The Epicenter of Awesome

It is an exciting time here in Indianapolis.  The eyes of over 100 million viewers will be focused on the Circle City Sunday night as the Giants and Patriots face off in Super Bowl XLVI.  Those of us who live here know that the city will shine as a bastion of hospitality.  We are proud of our city and can't wait to show it off to the wider world who seem determined to see us as the city we were in the 1980's, the Indianapolis known as Nap-Town and Indian-no-place.  We Indy folks feel like we've known the secret about how great this city is for a long time, and now, it's about time we let everyone else in on it. 

And from what we're hearing, people are really enjoying all that this city has to offer.

But we're not really ones for hearsay, so on Thursday, it was time for us to go downtown and enjoy what everyone else has been raving about.

The city is absolutely electric.  There is an energy that is coursing through the streets, and everyone seems to be having a good time.  There was so much to see and do, our 12 hours downtown only scratched the surface.  Here are our highlights.

We pause on Pan Am Plaza in front of the ESPN broadcast studio

First stop was Pan Am Plaza where ESPN had set up their broadcast studios.  We saw Bob Ryan wandering amongst the crowds, Herm Edwards (who some people in the crowd kept referring to as Tony Dungy) hurrying to an appointment, and Rachel Nichols do a report live to Sports Center.

Then it was down to the NFL Experience in the Convention Center, two blocks away, where we attempted to show the Colts, and any other NFL scout what they were missing on their roster.  Unfortunately for our future football careers, it is unlikely that we will be the next Colts Quarterback, starting or back-up.  Maybe, when we have a kid, they will show us up.  Actually, let's call that probable.  Regardless of our future kid's skill with a pigskin, the Experience certainly was a place where a young one (or a young one at heart) could have hours of fun.

Troy demonstrates his laser rocket arm.

Toni's form leaves much to be desired.  And the result is an epic fail.  Fortunately, the onlookers were kind.  (Troy's photography skills mean he should stick with his day job!)

After our unspectacular showing at the NFL Experience, we went outside and watched a marching band perform on Capital Avenue as zip line riders soared overhead, waiving and cheering to those below.

Three zipliners ride high over Capital Avenue (upside down, mind you) with Lucas Oil Stadium in the background.

We wandered down Georgia Street, which is the home of Super Bowl Village with stages, ice carvings and more skills tests.

Super Bowl Village on Georgia Street

Then we decided to relax down at the Slippery Noodle, a bar and blues music joint just north of the stadium.  When we got there around 5 pm, we didn't intend to stick around all night, but a few hours later, with front row seats, we decided staying around for the 9 pm The Why Store concert would be a way to cap off our evening.  I'd never heard their music before, but once they started playing, the bar came alive, and our front row seats were coveted.  As it turns out, during the second set, a number of revelers decided it was time to dance, and they did so in the only open place in the joint, a small aisle right in front of the stage. 

Front row for The Why Store at the Slippery Noodle

As patrons and waiters were dodging drunken dancers, the crowd started to back up.  An older gentleman, who looked vaguely familiar, stood at our table waiting for a break in traffic.  "It could be a while," I said, which was invitation enough to engage me in a round of Colts trivia to see if I was, as I claimed to be, a true Colts fan.  At the end, he asked if the guy I was with was my husband.  I said yes.  He asked if he was a good guy.  "Absolutely."  Then he asked to see my ring.  Trusting Hoosier that I am, I held out my hand and he slipped on a huge, sparkly gold ring emblazoned with a blue sapphire Colts horseshoe, diamonds and the words, "2009 AFC Champions".  After exclaiming over the sight of this impressive ring on my finger, I turned it around to discover that the vaguely familiar man who I had been talking to was recently fired Colts Special Teams Coach, Ray Rychleski. 

Now THAT is some serious bling.

For those who don't know, I have a special place in my heart for the Special Teams, which I told him.  Then I said, "You know, I'm here in the jersey of my favorite player of all time." 

He looked at my number 17 jersey and asked, "Austin Collie?"

"Oh, no.  Hunter Smith."

That got quite a laugh from the Coach, who said (as if I needed to be reminded) that he never coached Hunter but he'd heard great things about him and that he still lived in the area.

Then he went on to lament his lack of a returner.  He wanted Courtney Roby.  Had he had a returner, he wouldn't have been fired.  I didn't have the heart to tell him that a returner would have only solved half of his problems unless the returner was also an awesome tackler to cover punts and kickoffs.  Regardless, it was nice of him to let me live vicariously through him briefly.

Our night ended early, before Jimmy Fallon and the Roots made a repeat appearance at the Noodle, but the time we spent downtown was enough to make me proud of, and happy for, the city of Indianapolis.

Maybe this is a first, but not a last.