Nightclubs and bars in Indiana

Located on the campus of Indiana University in Bloomington, the 3,200-seat Indiana University Auditorium was established in 1941. It occupies a limestone building constructed as a Federal Works Agency project between 1938 and 1941 during the Great Depression. The auditorium originally hosted only classical concerts, but now features productions by the Indiana University Department of Theater and Drama, concerts by internationally renowned artists and performers, community ceremonies, and lectures by important figures in government, science, and the arts.

In addition to providing one of the finest entertainment venues in south-central Indiana, the auditorium houses the Dailey Family Memorial Collection of Hoosier Art, a mural by Thomas Hart Benton, and the Indiana University Auditorium Organ.

The Dailey Family Memorial Collection of Hoosier Art was donated by Frank and Edna Dailey beginning in the early 1940s. They collected works by Indiana artists, many of which portray Indiana scenes. They made donations to the university as their collection expanded with new pieces and they ran out of space at their home. After their deaths, all of the 100-piece collection ended up at the university.

The Indiana state legislature commissioned renowned artist Thomas Hart Benton to paint murals to decorate the Indiana Hall at the "Century of Progress" exposition at the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. He painted a continuous mural 12 feet (seven meters) high and 250 feet (76 meters) long, entitled the Social and Industrial History of Indiana. After the world's fair, the mural ended up in a warehouse until 1940, when the president of Indiana University convinced the state legislature to donate it to the university.

What is now the Indiana University Auditorium Organ was built in 1889 by Hilborne Roosevelt. It was installed in the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, and remained there until 1942, when it was sold to a private individual. He donated it to the university in 1944. The 4,543-pipe organ is one of the world's finest examples of a large recital organ.

The Murat Centre is one of the premier venues in Indianapolis for performances by popular artists. Completed in 1910, it was designed to be one of the largest Masonic Shrines in the United States. In keeping with a Masonic theme, the building features Arabic and Egyptian architecture, including minarets, copper domes, tiers of corbelled and pyramidal terra cotta, and patterned brickwork. Renovation of the Murat Centre was completed in 1995 and included a state-of-the-art sound and light system.

Concert facilities within the center include the Murat Theatre, the Egyptian Room, the Grand Lobby, and the Corinthian Hall.

The Murat Centre has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Many communities in Indiana seems to have a small intimate theater in town. They only produce 6-8 shows a year, so you may have to look around to find one that's playing during your visit. That's where having a group of nearby towns helps.

Northwest Indiana:
Chesterton
Valparaiso has two
Michigan City

West Lafayette at Purdue University
Bloomington at Indiana University

Dress Code: Usually casual, although many dress up and make a night of dinner and the theater.

The newest great beer place in downtown Indianapolis. A Scottish-theme bar with lots of Scottish beers among the 12 beers on draft and 80 or so interesting beers in the coolers.The minimalist bar back pays homage to classic pillars and adds a contemporary lighted glass block booze rack. Rock music on the sound system, 5 small TVs, open windows to the street. Classy.

Dress Code: Put on some trendy jeans and a nice top and you're set!

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This is a popular bar to throw back a pint and mix and mingle with a crowd of all ages. This is a popular place for the 30s crowd that have outgrown the nightclub scene, but still like to go out and drink. This pub succeeds in bringing the "craic" or exuberant atmosphere of an authentic Irish pub to downtown Indy. Not only are there are a great variety of beers on tap, but also the place serves some amazing Guinness Irish Stew.

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Six is a new nightclub in downtown Indy right on the clubbing strip. I've only been out here once, but am sure to return as the place was hopping. It was packed with beautiful people and the dance floor although tiny had a small, but lively crowd. Some cool aspects about Six are the huge plasma changing artwork that looks cooler with every drink, the posh White Room with an open bar reserved for wristbanded guests only, and even the bathrooms are cool....you can see through the doors both ways until you lock it and then you can still see out, but others can't see in...quite entertaining. I met some really cool people here including the owner, Ravi, and several people on the up and up in town. This is a great place to visit every once in awhile, but the drawback is that it is kind of small in comparison to some other hot spots.

Dress Code: The usual clubbing attire is all you need

Don't be fooled by the simple green awning; what lies beyond these doors is more than meets the eye. The Rathskeller is a cool German bar and restaurant. It has great German food, but most people come late in the evenings to party to the sounds of live bands in the Beer Garden. The Beer Garden is a small outdoor garden with picnic tables and a concession stand where you can get beer. Their is a nice concert stage with great acoustics, where local bands are often featured. It is in the Arts District located just off of Massachussets Ave. This is a place appropriate for both young and old.

Dress Code: Their is no specific dress code required. Wear what is comfortable. Friday nights people generall come straight from work, so it may seem a little more formal then.

THERE ARE LOTS OF BARS IN CHESTERTON, VALPARAISO, MICHIGAN CITY, PORTAGE AND OTHER NEARBY AREAS.
THERE ARE BARS FOR PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT TO SIT AND DRINK IN PEACE AND QUIET, SUCH AS MORGAGE INN IN CHESTERTON. THERE ARE BARS FOR DANCING, SUCH AS BIN WILLIES IN VALPARAISO. AND GRAND SLAM IN MICHIGAN CITY. BIN WILLIES IS VERY POPULAR AND CROWDED. IT ATTRACTS A YOUNG CROWD. GRAND SLAM USED TO BE VERY CROWDED BUT IT HAS THINNED OUT A BIT. IN VALPARAISO THERE IS ALSO GOODFELLAS. THEY HAVE BANDS AND FOOD. IT'S PRETTY POPULAR WITH EVERYONE. THERE IS NORTHSIDE IN VALPARAISO. NEVER BEEN THERE BUT PEOPLE SEEM TO LIKE IT. VALPARAISO HAS ALOT OF GOOD BARS AND IS A PRETTY SAFE AREA. MICHIGAN CITY IS A LITTLE LESS SAFE AND YOU HAVE TO WATCH OUT FOR YOUR SELF AND WHO YOU SAY THE WRONG THING TO. I'M NOT SAYING IT'S REALLY BAD JUST THAT IT ISN'T AS SAFE AS VALPO.

Dress Code: ALL OF THESE PLACES ARE PRETTY MUCH WHATEVER YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE IN. ALL THE THE DANCE PLACES AND VALPO IN GENERAL ON THE WEEKENDS IS MORE DRESSED UP THEN ELSEWHERE. BUT NOT EVERYONE IS.