2013 Thread - Guide to Big East Cities...

[MUBoxer]

6 years ago a kid from Waterbury, CT with 3 years left until graduation tried to help some people visiting Milwaukee out. Sue me.

Didn't look at the date or your signature but all the same there's a little shame warranted for those two suggestions even as a sophomore.

[FriarJ]

Transportation
Indianapolis by car:
Known as the “Crossroads of America,” there are many ways to get to Indianapolis by road. Interstate 65 runs through Indianapolis from Chicago to the north and Louisville to the south. Interstate 69 runs south to Indianapolis from Detroit. Interstate 74 runs west from Cincinnati, and Interstate 70 runs to Indianapolis from Saint Louis in the west and from Columbus, Ohio, from the east. All of these highways run into Interstate 465, the beltway that goes all the way around Indianapolis.

Once you get to 465, take Exit 31 on the north side and turn right onto Meridian Street. Take Meridian south to 46th and turn right at the governor’s mansion. You’ll run straight into the Butler campus. Turn right on Sunset Avenue and Hinkle will be on your left after the curve. This isn’t necessarily the most direct route from all directions, but it’s the easiest and most picturesque drive.

1.5 hours from Dayton
2 hours from Cincinnati
2 hours from Louisville
3 hours from Chicago
4 hours from Saint Louis

Indianapolis by air:
The Indianapolis International Airport (IND) is the main hub for Indianapolis, although some choose to fly in and out of Dayton (DAY) because cheaper flights are sometimes available. It’s an easy 15 minute drive to Butler from the airport. Cabs are available at the airport to take you to Butler, but you’ll have to arrange transportation back to the airport ahead of time. Cabs are few and far between in Indianapolis. If you don’t drive in, rent a car. Don’t even bother trying to use the city’s bus system, IndyGo.

Hotels
To the north:

• The Doubletree Suites by Hilton – 11355 N. Meridian St. (Carmel, IN)
• Drury Inn – 9320 N Michigan Rd.

Downtown:

• Conrad Indianapolis – 50 W Washington St.
• Hyatt Regency – 1 S Capitol Ave (great view of the Statehouse)
• JW Marriott – 10 S West Street

By the airport:

• Wingate by Wyndham – 6300 Gateway Dr. (Plainfield, IN)
• Hilton Garden Inn – 8910 Hatfield Dr.

Restaurants
Broad Ripple
Broad Ripple Village is a cornerstone of Indianapolis youth culture and nightlife is a result of its thriving bar scene and the near presence of Butler University. It's essentially Butler's college town. The neighborhood is home to many of Indianapolis' premier locally owned restaurants, independent art galleries, private boutiques and specialty shops, and the popular Monon Trail.

• Plump’s Last Shot – 6416 Cornell Ave. – owned by Bobby Plump, a former Butler player who played on the Milan High School team that won the 1954 Indiana High School state basketball championship, which was the inspiration for the movie, Hoosiers. The final shot in the movie was taken from virtually the same spot on the floor of Hinkle Fieldhouse as Bobby Plump's actual game-winner, giving the restaurant its name. Eat the tenderloin – it’s an Indiana staple.
• Moe & Johnny’s – 5380 N College Ave. – a true Butler hangout, this place used to be called The Bulldog.
• Yat’s – 5363 N College Ave. – Get the Chili Cheese Étouffée with Crawfish. Has vegan and gluten free options. Across from Moe & Johnny’s. This is my favorite place in Indy and is a can’t miss if you like creole/Cajun.
• Union Jack Pub – I love the deep dish pizza if you have enough time. It’s a true Chicago-style deep dish that’s worth the wait.
• Broadripple Brewpub – Get the beer cheese crock as an appetizer. Has vegan options.
• Ripple Bagel & Deli – 850 Broad Ripple Ave. – Steamed sandwiches, all of them awesome.
• Bazbeaux Pizza – 811 E Westfield Blvd. – A Butler favorite, with your normal toppings in addition to some a bit more unusual.

Downtown

• Café Patachou – 225 W Washington St. – Breakfast and Lunch
• St. Elmo’s – 127 S Illinois St. – Indianapolis’s most famous steakhouse. Be prepared to shell out some dough, but there’s a reason. Get the shrimp cocktail and eat the cocktail sauce.
• Harry & Izzy’s – 153 S Illinois St. – Upscale but not extremely overpriced. This is my favorite restaurant in Indianapolis behind Yat’s. Gluten free options are available. This restaurant is St. Elmo’s less pricey younger brother, and they share the shrimp cocktail.
• Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery – 10 W Washington St.
• Scotty’s Brewhouse – 1 Virginia Ave. – Gluten free options, including buns for burgers. Awesome burgers and I love the pickle chips.

