Explained: Third places in Indianapolis, IN

Chalet is conveniently located near a bookstore and an ice cream shop. | Photo by INDYtoday team

When we asked you what stories you’d like us to cover in 2023, one reader requested that we offer up third place ideas.

A third place is anything that is separate from a first place (home) and a second place (work). That could mean a bar you’re a regular at, a park you take walks in, or a gym. Based on that definition, we’ve put together a few recommendations for you to consider if you’re looking for a place to decompress before your commute home.

Chalet, North side

Not just any coffee shop, this après-ski cafe is a perfect place to cozy up with a glass of wine and read a book or vent to friends.

Central Library, Downtown

This branch of the Indianapolis Public Library is open until 8 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and offers great views of the city, lots of sections to browse, and of course, plenty of books to get lost in before your trip back home.

Exterior of Loom — Loom is open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Loom, North side

Is it a bar, an arcade, or a laundromat? That’s for you to decide if you choose to make it your third place.

Indianapolis Zen Center, North side

If you’ve always wanted to try meditating but don’t know where to start, the Zen Center welcomes everyone to its weekly practices on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Square Cat Vinyl, South side

From 8 a.m.-8 p.m., you can browse old and new records, sit in a listening booth, or sip a coffee at the bar at this Fountain Square staple.

Indy Parks Family Centers, Various locations

From the west side’s Thatcher Park to the John H. Boner Center on the east side, there are plenty of community spaces to hit on your way home.

Where are you a regular at? Give your third place a shoutout.

EVENTS

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Friday, Jan. 27

Friday Night Swing Dance | Friday, Jan. 27 | 7:30-11:30 p.m. | Fountain Square Theatre Building, 1105 Prospect St., Indianapolis | $12-$15 | Take a beginner lesson from Naptown Stomp and then dance along to a live band.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Polar Bear Pedal | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 9 a.m. | Bottleworks Hotel, 850 Mass Ave., Indianapolis | Free | Register in advance for the 12th annual winter bike ride on the B&O Trail that starts in the Bottleworks District.
Dog Adoption Event | Saturday, Jan. 28 | 3-6 p.m. | Centerpoint Brewing, 1125 E. Brookside Ave., Indianapolis | Free | Puppers from Sketchy Mutts & Underdogs Rescue will be available for adoption and fostering.

Sunday, Jan. 29

Lucero - Should’ve Learned By Now Tour | Sunday, Jan. 29 | 8-11:30 p.m. | HI-FI Indy, 1043 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis | $30-$35 | Listen to the alt-country band as they take the stage with opener Justin Wells.

Monday, Jan. 30

Trivia Night | Monday, Jan. 30 | 7-9 p.m. | The Garage Food Hall, 906 Carrollton Ave., Indianapolis | Free | Get your group together and compete in this weekly game of trivia hosted by The Quizzler.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Inspired by the Dunes: Paintings by Frank V. Dudley | Saturday, Jan. 28-Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 10 a.m.-5 p.m. | Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis | Cost of admission | See the work of Frank Dudley, who devoted his artistic career to capturing the Indiana Dunes’ beauty through the seasons.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

NEWS NOTES

Weather

39º | Mostly cloudy | 24% chance of rain

Development

More housing is in the works near Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield. A division of Fischer Homes is planning to build almost 80 townhouses on about seven acres on the south side of East 186th Street. Units would start at $450,000 for 1,800 sqft. The project will go before the planning commission next month. 🏗️ (IBJ)

Number

$6.8 million. That’s how much The Mind Trust — an Indy-based not-for-profit for education — recently secured in grant funding. The Lilly Endowment, Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, and Glick Philanthropies are responsible for the money, which will be used to make sure every Indy student has access to a good education. 💰 (IBJ)

Ranked

This might be surprising, but Indiana recently came in at No. 10 in a list of the best states to drive in, according to Wallethub. The site took into account the access and cost of car ownership and maintenance, traffic and infrastructure, and safety to come up with the rankings. 🚗

Plan Ahead

The Indiana State Museum’s 20th annual Geofest is set for Friday, Feb. 17-Sunday, Feb. 19. The price is included with admission and offers opportunities for fossil enthusiasts, crystal collectors, and rockhounds to learn about geology and take part in hands-on activities. Get the details. 🪨

Feel Good

Peter and Pam Groote are on a mission to visit every high school gym in the state. Since 2018, the married couple has started attending basketball games around Indiana and topping off the evening with dinner at a local restaurant. They’ve visited 110 gyms and have about 300 left. 🏀 (IndyStar)

Asked

OK, campers, rise and shine. Groundhog Day (Thursday, Feb. 2) is right around the corner, and it’s got us thinking about what day in Indy history we’d like to do over and over. Let us know yours and you may appear in a future newsletter. 📻

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Traffic

What we’re buying for our cars: Dash cams. The REDTIGER Dual Dash Camera captures both the front and rear of your car and can be a lifesaver when it comes to contesting traffic violations and recording evidence of collisions. Plus, it connects to your mobile device. 🚦*

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CAUSE

Shining a spotlight on 3 local nonprofits

Can you believe how many nonprofits there are in Marion County? | Photo via @munzypix

There are 11,415 different nonprofits in Marion County alone, according to the Indiana Nonprofit Database. Recently, three organizations have been making headlines for their work in the community.

Here’s a snapshot of what you need to know:

Horizon House

The nonprofit to end homelessness is addressing the housing shortage with a new strategic plan: a housing hub. Horizon House broke ground on Compass on Washington last year and it should be completed by May of 2024.

New Horizons Ukraine

Michelle and Michael Pratt have helped an estimated 600 people by transforming their 3,000-sqft basement into a refugee shelter. They recently started New Horizons Ukraine to rebuild war-damaged homes at no cost to the affected families. See how you can help.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Indiana

More than 1,400 kids are waiting to be mentored by Hoosiers in central Indiana. Hamilton, Johnson, and Marion counties are in search of mentors for kids ages 8-18, and if you’re at least 19 years old, pass a background check, and commit to a year, you can help.

Looking to get involved with your neighborhood nonprofit? We put together a list of 23 organizations to give back to in the Circle City.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Anna.

Editor’s pick: Is it just me, or has the pandemic taken away “regular spots” in Indy? Before 2020, I used to have a couple of old standby bars and spaces that I was a “regular” at, but now I frequent them less and less. Am I alone in this, or have you noticed a similar transition? Let me know.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Plan your Valentine’s Day date guide.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Anna Bowman, Nicole Hernandez, Josh Kranzberg, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Nicole Fancher | Advertise with us.

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