OT- Pacers/Spurs Black Friday game

Post #1 » by **Grang33r** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 7:03 am

Sorry to clutter this board, and i know it's still over a week away. My brother and I are driving 12 hours over night to Indianapolis and would def appreciate some help. Last time i was in Indianapolis, i wasn't 21 (was there for a soccer tournament), so i didn't do anything there (im 27 now).

I'm staying at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 401 E. Washington avenue, from Friday til Sunday.

Questions-

1. What are the best bars walking distance from this hotel (which is near the Fieldhouse). We're looking for spots for pre-game, post-game and also Saturday night...
2. What are the best local restaurants? I want to visit Bobby Plump's restaurant at some point...
3. What time do your bars remain open til? Assuming 2am?
4. Besides the official team shop, any other cool sports stores in the area that sell Pacers gear?
5. Does anyone want to meet up? Prior to, during, or after the game?
6. Anything else would you recommend seeing, since we'll be free all day Saturday?

Thanks in advance!

ps. Our ticket are in section 224.

Wizop · Post #2 » by **Wizop** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:22 pm

there is a row of young peoples bars and clubs on S Meridian which you could walk to. Slippery Noodle at South and Meridian is a blues spot. plenty of pregame eats on S Pennsylvania. also some very good eats along Mass Avenue but that is taking you away from the game and going up scale. several up scale steak places near the Fieldhouse if your budget is unlimited. I like Moe's best, but if you are on the kind of budget I was on at your age you might try Scotty's Brewhouse or Pearl St Pizza.

there is a downtown mall but I don't know that you'll find pacers gear there that you can't find at the fieldhouse. there is a Colts shop though. Colts play Bills Sunday at 1. scalping is legal in Indy so you could get tickets on the street. there are probably some unsold seats too. if you aren't going, you probably want to get out of downtown by mid-morning.

Plump's is in Broad Ripple and that's the major young people's night spot. it's roughly 15 minutes to half an hour north of downtown. you'll need to designate a driver but that's probably your Saturday night destination. plenty of places to eat in Broad Ripple and even more places to drink.

Post #3 » by **Grang33r** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 4:22 am

Thanks for all that info!

ps. We are going to Bills/Colts game and leaving town right after.

Post #4 » by **Scoot McGroot** » Wed Nov 14, 2012 10:57 pm

If you like good live music, the Slippery Noodle is a must visit. Blues primarily, but great music.

Post #5 » by **Grang33r** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:34 am

Sweet! Will check that out too. Feel free to add anything else, at any time!

Despite playing horrible, I'm still excited to visit your city!

Post #6 » by **Jake0890** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 2:44 am

Just curious, why are you a Pacers fan and have never lived here?_

Post #7 » by **Grang33r** » Thu Nov 15, 2012 3:16 am

Jake0890 wrote:Just curious, why are you a Pacers fan and have never lived here?_

I was born in Poland. And prior to moving to America, i used to always play basketball and soccer. NBA games in Europe at the time were rare, essp someone other then the Celtics, Lakers or Bulls. I once saw a Pacers game (without knowing where Indiana was even located on the map), and loved the passion and desire Reggie Miller had. So on the playground, before we played 3v3 or whatever, everyone chose players names that they were that game, and i always selected "Reggie Miller" because i always played with passion myself. Long story short, when I moved to the States, after learning English, i kept on learning about Indiana. I fell in love with the peoples passion and pride in basketball, essp on my two trips to Indianapolis, where i sound countless people playing basketball in their driveways and seeing Pacers gear everywhere. I moved to US in 1992, and always asked teachers to read the newspaper to see the scores. Guess you can say it was love at first sight!

I've followed them ever since. Seen them play multiple times on the road: Toronto, Cleveland and New Jersey. Once in Indianapolis. The other time i was there I was there for a soccer tournament, and went to see Conseco Fieldhouse but it was summer and no games played there.

Post #8 » by **Grang33r** » Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:21 am

Too bad Stephen Jackson is now out for the next several weeks and will miss this game.

So, anyone got last minute tips or wanna meet up?

Post #9 » by **Grang33r** » Thu Nov 22, 2012 11:01 pm

Just ate a giant feast. Now bout to take a nap, and when i wake up, drive 11hr over night to Indianapolis!!! Hopefully in time to make it to the Black Friday sale at the fieldhouse. Prolly not tho.