Area attractions

• Indianapolis Colts
• Indiana Pacers
• Indianapolis Indians (AAA Baseball)
• Indiana Ice (USHL)
• NCAA Hall of Champions
• Indianapolis Zoo
• Indianapolis Children’s Museum (fun for all ages)
• President Benjamin Harrison Hom
• Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
• Indianapolis Museum of Art

Shopping
There are three primary shopping districts. First is Circle Centre Mall, in the downtown area. The mall consists of over 100 stores on four levels and is anchored by Carson Pirie Scott. It also has a nine-screen movie theater. The mall occupies four buildings joined by a glass dome called the Artsgarden, which is owned and operated by the Arts Council of Indianapolis. Nine hotels connect to Circle Centre Mall via covered skywalks: Omni Severin Hotel, Canterbury Hotel, The Conrad, Embassy Suites, Hyatt Regency, Marriott, Westin, Crowne Plaza, and JW Marriott. In fact, much of Indianapolis is connected by skywalks and underground walkways. You just have to know where to find them.

The second shopping area is the Keystone Avenue/Castleton area. The Fashion Mall at Keystone is an upscale shopping center and is located off I-465 at 86th Street and Keystone Avenue. It is anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Nordstrom and includes one of the first Microsoft standalone stores in the country. Also in this area is the Castleton Mall, which is the largest and busiest mall in the state. The largest stores are Dick's Sporting Goods, JCPenney, Macy's, Von Maur, and Sears.

The third (and newest) shopping area, Clay Terrace, is a “lifestyle center” which I think means it’s an outdoor mall. It has some decent restaurants and some of the normal stores you find in every mall, plus some other unique stores.

I was in Indianapolis to experience the Giants shocking my Pats. Stood in line for over an hour to get into St. Elmo's. As we were being escorted in to our table and walking past the bar a hand came out of the throng of Giants fans there and grabbed my arm. Turns out is was a father and son who happened to be a wealthy season ticket holder of the Pats and he invited us to stand/sit with them because he wanted some Pat's fans near him. Would not let us pay for anything. The food was great as you would expect. If I can get to a Butler/PC game there I will surely go back there. I really enjoyed the city and even though I am a Pats fan I was treated wonderfully by every Colts fan I ran into. Quite a few I met said they were going to root for the Giants but after a week of their fans they have changed their mind.

[FriarJ]

Bump to get some UConn information.

Storrs is a nice small town, out in rural east central Connecticut.

Hartford, if playing at the XL Center, i'd love to get recommendations for visiting fans.

Recommendation for Hartford, (1) go to the game, (2) Go home.

I'm kidding! Partly.

[FriarJ]

Milwaukee/Marquette
The Bradley Center, where Marquette plays, is located downtown. It is bordered on the north by Highland Ave and on the south by State Street. It is between 4th street and 6th street.

TRANSPORTATION:

-Milwaukee's Mitchell airport is a little outside the city, so you will likely want to take a bus to the Badger Bus stop downtown (there is also a car rental place there if you choose to take that route). A taxi from the airport to downtown will run you about $30.
-Milwaukee is located on Interstates 94 and 43. If you take the I 43 Kilbourn exit you will come out one block south of the Bradley Center (also called the BMO, these days).
-We don't have much for rail, but there is supposed to be a new streetcar system installed for 2016 if you don't plan on coming in the next year or two.

HOTELS:

-The closest hotel to the BMO is the Hyatt, which is one block south on Kilbourn and 4th.
-Also within walking distance is the Hilton (3 blocks) on Wisconsin Avenue, the Doubletree (3 blocks) on WIsconsin and 6th, the Courtyard (4.5 blocks) on Michigan st., Hampton Inn (6 blocks) on Wisconsin and 2nd, and Residence Inn (7 blocks) on Plankinton.
Full disclosure: I have never stayed in a hotel in Milwaukee.

