By the numbers

• -43% | Percent change in walking trips in Indiana
• -47% | Percent change in walking trips in Indianapolis-Carmel
• 31 | Indianapolis’s score out of 100 on Walk Score’s walkability meter

Where to walk the walk

• Monon Trail | Stretching 26 miles all the way from downtown Indy to Sheridan, there are thousands of places you can jump on the trail and get going.
• Virginia Avenue | There’s something for everyone here, from breweries + distilleries to hot chicken sandwiches to vintage clothing boutiques.
• Holcomb Gardens | Located in the heart of Butler University’s campus, the gardens encompass 20 acres of native flora sprinkled with charming nooks like the garden house, the gazebo, and the poets’ corner.
• Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park | Cap off a stroll around the lake and pollinator gardens with a picnic on “Funky Bones” or a sesh on the swings.

• Bass Showcase: Hope For The Holidays 7 | Tuesday, Dec. 19 | 8 p.m. | HI-FI Indy & HI-FI Annex, 1043 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis | $10 | Enjoy live music, live painting, and raffle prizes at this event benefiting Hope for the Holidays.

• The Illusionists - Magic of the Holidays | Wednesday, Dec. 20 | 7:30 p.m. | Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., Indianapolis | $39+ | Witness this mind-blowing spectacle featuring the most incredible illusionists on Earth.

• Karaoke Night in TOC | Thursday, Dec. 21 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | North Mass Boulder, 1411 Roosevelt Ave., Indianapolis | Free | Unleash your inner singer and bring your favorite songs to sing your heart out.

• Indianapolis Ballet Family Series: Nutcracker Sweets | Friday, Dec. 22 | 12-1 p.m. | The Toby at Newfields, 4000 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis | $25-$35 | Experience a one-hour abbreviated version of the classic holiday ballet “The Nutcracker.”

• Gateway Classic Cars Indianapolis Caffeine and Chrome | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Gateway Classic Cars of Indianapolis, 4400 W. 96th St., Ste. 200, Indianapolis | Free | Indulge in coffee and pastries while admiring classic, exotic, and muscle cars.
• Indiana Pacers vs. Orlando Magic | Saturday, Dec. 23 | 7 p.m. | Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis | $11+ | Watch the Pacers take on the Orlando Magic in an exciting home game.

• VillageMD, a subsidiary of Walgreens, is closing four primary care clinics in central Indiana. If you’ve received a letter informing you that the office you visit is closing, be sure to contact your doctor directly — many practices will continue operating as usual but under a new name. (IBJ)

• The Taco Bell Cantina planned for the former Sugarfire Smoke House location downtown is facing delays. A lawsuit filed by the franchisee who runs the Taco Bell in Circle Centre Mall cites unfair competition between the two locations. We’ll let you know when we hear more. (IBJ)

• A new event is coming to the competitive pickleball world. The US Collegiate Championships and Midwest Open is taking place Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Sunday, Jan. 7 at Grand Park Sports Campus in Westfield. Register to play or get spectator tickets.

• Kountry Kitchen Soul Food Place will once again host its Free Christmas Day Dinner Giveaway. Individuals and families can stop by the restaurant at 1831 N. College Ave. to pick up four meals per household or call 317-635-6000 ext. 1 to have meals delivered.

• Money released its list of “50 Best Places to Live in the US,” and coming in at No. 19 is Carmel. It earned top marks for its safely walkable neighborhoods + trails, excellent schools, and famous seasonal events.

• Local legend Jeanetta Holder, better known as the Indy 500 “Quilt Lady,” has died at the age of 91. Over the years, she gifted more than 40 handmade quilts to Indy 500 winners. (IndyStar)

• Get 20% off single-day tickets for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming happening on June 19, 2024. Snag the deal to see Team USA at Lucas Oil Stadium (offer available today only).*

• “Cat’s Cradle” by Kurt Vonnegut | This dark sci-fi novel satirizes technology, religion, and science in school.
• “When Stars Rain Down” by Angela Jackson-Brown | Explore the Deep South through this portrait of a family and its community in 1936.
• “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green | The novel-turned-movie is a coming-of-age romance that features “Funky Bones.”
• “Dear Black Girl: Letters From Your Sisters on Stepping Into Your Power” by Tamara Winfrey Harris | The voices of Black women take center stage in this collection of affirmations and empowerment for girls everywhere.
• “The Magnificent Ambersons” by Booth Tarkington | The second story in Tarkington’s “Growth” trilogy revolves around a fictionalized version of Woodruff Place and the declining fortunes of an aristocratic family.