.
To support Indianapolis, we will donate 10% of all new INDYtoday membership contributions to Feeding America and INDYtoday will match 100% of the donated amount.
INDYtoday membership is the gift that keeps on giving.
Editor’s pick: Do you know an adrenaline junkie or a Indy 500 superfan? This is news to me, but apparently you can take some hot laps around the track at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Gift someone (or yourself) a ride of a lifetime. 🏎️
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* This content is paid advertising, or contains links to our Six & Main marketplace, or affiliate partners which we may receive a commission from. ^ This content is created by our content studio.