RESTAURANTS/PUBS:

-If you are going to a Marquette game, you have to stop at Major Goolsby's (4th and Kilbourn, 1 block south of BMO). It's a sports bar/restaurant/Milwaukee tradition. Just pencil it in.
-The Safe House is a local spy themed restaurant located basically in an alley across the river (technically Front Street). You will need the password to get in if you arrive after 8. If you don't have the password and arrive after 8 you will be asked to do something ridiculous to gain entry.
-Milwaukee is known for our German heritage. Mader's is a great German restaurant on Old World 3rd Street (1 block). Great German food, decent wine selection. If you want a less expensive German option the Old German Beer Hall, also on 3rd, has decent food (definitely check the online menu first though, to make sure it's in your comfort zone).
-I highly recommend anything on the Riverwalk (2 blocks from the BMO) just for the ambiance. If you happened to stop by the Rock Bottom, that's my personal favorite.
-Molly Cool's is a pretty good seafood place that's conveniently located on the Riverwalk (2 blocks East).
-The Milwaukee Cheese Mart on 3rd has a great local cheese and beer selection (it's mostly a bar, though).
-AJ Bombers (4 blocks east, 2 blocks north) has some of the best burgers in Milwaukee, cool atmosphere too. (Sobelman's is also a contender for best burger in Milwaukee, but they don't really have a location close enough to the BMO for walking. If you have a car I recommend googling directions to one).
-The King and Thai and the Thai Palace (guess what kind of food they have) are on 3rd street (1 block over, 2 down).
-Benihana (2 blocks) on Kilbourn and Plankinton is decent Japanese, as is Kiku (3 blocks down, 2 over).
-The local diner chain, George Webb, is 2 blocks down on 3rd. Nothing special, but is open 24 hours.

THE ARTS:
-The Milwaukee Art Museum has a pretty good selection and their own parking (you will have to drive to the lakefront).
-The Haggerty Museum of Art is located on the Marquette campus if you want to visit.
-We also have the St. Joan of Arc chapel, which is an intact Medieval church transported here from France. Lots of original Medieval pieces that you can actually handle too.
-Villa Terrace is a cool Museum, Mediterranean themed. They have art pieces, but the best part is the garden (IMO) which it will likely be too cold to explore in season.
-The Pabst Mansion is really cool, as is the Pabst Theater.
-The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (3 blocks from BMO across the river) is home to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Ballet, and the Florentine Opera.

SHOPPING:
-The Grand Avenue Mall is on Wisconsin (3 blocks down, 2 over). Not anything special, it's a mall.
-There are lots of small shops and other things in the 3rd ward, but you will have to drive there unless you want to walk 20-25 min.

BEACHES, OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
-Bradford is a decent beach. It is definitely a drive away (North on Lincoln Memorial), and by the time you get here it will most likely be closed for the winter. We have other beaches, but same rules apply.
-Miller Brewery does free tours with free beer at the end.
-The Bucks will probably be in season if you are staying a few days, and don't mind some sub-par pro basketball.
-We also have the Brewers (who will be out of season)
-The Admirals (AHL hockey team) are usually pretty good.
-The Wave are professional an indoor soccer team, which is kind of similar to watching a hockey game. They are usually near the top of the league in the MSL (highest level of professional indoor soccer).
-UW-Milwaukee also has a D1 basketball team (sort of) if you're the kind of person who likes to watch a train wreck.
All of these sports teams (except the Brewers) play at either the BMO or US Cellular arena (across the street from the BMO).
-River cruises during the warmer months are fun and (relatively) cheap. They can range from dinner cruises to late night party cruises.

Conclusion
I have tried to keep this list to things near the Bradley Center (BMO), and have generally given approximate distances. There is much more to see in Milwaukee including the Milwaukee County Zoo, Fairgrounds, the National Olympic Training Center (ice rink), and the Potawatomi Casino. All are definitely worth a visit if you have the time and feel comfortable leaving the area immediately around the Bradley Center. Any other Marquette fans feel free to add. Y'all have fun now, and don't forget to hit me up if you are going drinking on 3rd or Water.

Did you seriously recommend two national chains of Benihana and Rock Bottom to people visiting? Why not include Applebee's and Chili's while you're at it?

Food: Bombers is cool but there's one in Madison. Go to Oscars or soblemans for a burger. Blue Cafe is African fair and rated the best restaurant in WI on yelp. Bayview is filled with awesome speakeasies and restaurants worth hitting up. For wings go to Points East Pub I am not understating just how incredible and unique the wings are and I have driven back to Milwaukee just to pick them up and bring them back to Chicago. Brat Haus is where to find the Milwaukee staple of the brat and it right by the stadium.

Things to do: skip the miller brewery and do one of the local tours. MKE will get you faced on great beer, Lakefront has one of the best tours in the state and is scenic on the river. And Good City is probably the best beer.