If anyone wants to meet up before the game tomorrow night text/call me.... 585.319.1310. Or shoot me a message on twitter (@PiastKing)!

jowglenn · Post #10 » by **jowglenn** » Fri Nov 23, 2012 9:02 am

Most heart-warming thread ever

Wizop · Post #11 » by **Wizop** » Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:48 pm

so how was your weekend? what did you wind up doing and did it work out?

Post #12 » by **Grang33r** » Wed Nov 28, 2012 4:55 am

Sorry i couldn't get on here quicker.

The weekend in your city was excellent. Loved it.

We arrived around 1030am, which was key, because the team shop was having a Black Friday sale until 11am. So i picked up some good stuff at a low price (including a George Hill jersey). After that, we went to sonic, which was pretty close by, pretty much straight down Washington street to Speedway. First time at Sonic, and it was great! It was pretty chilly Friday night, so we first went to "the pub" neat Conseco, and decided to go there afterwords. The Jermaine O'Neal painting on the wall won us over. But, the people there were so incredibly nice. Very friendly. And talking basketball with the people we met, including girls, was awesome. It's like everyone knew their stuff.

Loved the game. We played as well as one can expect, but Duncan and Parker were just too much. And we had a late collapse. Hibbert should of made more of his late game chances but it wasn't just that.

After the game, we went back to the pub because we loved it so much before the game. Food was amazing. And they were open til 3am, which was KEY! The waitress we had was awesome, a cute blonde. Very friendly. We were talking to her about where we should go Saturday night to go out and for the ND/USC game, and she invited us back to the pub because thats where she was going with her friends. She said they may bar hop but she wasn't sure. So we returned back Saturday night, and had a blast and again stayed there all night with her and her friends. Laughing, talking hoops and drinking til we dropped. And walking out of a bar at like 3am, and walking past the Fieldhouse was surreal.

Earlier in the day on Saturday, we woke up, walked around the city. We were both hungover so the walk was cool. Took some pictures, of the statue, saw the Christmas tree that was lit the night prior. Very beautiful city. Very clean. We also went to the Circle Centre Mall. Awesome place. Didn't see much of Pacers stuff there at all, but did buy a cool Pacers hat at Lids, as they had a massive selection of hats. After walking around the city and mall for 2 hours, we returned to our hotel, and got the car and drove to Plump's last shot, and ate lunch there. I had the chicken and fries. Very good, like everything else in the city. Seeing all the pictures was amazing... but, Bobby Plump himself was there! Got to meet and talk to him which was obviously very cool. He introduced me to his wife, which turns out to be from Syracuse, NY (which is pretty close to where I live now). Plump talked a lot about Gregg Popovich and how he is from Indiana and said he hates losing here.

So, after that, we went back to downtown, and we both fell asleep watching college football. Woke up, showered and went out back to the Pub and met up with the girl. Which, honestly i at-first i thought she was BS'in me and just being nice, but no, she was legit, and was there.

Sunday we woke up early, and met up with some Bills fans (we're both Bills fans), people had planned tailgates per Bills message boards, so we met up with some fans and there was a quite a bit of fans who came. Partied with them. We decided to stay another night, so before going to the Bills game, we booked our room for Sunday night as well. After the Bills game we were both very beat. Thursday night we drove all night, Friday and Saturday night we drank til 3am, and Sunday we drank all morning. So, we got to our room, and ordered Papa John's pizza, and watched Sunday Night Football. Woke up Monday and drove home.

Miss Indianapolis already, and can't wait to return next season!

Wizop · Post #13 » by **Wizop** » Thu Nov 29, 2012 7:51 pm

glad you had fun. Pacers normally have a home game the Friday after Thanksgiving. I've been taking a family group for years. the game used to be on Thursday but it's usually Friday now. the Bills won't be back next year nor will the Colts be in Buffalo.

actually there aren't a lot of Shony's here. that more of a Southern institution. Steak N Shake did start here though and many out of towners make a point of going there for burgers. if you do Plump's again, I'm pretty sure it's one of the places that serve good tenderloin sandwiches. breaded tenderloins too big to fit in the bun are as much a hoosier institution as wings or beef on a weck are in Buffalo.