You hungry? Is it time for lunch yet? Perhaps even dinner? Or maybe some late night snacks or an ice-cold beer. Whatever you are looking for from cheeseburgers (some even come with peanut butter on the bun) to any number of microbrews, you don’t have to go far. Right here in the heart of Indianapolis, you can go to one of three different locations of Scotty’s Brewhouse. Note that the Lakehouse, which is owned by the same people, is not the same as Scotty’s but I will consider it the same for arguments sake.
Scotty’s is not just a restaurant. Scotty’s is also not just a bar. To some it is a second home. The north side location, on 96th street between Allisonville and Keystone Avenue, you will find my favorite Scotty’s Brewhouse. This location is always busy whether you go in for lunch on a Tuesday or for dinner on a Saturday night. There is usually a wait for a table if you choose to sit in the dining room but with a huge open seating bar it is not hard to find a place to order your next drink. And with televisions all around the restaurant, and even at most tables in the dining room, you are sure to catch the next best play from the big game.
But it is more than just great food and incredible drinks that makes Scotty’s a second home to my friends and me. It is the superb service, the price points that are impossible to beat on the north side of Indianapolis, and the atmosphere on a whole. The place feels safe. The servers are all young, witty, and quick to become your next Facebook friend request. Not to mention their event planning staff, who have been more than generous in working with my social media efforts. (Note that if you book an event with them, they will send you a gift card for filling out an online survey telling them what you liked or disliked about your experience.)
Basically, Scotty’s is what I like to call a modern day Cheers. Everyone knows my name when I walk in, most servers know what I am going to order to drink before they even get to my table, and even the managers interact with me on a daily basis on social networking sites like Twitter. It is a true honor to be able to have worked with Scotty’s Brewhouse here at rickyleepotts.com and I look forward to the experiences to come with both Scotty’s and The Lakehouse. This is bottoms up to a man who truly understands what it means to run a business.
The Circle City Chamber Group is an organization that I am glad to be involved with. The Circle City Chamber Group is based out of Indianapolis and puts focus on the city’s best visual, culinary, and musical artists. At any given event you can see artwork from a featured visual artist’s collection, taste food and drink pairings from any number of the CCCG’s loyal sponsors such as the Mass Ave Wine Shoppe, and hear classical music from any number of ensembles put together for one night only.
The group itself was started by a man named Andrew Lyon. Andrew has a great sense of passion for the arts and it shows in everything he does. Andrew, having moved here to Indianapolis to pursue a Masters in Orchestral Conducting degree at Butler University, has since been creating relationships all over the city on behalf of the CCCG. He has worked with places like Blu Nightclub, Hofmeister Personal Jewelry, and the Canterbury Hotel to create a wide range of opportunities for the quarterly events.
The relationship that I have build with the CCCG started with a potential website redesign. That was not possible at the time but I have since become not only their online marketing and social media coordinator but also have begun planning events on a smaller scale every month. We have what have been coined “Dine Outs” at local restaurants that are family owned and operated. For instance, we recently did one at Peterson’s Restaurant on the north side of Indianapolis. With the combination of Andrew’s passion for the arts and my passion for not only writing on these incredible events but also help planning them, the Circle City Chamber Group has so much potential. I recommend you coming out to the next event and see why the Circle City Chamber Group truly is the Rose of Indianapolis.
I am starving. Are you hungry? Let’s get something to eat, shall we? OK, who’s cooking? Not me! I could not find my way around a kitchen if I was dying of hunger! But I know one man who can.
Perhaps all you really need is a snack to hold you over until its time for dinner or you are looking as a way to impress your friends with some incredible appetizers for tonight’s dinner party. But what if you are craving something crazy turkey pot pie or breakfast tacos? Perhaps you are itching for some Mexican lasagna. Whatever you are thinking for breakfast, lunch, or dinner look no further than Cuisine Made Quick. Chris Hadley, the man behind Cuisine Made Quick, is by no means a chef. Chris hails from Indianapolis, Indiana and started this concept a while back in hopes of showing you how to make quality food on a realistic budget. Chris takes simple, everyday items such as table crackers or baked potatoes and shows you how to make a meal fit for a king.
Chris states that although he is not a chef he has lived with a roommate for a few years. He claims this is what forced him to learn how to prepare meals for one on a budget. While Chris spends his days working as a communications specialist for a large firm located in downtown Indianapolis, he spends his evening trying to think up the next episode of Cuisine Made Quick. He also takes the time to run a pretty solid personal social media campaign with a focus on Twitter. That is actually where I first me Chris was at an event hosts by fellow Twitter users.
The relationship that Cuisine Made Quick has made with this blog is one that I would not trade for the world. Chris knows his way around a kitchen, whether he is a chef or not, and has made some pretty tasty treats that make me want to learn how to cook. He also is a great friend that means more than anything he does online. So the next time you are hungry and looking to make something for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack then head over to Cuisine Made Quick and learn how you too can find your way around the kitchen. Who knows, you might just surprise yourself.
If you have not yet visited Vine & Table, drop what you are doing and go there immediately. I am not even sure where to begin in telling you how great this place is. Vine & Table is located in Carmel, Indiana, and has been serving up the latest and greatest wines, beers, spirits, and gourmet foods since 2007. Not only do they offer a wide selection of products to excite your palette, but they also have a staff of highly educated and skilled educators. These employees make you feel at home when you walk in and try to not treat you like a customer, but better yet, a friend.
Just inside the sliding doors of Vine & Table you are immediately hit with some options. You can go left and enter the grocery side (I feel so bad calling their incredible selection groceries) or you can go right and walk through aisles of wine bottles, beer bottles, and spirits. Pay close attention, as these two sides of the store are kept separate for a reason. You can thank an Indiana state law for this. So, when you are told you have to purchase your alcohol on one side and food on the other, blame no one but the state of Indiana. But all laws aside, the folks at Vine & Table try to make shopping as easy on you as possible by allowing you to leave your goods at the register if you want to venture to the other side.
At Vine & Table you can also take advantage of more than just a great selection of gourmet foods and fine spirits. They offer free Wi-Fi, plenty of comfortable seating, and a café in the back serving anything from fresh rolled sushi to homemade soups and salads. Not to mention the array of events that take place there. You can take part in Saturday tastings where you can walk, shop, and taste as you try to decide what best fits your palette. Sign up for their newsletter as well and receive information and invitations to featured events that they hold. I have been to a few of these and each one continues to impress me more and more. (Did I forget to mention that Vine & Table even does catering?)
Simply put, Vine & Table is a great place to shop. Whether you are planning a holiday party or simply looking for a wine to go with dinner, Vine & Table can help. The relationship that I have built with them is priceless, and I look forward to a future in writing with them in mind. If nothing else, I can sample a lot of beer and wine! (If you are unable to visit them in person make sure you follow them on Twitter to get updated information on all their events and specials or grab a copy of their newsletter!)