If there during the summer: Humboldt park beer garden and bayview beer gardens are great. Milwaukee is proud of its beer culture so there's German style beer gardens in a lot of the parks. Those two are the most picturesque.

Is The Safehouse still around? I went there as an 19 year old when Wisconsin was still 18 I believe.

[MUBoxer]

Milwaukee/Marquette
The Bradley Center, where Marquette plays, is located downtown. It is bordered on the north by Highland Ave and on the south by State Street. It is between 4th street and 6th street.

TRANSPORTATION:

-Milwaukee's Mitchell airport is a little outside the city, so you will likely want to take a bus to the Badger Bus stop downtown (there is also a car rental place there if you choose to take that route). A taxi from the airport to downtown will run you about $30.
-Milwaukee is located on Interstates 94 and 43. If you take the I 43 Kilbourn exit you will come out one block south of the Bradley Center (also called the BMO, these days).
-We don't have much for rail, but there is supposed to be a new streetcar system installed for 2016 if you don't plan on coming in the next year or two.

HOTELS:

-The closest hotel to the BMO is the Hyatt, which is one block south on Kilbourn and 4th.
-Also within walking distance is the Hilton (3 blocks) on Wisconsin Avenue, the Doubletree (3 blocks) on WIsconsin and 6th, the Courtyard (4.5 blocks) on Michigan st., Hampton Inn (6 blocks) on Wisconsin and 2nd, and Residence Inn (7 blocks) on Plankinton.
Full disclosure: I have never stayed in a hotel in Milwaukee.

RESTAURANTS/PUBS:

-If you are going to a Marquette game, you have to stop at Major Goolsby's (4th and Kilbourn, 1 block south of BMO). It's a sports bar/restaurant/Milwaukee tradition. Just pencil it in.
-The Safe House is a local spy themed restaurant located basically in an alley across the river (technically Front Street). You will need the password to get in if you arrive after 8. If you don't have the password and arrive after 8 you will be asked to do something ridiculous to gain entry.
-Milwaukee is known for our German heritage. Mader's is a great German restaurant on Old World 3rd Street (1 block). Great German food, decent wine selection. If you want a less expensive German option the Old German Beer Hall, also on 3rd, has decent food (definitely check the online menu first though, to make sure it's in your comfort zone).
-I highly recommend anything on the Riverwalk (2 blocks from the BMO) just for the ambiance. If you happened to stop by the Rock Bottom, that's my personal favorite.
-Molly Cool's is a pretty good seafood place that's conveniently located on the Riverwalk (2 blocks East).
-The Milwaukee Cheese Mart on 3rd has a great local cheese and beer selection (it's mostly a bar, though).
-AJ Bombers (4 blocks east, 2 blocks north) has some of the best burgers in Milwaukee, cool atmosphere too. (Sobelman's is also a contender for best burger in Milwaukee, but they don't really have a location close enough to the BMO for walking. If you have a car I recommend googling directions to one).
-The King and Thai and the Thai Palace (guess what kind of food they have) are on 3rd street (1 block over, 2 down).
-Benihana (2 blocks) on Kilbourn and Plankinton is decent Japanese, as is Kiku (3 blocks down, 2 over).
-The local diner chain, George Webb, is 2 blocks down on 3rd. Nothing special, but is open 24 hours.

THE ARTS:
-The Milwaukee Art Museum has a pretty good selection and their own parking (you will have to drive to the lakefront).
-The Haggerty Museum of Art is located on the Marquette campus if you want to visit.
-We also have the St. Joan of Arc chapel, which is an intact Medieval church transported here from France. Lots of original Medieval pieces that you can actually handle too.
-Villa Terrace is a cool Museum, Mediterranean themed. They have art pieces, but the best part is the garden (IMO) which it will likely be too cold to explore in season.
-The Pabst Mansion is really cool, as is the Pabst Theater.
-The Marcus Center for the Performing Arts (3 blocks from BMO across the river) is home to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Milwaukee Ballet, and the Florentine Opera.

SHOPPING:
-The Grand Avenue Mall is on Wisconsin (3 blocks down, 2 over). Not anything special, it's a mall.
-There are lots of small shops and other things in the 3rd ward, but you will have to drive there unless you want to walk 20-25 min.

BEACHES, OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST:
-Bradford is a decent beach. It is definitely a drive away (North on Lincoln Memorial), and by the time you get here it will most likely be closed for the winter. We have other beaches, but same rules apply.
-Miller Brewery does free tours with free beer at the end.
-The Bucks will probably be in season if you are staying a few days, and don't mind some sub-par pro basketball.
-We also have the Brewers (who will be out of season)
-The Admirals (AHL hockey team) are usually pretty good.
-The Wave are professional an indoor soccer team, which is kind of similar to watching a hockey game. They are usually near the top of the league in the MSL (highest level of professional indoor soccer).
-UW-Milwaukee also has a D1 basketball team (sort of) if you're the kind of person who likes to watch a train wreck.
All of these sports teams (except the Brewers) play at either the BMO or US Cellular arena (across the street from the BMO).
-River cruises during the warmer months are fun and (relatively) cheap. They can range from dinner cruises to late night party cruises.

Conclusion
I have tried to keep this list to things near the Bradley Center (BMO), and have generally given approximate distances. There is much more to see in Milwaukee including the Milwaukee County Zoo, Fairgrounds, the National Olympic Training Center (ice rink), and the Potawatomi Casino. All are definitely worth a visit if you have the time and feel comfortable leaving the area immediately around the Bradley Center. Any other Marquette fans feel free to add. Y'all have fun now, and don't forget to hit me up if you are going drinking on 3rd or Water.

Did you seriously recommend two national chains of Benihana and Rock Bottom to people visiting? Why not include Applebee's and Chili's while you're at it?

Food: Bombers is cool but there's one in Madison. Go to Oscars or soblemans for a burger. Blue Cafe is African fair and rated the best restaurant in WI on yelp. Bayview is filled with awesome speakeasies and restaurants worth hitting up. For wings go to Points East Pub I am not understating just how incredible and unique the wings are and I have driven back to Milwaukee just to pick them up and bring them back to Chicago. Brat Haus is where to find the Milwaukee staple of the brat and it right by the stadium.

Things to do: skip the miller brewery and do one of the local tours. MKE will get you faced on great beer, Lakefront has one of the best tours in the state and is scenic on the river. And Good City is probably the best beer.

If there during the summer: Humboldt park beer garden and bayview beer gardens are great. Milwaukee is proud of its beer culture so there's German style beer gardens in a lot of the parks. Those two are the most picturesque.

Is The Safehouse still around? I went there as an 19 year old when Wisconsin was still 18 I believe.

It is but around the time I was a junior they added a lot more signage to get there and it's more of a family spot than the stories I've heard from years back. so it's no longer nearly as cool as it once was.

Not to mention they added a location in Chicago so it's not really a MKE staple anymore.

[marquette]

6 years ago a kid from Waterbury, CT with 3 years left until graduation tried to help some people visiting Milwaukee out. Sue me.

Didn't look at the date or your signature but all the same there's a little shame warranted for those two suggestions even as a sophomore.

I'm not saying a little ball-busting is unwarranted, but I might have started with the "why is this guy still calling it the Bradley Center?" angle.

[MUBoxer]

6 years ago a kid from Waterbury, CT with 3 years left until graduation tried to help some people visiting Milwaukee out. Sue me.

Didn't look at the date or your signature but all the same there's a little shame warranted for those two suggestions even as a sophomore.

I'm not saying a little ball-busting is unwarranted, but I might have started with the "why is this guy still calling it the Bradley Center?" angle.

Lmao clearly not used to calling it the fiserv yet

[Django]

It’d be nice to get something from NY, DC, Philly and CT on here, time for the big cities to step it up

[FriarJ]

It is but around the time I was a junior they added a lot more signage to get there and it's more of a family spot than the stories I've heard from years back. so it's no longer nearly as cool as it once was.

Not to mention they added a location in Chicago so it's not really a MKE staple anymore.

That is too bad, it was the craziest place I had ever been when I went there in 81. Not a sign anywhere and once you got in the vestibule to get in the place somebody came on a loudspeaker and made us do something outlandish to get entrance which the entire bar was watching on a CCTV. The ladies room had a lifesize poster of the Burt Reynolds Playgirl centerfold that whenever a female touched it, it set off alarms all over the bar so when the girl came out of the ladies room you knew who had done it. The Barstools raised feet off the ground without any warning. Just nuts

[MUBoxer]

It’d be nice to get something from NY, DC, Philly and CT on here, time for the big cities to step it up

I've been in Chicago my whole non Ireland and Milwaukee life so I could do loads on that but I don't wanna take the moment in the spotlight from some poor Depaul fan